Medical Terminology Chapter 10

25 July 2022
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acetylcholine
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neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of some nerve cells
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akinetic
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pertaining to a lack of movement
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analgesia
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without excessive sensitivity to pain
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anencephaly
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congenital brain malfunction of small or missing brain hemispheres (condition of no brain)
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anesthesia
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lack of normal sensation
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aphasia
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inability to speak
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apraxia
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inability to execute movements/actions
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arachnoid membrane
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middle layer of the three membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord
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astrocyte
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glial cell that transports water and salts from capillaries
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ataxia
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persistent unsteadiness on the feet
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autonomic nervous membrane
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nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs
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axon
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microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell
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blood-brain barrier
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blood vessels that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out
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bradykinesia
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slow movement
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brainstem
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lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord
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cauda equina
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collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord
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causalgia
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intense burning sensation/pain
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cephalgia
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head pain/headache
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cerebellar
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pertaining to the cerebellum
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cerebellopontine
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pertaining to the pons and cerebellum
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cerebellum
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part of the brain that coordinate muscle movements and maintains balance
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cerebral cortex
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outer region of the cerebrum; containing sheets of nerve cells; grey matter of the brain
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cerebrospinal fluid
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fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord
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cerebrum
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largest part of the brain; responsible for the voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory
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coma
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a state of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused
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comatose
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pertaining to a coma
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dendrite
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microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse
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dura mater
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thick, outermost later of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord
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dyslexia
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writing, reading, and learning disorder
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encephalitis
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inflammation of the brain
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encephalopathy
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disease condition of the brain
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ependymal cell
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a cell that lines the fluid-filled sacs of the brain and spinal cord
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epidural hematoma
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collection of blood upon the dura mater
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epilepsy
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chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity
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ganglion
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a collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
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glial cell
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cells in the nervous system that do not carry impulses but are supportive and connective in function; neuroglia
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glioblastoma
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highly malignant tumor of glial cells
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gyrus; gyri
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sheets of nerve cells that produce elevation in the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution
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hemiparesis
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slight paralysis (weakness) of a half of the body
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hemiplegia
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paralysis (loss or impairment or the ability to move parts) of half of the body
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hypalgesia
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diminished sensitivity to pain
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hyperesthesia
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increased feeling/ sensation
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hyperkinesis
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excessive movement
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hypothalamus
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portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland
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intrathecal
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pertaining to the subarachnoid space
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leptomeningitis
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inflammation of pia mater and arachnoid membranes of meninges
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medulla oblongata
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part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and size of blood vessels; region where nerve fibers cross
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meningeal
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pertaining to the meninges
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meninges
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three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
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meningioma
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slowly growing benign tumor of meninges
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meningomyelocele
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neural tube defect caused by failure of the neural tube to close during embryonic development
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microglial cell
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phagocytic glial cell
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motor nerves
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carry messages away from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and organs; efferent nerves
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myelin sheath
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fatty tissue that surrounds, protects, and insulates the axon of a nerve cell; white matter
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myelogram
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x-ray record of the spinal cord
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myoneural
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pertaining to a nerve muscle
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narcolepsy
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sudden uncontrollable compulsion to sleep
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neuralgia
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nerve pain
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neurasthenia
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nervous exhaustion and fatigue
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neuroglia
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cells in the nervous system that do not carry impulses but are supportive and connective in function; glial cells
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neuron
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nerve cell; carries impulses throughout the body
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neuropathy
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disease condition of the nerves
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neurotransmitter
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chemical transmitter, released at the end of a nerve cell; stimulates or inhibits another cell
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oligodendroglial cell
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glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons
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paraplegia
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paralysis of both legs and the lower part of the body caused by injury of the spinal cord at the lumbar level
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parasympathetic nerves
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involuntary, autonomic nerves that help regulate body functions like heart rate and respiration
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parenchyma
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essential, distinguishing cells of an organ
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paresis
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slight paralysis (weakness) of muscles
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paresthenia
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abnormal feeling/ nervous sensation
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peripheral nervous system
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nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal and autonomic nerves
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pia mater
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thin delicate inner membrane of the meninges
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plexus
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large, interlacing network of nerves
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poliomyelitis
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viral inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord
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polyneuritis
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inflammation of many nerves
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pons
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pert of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the brain
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quadriplegia
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paralysis of all four extremities resulting from injury at the cervical level of the spinal cord
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radiculopathy
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disease condition of spinal nerve routes
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radiculitis
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inflammation of spinal nerve routes
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sensory nerves
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carry messages to the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerves
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stimulus
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change (light, sound, touch, etc.) in the external or internal environment that evokes a response
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stroma
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connective and supporting tissue of an organ
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subdural hematoma
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collection of blood below the dura mater
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sulcus; sulci
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depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure
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sympathetic nerves
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autonomic nerves theat influence body functions involuntarily in times of stress
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synapse
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the space through which a nervous impuls is transmitted from one neuron to another or from a neuron to another cell
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syncopal
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pertaining to fainting
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syncope
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fainting (sudden or temporary loss of consciousness cuased by inadequate flow of blood to the brain)
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thalamic
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pertaining to the thalamus
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thalamus
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main relay center of the brain; conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum
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vagal
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pertaining to the vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve)
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ventricles of the brain
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canals in the interior of the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid
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absence seizures
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minor (petit mal) form of seizure, consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of contact with the environment
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Alzheimer disease (AD)
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brain disorder marked by gradual deterioriation of mental capacity (dementia) beginning in middle age
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amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
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degenerative disease of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem; motor neuron disease
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aneurysm
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weakening of a blood vessel; can lead to hemorrhages of a CVA (stroke)
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astrocytoma
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malignant tumor of glial brain cells (astrocytes)
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aura
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peculiar sensation appearing before more definite symptoms
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Bell palsy
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paralysis on one side of the face
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cerebral angiography
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x-ray images of the blood vessel system in the brain after injection of contrast material
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cerebral concussion
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temporary brain dysfunction (brief loss of consciousness) after injury, usually clearing withing 24 hours
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cerebral contusion
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bruising of brain tusse as a result of direct trauma to the head; neurological deficits perist longer than 24 hours
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cerebral hemorrhage
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abnormal bleeding of brain tissue
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cerebral palsy
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partial paralysis and lack of musclural coordination caused by loss of oxygen or blood flow to the cerebrum during gestation or in perinatal period
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cerebrospinal fluid analysis
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examination of cerebrospinal fluid samples
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cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
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disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke
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computed tomography (CT)
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x-rays compose computerized cross-sectional images of the brain and spinal cord
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dementia
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mental decline and deteriorization
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demyelination
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desctruction of myelin on axons of nerves (as in multiples sclerosis)
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dopamine
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a neurotransmitter that is deficient in Parkinson disease
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Doppler/ ultrasound studies
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use of sound waves to detect blood blow in the carotid and intracranial arteries
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electroencephalography (EEG)
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recording of the electrical activity of the brain
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embolus
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a mass (clot) of material travels though the bloodstream and suddenly blocks a canal
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epilepsy
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chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity
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gait
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matter of walking
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glioblasoma multiforme
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most malignant form of astrocytoma
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herpes zoster
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viral invection affecting peripheral nerves; shingles
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HIV encephalopathy
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brain disease and dementia occuring with AIDs
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Huntington disease
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hereditary nervous disorder caused by degenerative changes in the cerebrum and involving bizarre, abrupt, involuntary, dance-like movement
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hydrocephalus
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abnormal accumuation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain
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ictal event
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pertaining to a sudden, acute onset
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lumbar puncture (LP)
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cerebrospinal fluid is drawn from between two lumbar vertebrae
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magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
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magnetic and radio waves create an image of the body in all three planes
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meningitis
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inflammation of the meninges; leptomeningitis
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migraine
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a severe headache often accompanied by nausea and vomiting
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multiple sclerosis (MS)
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destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the central nervous system and its replacement by plaques of sclerotic tissue
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myasthenia gravis
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neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles (attached to bones)
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occlusion
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blockage
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palliative
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relieving symptoms but not curing disease
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palsy
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paralysis (partial or complete loss of motor function)
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Parkinson disease
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degeneration of nerves in the basal ganglia, occurring in later life and leading to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement
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petit mal seizures
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minor form of seizure consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of contact with the environment
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positron emission tomography (PET)
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images produced after injection of radioactive glucose or oxygen
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shingles
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viral infection affecting peripheral nerves; herpes zoster
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spina bifida
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congenital defect in the lumbar spinal column, caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts (neural tube defect)
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stereotactic radio-surgery
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use of a specialized instrument to locate targets in the brain
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thrombosis
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blood clot
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thymectomy
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removal of the thymus gland
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tonic-clonic seizures
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major convulsive seizure marked by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching/jerky movements
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Tourette syndrome
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involuntary spasmodic twitchy-movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words
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transient ischemic attack (TIA)
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short episode of neurological dysfunction