Computed Tomography CT Scan — A diagnostic imaging technique in which a computer reads X-rays to create a three-dimensional map of soft tissue or bone. Concussion — An injury to the brain that results in temporary loss of normal brain function.
Contrast Medium — Any material usually opaque to X-rays employed to define a structure during a radiologic procedure. Contusion — A bruise; cerebral contusions often involve blood vessels that leak into brain tissue.
Coronal Suture — The joint that connects the frontal bones and the parietal bones of the skull. Cortex — The external layer of tissue covering the hemispheres of the cerebrum and cerebellum. Cortical Area — A part of the brain generally defined by function i. Cranium — The part of the skull that holds the brain.
Craniectomy — Surgical removal of a portion of the skull. Craniopharyngioma — A benign tumor arising from the embryonic duct in the pituitary gland. Cranioplasty — The operative repair of a defect or deformity of the skull. Craniosynostosis — Premature closure of cranial sutures , limiting or distorting the growth of the skull. Craniotomy — Opening of the skull, usually by removing a flap of bone to gain access to the brain.
Depressed Skull Fracture — A break in the bones of the head in which some bone is pushed inward, possibly pushing on or cutting into the brain. Diabetes Insipidus Condition in which kidneys are unable to conserve water during the filtration of blood; urine is typically diluted.
Diffuse Axonal Injury — Damage to the axons of many nerve cells that lie in different parts of the brain; often a cause of unconsciousness after head trauma and brain injury.
Diffuse Brain Injury — Damage to the brain that can affect many parts of the brain; examples include diffuse axonal injury and inadequate blood flow. Diphenylhydantoin — A medication used to control seizures; also known as phenytoin and Dilantin.
Diplopia — Double vision, usually due to weakness or paralysis of one or more of the extra ocular muscles. Disc — Cartilaginous cushion found between the vertebrae of the spinal column; allows movement of the vertebrae; may bulge beyond the vertebral body and compress the nearby nerve root, causing pain and resulting in such conditions as a slipped disc, ruptured disc or herniated disc.
Dome — The round, balloon-like portion of the aneurysm that usually arises from the artery. Doppler — A non-invasive study that uses sound waves to show the flow in a blood vessel; can be used to determine the degree of narrowing percent stenosis of the vessel. Dura Mater — A tough fibrous membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord; the outermost layer of three membranes. Dysesthesia — A condition in which an unpleasant and sometimes painful sensations are produced by ordinary touch, temperature or movement.
Dysphasia — Difficulty in the use of language due to a brain lesion. Dystonia Musculorum Deformans — An affliction marked by muscular contractions producing distortions of the spine and hips. Edema — An excessive accumulation of fluid; cerebral edema occurs in the in extracellular or intracellular areas of the brain.
Electroencephalopgraphy EEG — The study of the electrical activity in the brain. The record made is called an electroencephalogram. Electromyography EMG — A method of recording the electrical currents generated in a muscle. Endarterectomy — Removal of fatty or cholesterol plaques and calcified deposits from the internal wall of an artery.
Endocrine Gland — A gland that secretes products that usually have an effect on another organ. Endocrinopathy — Any disease due to abnormality of quantity or quality in one or more of endocrine gland secretions. Ependyma — The membrane lining the cerebral ventricles of the brain and central canal of the spinal cord. Ependymoma — A growth in the brain or spinal cord arising from ependymal tissue. Epidural — Form of local analgesia and anesthesia often injected into the outer section of the spinal canal.
Epidural Hematoma — A blood clot between the dura mater and the inside of the skull. Epilepsy — Disorder characterized by repeated seizures caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. Falx Cerebri — An extension of dura mater between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Fontanelle — Normal openings in the skull of infants; the largest of these is the anterior fontanel or "soft spot" in the middle of the head.
Foraminotomy — Surgical opening or enlargement of the bony opening traversed by a nerve root as it leaves the spinal canal. Fusiform Aneurysm — A spindle-shaped enlargement of a blood vessel. Galactorrhea — The discharge of milk from the breasts unassociated with nursing or childbirth. Gamma Knife — Equipment that precisely delivers a concentrated dose of radiation to a predetermined target using gamma rays.
Glasgow Coma Scale GCS — Neurological scale with which a patient's level of consciousness is determined; the most widely used system of classifying the severity of head injuries or other neurologic diseases Glia — Cells that provide major support of brain cells, offering nutrition and maintenance to the nerve cells; also known as neuroglia. Glioma — A tumor formed by glial cells.
Glioblastoma — A rapidly growing tumor composed of primitive glial cells, mainly arising from astrocytes. Globus Pallidus — Part of the basal ganglia, which are brain cells that lie deep in the brain. Hemangioma — An accumulation of multiple, dilated blood vessels in the skin. Hematoma — A collection of blood outside the blood vessels; often characterized by a bruise Hemianopia — Loss of vision of one-half of the visual field as a result of a stroke or brain injury; also known as hemianopsia.
Hemiatrophy — Atrophy of half of an organ or half of the body. Hemiplegia — Paralysis of one side of the body. Hemorrhage — Bleeding due to leaks from a blood vessel internal or through a cut or natural opening in the body external. Herniated Nucleus Pulposus HNP — Bulging of the central portion of an intervertebral disc through the outer cartilaginous ring; also known as a slipped disc or herniated disk. The material can compress the spinal cord or nerves in or exiting the spinal canal.
Hormone — A chemical substance formed in one gland or part of the body and carried by the blood to stimulate another organ's functional activity. Hydrocephalus — A condition, often congenital, marked by abnormal and excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cerebral ventricles; results in dilated ventricles. In infants and young children, this condition often causes the head to enlarge.
Hydromyelia — Expansion of the spinal canal due to an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. Hyperacusis — Abnormal sensitivity of hearing or auditory sensation. Hyperesthesia — Excessive sensitivity to touch, pain or other stimuli.
Hypertension — High blood pressure. Hypothalamus — A collection of specialized nerve cells at the base of the brain that controls the anterior and posterior pituitary secretions; is involved in other basic regulatory functions such as body temperature, hunger and thirst.
Infundibulum — A stalk extending from the base of the brain to the pituitary gland; also known as the pituitary stalk. Intra-Aortic Balloon Counter Pulsation Device — A pump inserted into the main artery of the body, the aorta, to help the heart deliver blood to critical organs such as the brain and kidneys.
Intra-Arterial Catheterization Angiography — An invasive study in which a catheter a small tube is placed in the artery and contrast material is injected in order to make the blood vessels visible on an X-ray image.
The catheter is inserted through the groin and into the femoral artery the artery to the leg through a needle and is guided into the arteries in the neck and head. Intracerebral Hematoma — A blood clot within the brain. Intraoperative Cisternography — Administration of a contrast dye into ventricles in the brain.
Ischemia — Inadequate circulation of blood generally due to a blockage of an artery, low glucose levels and other causes. Jugular Veins — The major veins on each side of the neck carrying blood from the head towards the heart. Labyrinth — The inner ear, comprising of the vestibule the system that regulates physical balance and cochlea the portion that allows hearing. Lamina — The flattened or arched part of the vertebral arch, forming the roof of the spinal canal. Laminectomy — Complete removal of one or more laminae of the vertebrae.
Laminotomy — Partial removal of one or more of the lamina. Click here to see "Laminotomy versus Laminectomy". Leptomeninges — Two thin layers of fine tissue covering the brain and spinal cord; consists of the pia mater and the arachnoid.
Leptomeningitis — Inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord; commonly known as meningitis. Leukodystrophy — Disturbance of the white matter of the brain; white matter is a component of the central nervous system and helps transmits signals through the regions of the brain. Leukoencephalitis — An inflammation of the white matter of the brain. Linear Accelerator — Equipment that uses X-rays to deliver a concentrated dose of radiation to a predetermined target.
Lipoma — A benign fatty tumor usually composed of mature fat cells. It is divided at the very top, forming the left and right hemispheres. Each hemisphere is divided into four lobes frontal, occipital, parietal and temporal. Cerebrospinal fluid : This is a clear, colorless, watery fluid produced by special capillaries within the ventricles of the brain.
The fluid flows throughout the brain and around the spinal cord, and functions to cushion for these organs from shock or injury. Cerebrovascular accident : Also known as a stoke or apoplexy, is the general term used to indicate that the blood supply to a portion of the brain has been suddenly shut off.
Cervical spine : The neck region of the spine containing the first seven vertebrae. Cervical spine disorders : Conditions that cause constant pain in the ne ck or shoulder, tingling or numbness in the arms or weakness when using arms or hands. Chemonucleolysis : The process of dissolving part of the nucleus of an intervertebral disk by the injection of a chemolytic agent.
Coccyx : More commonly known as the tailbone, this is a bony structure in the region of the spine below the sacrum. Coma : A profound deep state of unconsciousness characterized by the absence of spontaneous eye movements, r esponse to painful stimuli, and vocalization.
Comatose refers to one who is in a coma. Concussion : This is sometimes referred to as a brain concussion or a cerebral concussion. It is a violent shaking or jarring of the brain caused by a direct blow or explosion. Corpectomy : A surgigal procedure performed in the front of the neck that involves removal of a part of the vertebral body to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. Cranial hematoma : A collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain. Cranial hematomas include epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, and intracerebral hematoma.
Cranial nerves : The 12 pairs of cranial nerves originate from the undersurface of the brain and are arranged in identical pairs so both nerves of a pair are identical in function and structure. The cranial nerves are generally named for the area or function they serve and are identified with Roman numerals. I Olfactory Nerves conduct impulses from receptors in the nose to the brain and are sensory in function. II Optic Nerves conduct impulses from receptors in the eyes to thebrain and are sensory in function.
III Oculomotor Nerves send motor impulses to four of the external eye muscles and to certain internal eye muscles. IV Trochlear Nerves send motor impulses to one external eye muscle of each eye. V Trigeminal Nerves each divide into three branches: Ophthalmic branches go to the eyes and forehead. Maxillary branches go to the upper jaw. Mandibular branches go to the lower jaw. VI Abducens Nerves innervate the muscles that turn the eye to the side. VII Facial Nerves innervate the facial muscles, salivary glands, lacrimal glands, and the sensation of taste on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
Vestibular branches are concerned with the sense of balance. IX Glossopharyngeal Nerves innervate the parotid glands and the sense of taste on the posterior third of the tongue and part of the pharynx. X Vagus Nerves innervate part of the pharynx, larynx, vocal cords, and parts of the thoracic and abdominal viscera. XI Spinal Accessory Nerves innervate the shoulder muscles. Some fibers of these nerves arise from the spinal cord. XII Hypoglossal Nerves primarily innervate the muscles concerned with movements of the tongue.
Delirium : A mental state in which one experiences confusion and decreased awareness of surroundings. Disc Intervertebral : The tough, elastic cushion found between the vertebrae of the spinal column. It may bulge beyond the vertebral body and compress the nearby nerve root, causing pain. Disc degeneration : Deterioration of a disc. A disc in the cervical spine may deteriorate or wear out over time. Diskectomy : The surgical removal of part or all of an intervertebral disc.
It is performed to relieve pressure on a nerve root or the spinal cord. Dysphasia : An impairment of speech due to a brain lesion. A lesion is an injury or pathological change in the tissue.
Echoencephalography : This is a diagnostic technique in which pulses of ultrasonic waves are beamed through the head from both sides. Electroencephalography : This procedure is also known as EEG. It is the process of recording brain wave activity. The resulting record is called an electroencephalogram. Encephalography : This is an x-ray study demonstrating the intracranial fluid-containing spaces of the brain. The resulting record is called an encephalogram.
Epilepsy : A disorder that causes abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. Normally, millions of electrical impulses pass between brain cells, sending messages that control movement, speech and thought. In epilepsy, these electr ical impulses are interrupted by sudden bursts of activity that result in seizures. Epidural Nerve Block : A spinal injection to the area of a pinched nerve; used to alleviate pain in the distribution of that nerve.
Fissure : Also known as sulci, are the normal depressions or grooves of the cerebral cortex. Foramen : A normally occurring opening or passage in the vertebrae of the spine through which the spinal nerve roots pass. Ganglion : A knot-like mass or group of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system.
Hallucination : A sense perception sight, touch, sound, smell, or taste that has no basis in external stimulation. Head injury : Commonly referred to as traumatic brain injury, head injury is a major health problem commonly occurring in teens and young adults.
Herniated disc : A break in the cartilage surrounding a disc in the spine, causing pressure on spinal nerves that produce pain down the legs. It is usually preceded by an episode of low back pain or a long history of intermittent episodes of back pain. Hydrocephalus : A disorder in which too much spinal fluid, usually under high pressure, accumulates in the cavities of the brain. This can be caused by a birth defect, brain tumor, infection, hemorrhage or brain injury.
Innervation : The supply of nerves to a body part. It also means the stimulation of a body part through the action of nerves.
Instrumentation : The use of instruments in surgery that may include plating of screws for stabilization. Lamina : The flattened or arched part of the vertebral arch, forming the roof of the spinal canal. Laminectomy : Surgical removal of the rear part of a vertebra in order to gain access to the spinal cord or nerve roots, to remove tumors, to treat injuries to the spine, or to relieve pressure on a nerve root. Ligament : Fibrous connective tissue that links together bones at joints or between vertebrae of the spine.
Low back pain : The second most common cause of chronic pain after headaches. Causes include disc herniation, spinal stenosis, tumors, infections and inflammatory diseases. Lumbar : The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae in the lower part of the spine between the ribs and the pelvis. Lumbar spinal stenosis : A narrowing of the spinal canal that may result in nerve compression, and pain that travels from the lumbar spine into the legs.
Treatment can be either conservative or surgical. Conservative treatments include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy and epidural steroid injections. Meninges : Three layers of connective tissue membrane that enclose the brain and spinal cord.
Migraine Headache : A syndrome characterized by sudden, severe, sharp headache usually present only on one side. MRI : The radiologic study that provides intricate and detailed pictures of the spine, brain, spinal cord with the use of magnetic resonance images rather than x-rays.
MRIs are used for many body parts needing detailed images. This provides the greatest detail other than physically looking inside the bony. Multiple sclerosis : A progressive disease characterized by scattered patches of demyelination of nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord.
Demyelination is the destruction or loss of the myelin sheath from myelinated fibers. Myelinated : having a myelin sheath. Myelography : The diagnostic study of the spinal cord after injecting a contrast medium. The resulting record is called a myelogram.
Myelosis : Means a tumor of the spinal cord. However, it also means an abnormal proliferation of bone marrow tissue. Narcolepsy : A syndrome characterized by recurrent uncontrollable seizures of drowsiness and sleep.
Nerve roots : The initial portion of a spinal nerve; the nerve root is an extension of the central nervous system that begins at the spinal canal and ends in the extremities fingers, toes.
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A term used to denote the alteration in cell character that constitutes malignancy. In the nervous system a joining of nerves or blood vessels. APHASIA - Difficulty with or loss of use of language in any of several ways, including reading, writing or speaking, not related to intelligence but to specific lesions in the brain.
A system of nerve cells whose activities are beyond voluntary control. AXON - The part of a nerve cell that usually sends signals to other nerves or structures. Caused by a lesion limited to one side of spinal cord. Stimulation can cause slowing of the heart, vasodilatation and a fall in blood pressure. CT SCAN - computed tomography scan A diagnostic imaging technique in which a computer reads X-rays to create a three-dimensional map of soft tissue or bone.
May also be used to facilitate drainage. It regulates unconscious coordination of movement. CEREBRUM - The principal portion of the brain, which occupies the major portion of the interior of the skull and controls conscious movement, sensation and thought. For each optic nerve most of the visual fibers cross to the opposite side, while some run directly backward on each side without crossing.
CHOREA - A disorder, usually of childhood, characterized by irregular, spasmodic involuntary movements of the limbs or facial muscles.
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