| acoustic |
pertaining to hearing |
| aerotitis |
air in the middle ear |
| afferent |
traveling towards a structure |
| agnosia |
not knowing |
| akinetopsia |
motion-blindness |
| amblyopia |
disease in which one eye's input is ignored by the brain |
| ampulla |
round flask; structure in the vestibular system which resembles a flask |
| amyotrophic |
pertaining to muscle tissue wasting |
| anastomosis |
"backwards mouth"; two openings coming together to form one |
| anesthesia |
lack of sensation (usually, pain) |
| anesthesiologist |
physician who administers anesthesia |
| aneurysm |
ballooning of a blood vessel |
| aniridia |
disease marked by the absence of an iris |
| anorexia |
disease marked by a lack of desire (usually, for food) |
| anosmia |
disease marked by an absence of the ability to smell |
| anticonvulsant |
drug which stops seizure activity |
| antidepressant |
drug which regulates mood |
| antipsychotic |
drug which reverses symptoms of psychosis (a loss of contact with reality) |
| anxiolytic |
drug which "breaks down" or reduces anxiety |
| apathy |
lack of feeling |
| aphakia |
absence of the lens |
| aphasia |
absence of the power of speech (also, written language) |
| aponeurosis |
sheath of connective tissue joining muscle and bones |
| arachnoid |
one of the meninges; layer covering the brain that resembles a wet spider web |
| arteriosclerosis |
hardening of the arteries |
| asthenopia |
eye strain or eye fatigue |
| astigmatism |
defect in the optical properties of the eye |
| atherosclerosis |
buildup of plaque in the arteries |
| audiogram |
graphical representation of a patient's hearing |
| audiologist |
clinician who studies hearing |
| audiometry |
measurement of a patient's hearing |
| auditory |
pertaining to hearing |
| aural |
pertaining to hearing |
| autism |
alternative wiring of the brain resulting in characteristic behaviors and symptoms |
| autonomic |
pertaining to body systems not under control of the conscious mind |
| axodendritic |
a contact between an axon and a neuronal dendrite |
| axon |
the part of a nerve cell responsible for its output |
| axosecretory |
release of chemicals from an axon to the blood |
| axosomatic |
a contact between an axon and neuronal cell body |
| basilar |
running along the base of the brain (the name of an artery which does this) |
| binocular |
using both eyes to perceive the visual world |
| bipolar |
a neuron with two major extensions from the cell body |
| blepharedema |
swelling of the eyelid |
| blepharitis |
inflammation of the eyelid |
| blepharoconjunctivitis |
inflammation of the eyelid and mucous membranes of the eye |
| blepharoplasty |
surgical revision of the eyelid |
| blepharoplegia |
paralysis of the eyelid |
| blepharoptosis |
drooping of the eyelid |
| blepharopyorrhea |
flow of pus from the eyelid |
| blepharospasm |
involuntary contraction of the eyelid |
| blepharotomy |
cutting into the eyelid |
| brain |
the largest part of the central nervous system |
| bulimia |
eating disorder characterized by the binge-purge-starve syndrome |
| cataract |
cloudiness in the lens of the eye |
| catatonia |
disease characterized by a lack of awareness |
| caudate |
a structure in the brain which resembles a tail (Latin cauda) |
| cephalalgia |
pain in the head |
| cephalodynia |
pain in the head |
| cerebellar |
pertaining to the part of the brain under the cerebrum |
| cerebellitis |
inflammation of the cerebellum |
| cerebellum |
part of the brain under the cerebrum and attached to the brainstem |
| cerebral |
pertaining to the cerebrum |
| cerebromeningitis |
inflammation of the brain and the membranes that cover it |
| cerebropathy |
disease of the brain |
| cerebrospinal |
pertaining to the brain and spinal cord |
| cerebrotomy |
cutting into the brain |
| cerebrovascular |
pertaining to the blood vessels of the brain |
| cerebrum |
the large, wrinkled part of the brain; right and left hemispheres |
| cerumen |
ear wax |
| ceruminolysis |
process of breaking down ear wax |
| ceruminolytic |
substance which breaks down ear wax |
| ceruminoma |
tumor in the glands which produce ear wax |
| ceruminosis |
condition of excessive ear wax |
| chemoreceptor |
nerve cell which detects the presence of specific chemicals |
| choroid |
a tissue resembling the chorionic membrane of the embryo; there is a choroid of the eye and a choroid plexus lining the ventricles of the brain |
| clonus |
involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions |
| cochlear |
pertaining to the hearing apparatus of the inner ear (Latin "snail", because of its anatomical resemblance to a snail) |
| cochleitis |
inflammation of the cochlea |
| conductive |
arising from a defect in the structures which bring sound to the inner ear |
| conjunctiva |
mucous membrane of the eye |
| conjunctivitis |
inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye |
| convulsion |
sudden, violent, involuntary contraction of muscle |
| cornea |
the clear window covering the iris and pupil |
| corticospinal |
nerve cell pathway connecting the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord |
| craniosclerosis |
hardening of the skull |
| craniosynostosis |
premature fusion and hardening of the bones of a child's skull |
| cyclokeratitis |
inflammation of the cornea and ciliary body of the eye |
| cycloplegia |
paralysis of the ciliary body of the eye |
| cyclotomy |
cutting into the ciliary body of the eye |
| dacryoadenalgia |
pain in the lacrimal gland (the gland that makes tears to lubricate the eye) |
| dacryoadenectomy |
removal of a lacrimal gland |
| dacryoadenitis |
inflammation of a lacrimal gland |
| dacryocystalgia |
pain in the nasolacrimal sac (which stores tears to lubricate the eye) |
| dacryocystectomy |
surgical removal of the nasolacrimal sac |
| dacryocystitis |
inflammation of the nasolacrimal sac |
| dacryocystorhinostomy |
surgery to enlarge the opening of the nasolacrimal sac |
| dacryocystotomy |
cutting into the nasolacrimal sac |
| dacryohemorrhea |
blood mixed with tears |
| dacryolith |
stone in the lacrimal glands |
| dacryolithiasis |
condition of stones in the lacrimal glands |
| dacryopyorrhea |
flow of pus from the lacrimal glands |
| dacryorrhea |
excessive flow of tears from the lacrimal glands |
| dacryostenosis |
blockage of tears from the lacrimal glands |
| decrement |
slow, steady decrease in size |
| decussation |
crossing |
| delirium |
confusion and disorientation |
| dementia |
lack of orientation to person, place, or time, often with memory loss |
| depolarization |
an accumulation of positive charges inside a nerve cell |
| dermatome |
region on the surface of the body which sends information along a single spinal nerve |
| diencephalon |
region of the brain between the cerebrum and the brainstem; thalamus and associated structures |
| diplopia |
double vision |
| dopamine |
chemical signaling molecule of the brain |
| dura |
one of the meninges; layer covering the brain made up of tough connective tissue |
| duritis |
inflammation of the dura, one of the coverings of the brain |
| dysesthesia |
abnormal sensation |
| dyslexia |
disruption in the ability to read |
| dysphasia |
disruption in the ability to speak |
| dysphoria |
abnormal sensation of dread or unease |
| echoencephalography |
the use of ultrasound to image the brain |
| ectropion |
turning of the eyelid away from the eyeball |
| efferent |
traveling away from a structure |
| electroencephalography |
the use of electrical activity to image the brain |
| electrophysiology |
the study of electrical activity in the brain or in brain cells |
| embolism |
obstruction of an artery by a clot or air bubble |
| encephalitis |
inflammation of the brain |
| encephalocele |
herniation of the brain |
| encephalogram |
image or trace of the electrical activity of the brain |
| encephalomyelitis |
inflammation of the brain and spinal cord |
| encephalomyeloneuropathy |
a disease of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves |
| encephalopathy |
a disease of the brain |
| encephalopyosis |
condition of pus in the brain |
| endarterectomy |
removal of the inner lining of an artery along with a clot or plaque |
| endolymph |
fluid of the inner ear |
| endoneurium |
innermost connective tissue layer of a nerve |
| endophthalmitis |
inflammation of the inside of the eye |
| endovascular |
pertaining to the inner lining of a blood vessel |
| entropion |
turning of the eyelid toward the eyeball |
| enucleation |
removal of the eyeball |
| ependymal |
pertaining to cells lining the ventricles (fluid-filled chambers of the brain) |
| epidural |
pertaining to the space outside the dura, one of the coverings of the brain |
| epilepsy |
disease characterized by the sudden onset of seizures |
| epineurium |
outermost connective tissue of a nerve |
| esotropia |
eye misalignment where both eyes turn inward |
| euphoria |
sensation of well-being or happiness |
| exophthalmus |
protrusion of the eyes out of the head |
| exotropia |
eye misalignment where both eyes turn outward |
| externa |
outermost |
| exteroceptor |
nerve cell which detects the presence of stimuli outside the body |
| extraocular |
outside of the eye, especially referring to the muscles which move the eye |
| fascicle |
bundle of nerve axons |
| frontal |
bone at the front of the skull; lobe of the brain in the front |
| ganglioma |
tumor of a ganglion |
| ganglion |
a collection of nerve cells outside the central nervous system |
| ganglionitis |
inflammation of a ganglion |
| glaucoma |
abnormal increase in pressure within the eye |
| glossopharyngeal |
pertaining to the tongue and oral cavity |
| gustation |
the sensation of taste |
| gyrus |
elevated bump on the surface of the cerebrum |
| hematoma |
mass of blood |
| hemianopsia |
abnormal visual perception, "half not seeing" |
| hemiparesis |
muscle weakness affecting half of the body (e.g. right upper and lower extremity) |
| hemiplegia |
paralysis affecting half of the body (e.g. right upper and lower extremity) |
| hemorrhagic |
abnormal blood flow |
| homunculus |
map of the body surface as represented in the brain (Latin "little man") |
| hydrocephalus |
abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid |
| hyperacusis |
abnormally increased ability to hear |
| hyperesthesia |
abnormally increased sensation in skin |
| hyperopia |
ability to see at a distance but not close up |
| hyperpolarization |
an accumulation of negative charges inside a nerve cell |
| hypnotic |
drug causing sleepiness |
| hypoacusis |
abnormally reduced ability to hear |
| hypoglossal |
underneath the tongue |
| ictus |
seizure |
| idiopathic |
a condition with no obvious cause |
| insomnia |
inability to sleep |
| insula |
a part of the cerebral cortex not visible from the outside of the brain (Latin, "island") |
| interictal |
the time between seizures |
| interneuron |
a nerve cell that is neither sensory nor motor |
| interoceptor |
nerve cell which detects the presence of stimuli inside the body |
| intracerebral |
within the brain |
| intraocular |
within the eyes |
| intravitreal |
within the clear, jelly-like substance which gives the eyeball its shape |
| iridalgia |
pain in the iris |
| iridectomy |
surgical removal of the iris |
| iridemia |
blood surrounding the iris |
| iridocyclectomy |
surgical removal of the iris and ciliary body |
| iridocyclitis |
inflammation of the iris and ciliary body |
| iridokeratitis |
inflammation of the iris and cornea |
| iridopathy |
disease of the iris |
| iridotomy |
cutting into the iris |
| iris |
the colored part of the eye which defines the pupil |
| iritis |
inflammation of the iris |
| ischemic |
pertaining to a lack of blood flow |
| keratalgia |
pain in the cornea |
| keratitis |
inflammation of the cornea |
| keratomalacia |
softening of the cornea |
| keratopathy |
disease of the cornea |
| keratoplasty |
surgical revision of the cornea |
| keratotomy |
cutting into the cornea |
| labyrinthectomy |
surgical removal of the vestibular (balance) apparatus of the inner ear |
| labyrinthitis |
inflammation of the labyrinth |
| labyrinthotomy |
cutting into the labyrinth |
| lacrimation |
the process of forming tears and crying |
| ligand |
chemical which binds to a cell surface receptor |
| lobe |
major division of the cerebrum |
| lobectomy |
surgical removal of a lobe of the brain |
| lobotomy |
cutting into a lobe of the brain |
| macrocephaly |
abnormally large head |
| mechanoreceptor |
nerve cell which detects the presence of movement, pressure, or other mechanical stimuli |
| medulla |
the core of a multilayered organ (e.g. the brain) |
| meninges |
coverings of the brain |
| meningioma |
tumor of the coverings of the brain |
| meningitis |
inflammation of the coverings of the brain |
| meningocele |
hernation of the coverings of the brain |
| meningoencephalitis |
inflammation of the brain and its coverings |
| meningopathy |
disease of the coverings of the brain |
| microcephaly |
abnormally small head |
| microtia |
abnormally small ears |
| midbrain |
part of the brainstem between the thalamus and pons |
| miosis |
condition of a constricted (small) pupil |
| miotic |
drug which causes miosis |
| monoparesis |
weakness in a single extremity |
| monoplegia |
paralysis of a single extremity |
| monosynaptic |
characterized by a single contact between nerve cells |
| multipolar |
a neuron with many major extensions from the cell body |
| mydriasis |
condition of a dilated (large) pupil |
| mydriatic |
drug which causes mydriasis |
| myelitis |
inflammation of the spinal cord |
| myelocele |
hernation of the spinal cord |
| myelogram |
image of the spinal cord |
| myelomalacia |
softening of the spinal cord |
| myelomeningocele |
herniation of the spinal cord and its coverings |
| myelopathy |
disease of the spinal cord |
| myopia |
ability to see close up but not at a distance |
| myotatic |
pertaining to muscle stretching |
| myringectomy |
surgical removal of the eardrum |
| myringitis |
inflammation of the eardrum |
| myringodermatitis |
inflammation of the eardrum and the adjacent skin of the ear canal |
| myringomycosis |
fungal infection of the eardrum |
| myringoplasty |
surgical revision of the eardrum |
| myringotomy |
cutting into the eardrum |
| narcolepsy |
condition of uncontrollable, sudden sleepiness |
| nasolacrimal |
pertaining to the lacrimal (tear-producing) structures and the nose |
| neuralgia |
pain in the nerves |
| neurasthenia |
weakness or lack of energy in the nervous system |
| neurectomy |
surgical removal of a nerve |
| neuritis |
inflammation of a nerve |
| neuroarthropathy |
loss of nerve sensation that leads to destruction of a joint |
| neurocysticercosis |
"brain worm"; the larval stage of a parasitic worm found in the brain |
| neurodynia |
pain in the nerves |
| neuroencephalomyelopathy |
disease of the nerves, brain, and spinal cord |
| neurogenic |
arising from the nervous system |
| neuroglycopenia |
condition of low sugar (glucose) levels in the brain |
| neurolysis |
breakdown of nervous system tissue |
| neuroma |
tumor derived from the nervous system |
| neuron |
anatomical unit of the nervous system |
| neuropathy |
disease of the nervous system |
| neuropharmacology |
study of the effect of drugs on the nervous system |
| neurophysiology |
study of the (usually electrical) function of the nervous system |
| neuroplasty |
surgical alteration of the nerves |
| neurorrhaphy |
surgical repair of a nerve |
| neurosclerosis |
abnormal hardening of the nerves |
| neurosis |
abnormal change in the nervous system |
| neurosurgery |
using surgical techniques to revise or repair the nervous system |
| neurotomy |
cutting into a nerve |
| neurotransmitter |
chemical which carries a signal from one neuron to another neuron, or to a muscle cell |
| nociceptor |
nerve cell which detects the presence of damage |
| nystagmus |
eye movements that alternate between a rapid track to one side and a slow track to the other |
| occipital |
bone at the back of the skull; lobe of the brain at the back |
| oculomycosis |
fungal infection of the eye |
| oculopathy |
disease of the eye |
| oculoplasty |
surgical revision of the eye |
| ophthalmalgia |
pain in the eye |
| ophthalmic |
pertaining to the eye |
| ophthalmitis |
inflammation of the eye |
| ophthalmologist |
clinician who studies the eye |
| ophthalmomyitis |
inflammation of the extraocular muscles |
| ophthalmopathy |
disease of the eye |
| ophthalmoplegia |
paralysis of the eye |
| ophthalmoscope |
instrument for observing the eye |
| optic |
pertaining to vision |
| optokinetic |
pertaining to movement of the visual field |
| optometrist |
clinician who measures the optical properties of the eye |
| optomyometer |
instrument for measuring the strength of eye muscles |
| osmoreceptor |
nerve cell which detects the strength of chemicals in the blood |
| osteoacusis |
sound conduction via bone |
| otalgia |
pain in the ear |
| otitis |
inflammation of the ear |
| otodynia |
pain in the ear |
| otolaryngologist |
physician who studies the ear and throat |
| otoliths |
microscopic stones in the ear that help detect head tilt |
| otomycosis |
fungal infection of the ear |
| otoneurologist |
physician who studies the ear and brain |
| otoplasty |
surgical modification of the ear |
| otopyorrhea |
flow of pus from the ear |
| otorhinolaryngologist |
physician who studies the ear, nose, and throat |
| otorrhea |
flow of liquid from the ear |
| otosclerosis |
hardening of the bones of the middle ear |
| otoscope |
instrument for observing the ear |
| otosteal |
pertaining to the bones of the middle ear |
| ototoxic |
drug that destroys the nerve cells of the ear |
| papilledema |
swelling of the optic nerve, visible through an ophthalmoscope |
| paraesthesia |
pins-and-needles sensation in the skin caused by nerve damage |
| paralysis |
inability to move |
| parasympathetic |
pertaining to the division of the autonomic nervous system that maintains body functions at rest |
| paresis |
weakness |
| parietal |
bone on the side of the skull; lobe of the brain on the side |
| perilymph |
fluid of the inner ear |
| perineurium |
connective tissue layer of a nerve |
| phacoemulsification |
surgical procedure that involves breaking apart the lens of the eye |
| phacomalacia |
softening of the lens |
| phacosclerosis |
hardening of the lens |
| phacoscope |
instrument for observing the lens |
| phakitis |
inflammation of the lens |
| phonasthenia |
weakness or lack of energy in the voice |
| photon |
particle-wave of light energy |
| photophobia |
inability to tolerate bright light (literally, "fear of light") |
| photopic |
pertaining to bright light conditions |
| photoreceptor |
nerve cell which detects photons (particle-waves of light energy) |
| plexus |
nerves which come together, mix, and separate |
| poliomyelitis |
viral disease of the nervous system |
| polyneuritis |
inflammation of several or many nerves |
| polyneuropathy |
disease of several or many nerves |
| postcentral |
behind the central sulcus |
| postganglionic |
referring to nerve axons that are efferent to the autonomic ganglia |
| postictal |
after a seizure |
| postsynaptic |
after a contact between nerve cells (i.e. the neuron receiving the information) |
| precentral |
in front of the central sulcus |
| prefrontal |
the rostral part of the frontal cortex ("the front of the front") |
| preganglionic |
referring to nerve axons that are afferent to the autonomic ganglia |
| preictal |
before a seizure |
| premotor |
area of cortex that calculates, but does not execute, a motor program |
| presbycusis |
elder hearing |
| presbyopia |
elder vision |
| presynaptic |
before a contact between nerve cells (i.e. the neuron sending the information) |
| propagate |
spreading of a nerve signal |
| proprioceptor |
nerve cell which detects the position of the body in space |
| prosopagnosia |
inability to recognize faces |
| pseudesthesia |
experiencing "false" feelings; feelings not caused by a stimulus |
| psychiatrist |
physician who studies the mind |
| psychiatry |
branch of medicine involved in the study of the mind |
| psychogenic |
arising from the mind |
| psychologist |
clinician who studies the mind |
| psychology |
science of the mind |
| psychopathy |
disease of the mind |
| psychopharmacology |
study of drugs which affect the mind |
| psychosis |
disease of the mind, usually one which involves a disconnection from reality |
| psychosomatic |
pertaining to the connection between mind and body |
| psychotropic |
a drug which acts on the mind |
| quadriplegia |
paralysis of all four extremities |
| refractory |
resistant to change |
| repolarization |
restoration of the normal distribution of negative charges inside a nerve cell |
| retina |
photosensitive nerve tissue lining the inside back of the eye |
| retinal |
pertaining to the retina |
| retinitis |
inflammation of the retina |
| retinopathy |
disease of the retina |
| retinopexy |
surgical fixation of the retina |
| retinoscope |
instrument for observing the retina |
| retinosis |
condition of the retina |
| saccule |
small sac; structure in the vestibular system which resembles a sack |
| sciatica |
inflammation of the major nerve supplying the lower extremity |
| sclera |
white of the eye (i.e. "hard part" of the eye) |
| sclerectasia |
bulging and thinning of the sclera |
| scleritis |
inflammation of the sclera |
| scleromalacia |
softening of the sclera |
| sclerotomy |
cutting into the sclera |
| scotoma |
a "hole" in the visual field (literally, "dark tumor") |
| scotopic |
pertaining to dim light conditions |
| segmental |
broken into segments; a way of describing the pattern of nerve innervation on the body surface |
| sensorineural |
pertaining to sensation and how it is processed by the brain |
| somnambulism |
sleep-walking |
| somnography |
measurement of a patient's sleep |
| stimulus |
environmental energy that causes a response in the nervous system |
| strabismus |
condition where the eyes don't look in the same direction |
| subarachnoid |
between the brain surface and the arachnoid membrane |
| subdural |
between the arachnoid membrane and the dura mater |
| sulcus |
groove on the surface of the cerebrum |
| sympathetic |
pertaining to the division of the autonomic nervous system that maintains body functions needed for escape or fighting |
| syncope |
fainting |
| synesthesia |
mixing up two or more senses (e.g. perceiving colors and sounds at the same time) |
| tastant |
chemical which produces a taste sensation |
| temporal |
bone on the side of the skull; lobe of the brain on the side |
| thermoreceptor |
nerve cell which detects temperature |
| thromboembolism |
loss of blood supply due to a clot which dislodges from its source and lodges in a distant location |
| thromboembolus |
clot which becomes dislodged, blocking the blood supply at a distant location |
| thrombolytic |
drug which breaks apart a blood clot |
| thrombosis |
condition of clotting |
| tinnitus |
ringing in the ears |
| toxic |
poisonous |
| transcranial |
across the skull |
| transduction |
the process of turning one kind of signal into another |
| transient |
temporary; briefly passing |
| trigeminal |
fifth cranial nerve, mostly carrying information from the face to the brain |
| tympanic |
pertaining to the eardrum |
| tympanocentesis |
puncture of the eardrum |
| tympanometry |
process of measuring the eardrum |
| tympanoplasty |
surgical alteration of the eardrum |
| tympanosclerosis |
hardening of the eardrum |
| tympanostomy |
creating a hole ("mouth") in the eardrum |
| unipolar |
a neuron with one major extension from the cell body |
| utricle |
bag-like structure in the vestibular system |
| varicosity |
dilation or enlargement of a part (e.g. a nerve axon) |
| vertigo |
sensation of spinning |
| vestibular |
the organ of balance; part of the inner ear |
| vestibulitis |
inflammation of the vestibular apparatus |
| vestibulocochlear |
pertaining to the inner ear (balance & hearing apparatuses) |
| vestibulotomy |
cutting into the vestibular apparatus |
| vitrectomy |
surgical removal of the vitreous |
| vitreous |
the clear, jelly-like material that gives the eyeball its shape |
| xerophthalmia |
dry eye |
