NERVOUS SYSTEM MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
Combining form
Meaning
Example
Cerebr/o
Brain
Cerebrovascular
Electr/o
Electric
Encephal/o
Brain
Gli/o
Mening/o
Glue/gluelike
Meninges
Meningi/o
Myel/o
Meninges
Spinal cord or
Bone marrow
Neur/o
Nerve
Psych
Spin/o
Mind
Spine
Abbreviations
ANS
CNS
CSF
CT
CVA
EEG
EMG
LP
MRI
PNS
TIA
New Term
Pertaining to brain
and its vessels
Electroencephalogram Study of electrical
activity of the brain
Encephalocele
Herniation of the
brain
Glioma
Gluelike tumor
Meningitis
Inflammation of
meninges
Meningioma
Meningeal tumor
Myelography
Process of
recording spinal
cord or bone
marrow activity
Neurocytoma
Tumor of nerve
cells
Psychiatrist
MD of the mind
Spinal stenosis
Pertaining to
abnormal condition
of narrowing or
stricture of the
spinal cord
Meaning
Autonomic nervous system
Central nervous system
Cerebrospinal fluid
Computed tomography
Cerebrovascular accident
Electroencephalography
Electromyogram
Lumbar puncture
Magnetic resonance imaging
Peripheral nervous system
Transient ischemic attack
ASSOCIATED PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
A, AN, IN
WITHOUT, ABSENCE OF
DYS
PAINFUL, DIFFICULT
EU
GOOD, NORMAL
HEMI
HALF
INFRA
POSITIONED BENEATH
ISO
SAME, EQUAL
POLY
MANY, MUCH
PARA
NEAR, SURROUNDING, TWO
LIKE PARTS
QUADRI
FOUR
AL, IC, OUS
PERTAINING TO
ALGIA
PAIN
CELE
HERNIA
CYTE
CELL
ECTOMY
EXCISION OF
GRAPHY
PROCESS OF RECORDING
IATRIST/OLOGIST
SPECIALIST
IT IS
INFLAMMATION
OMA
TUMOR
OSIS
ABNORMAL CONDITION
OTOMY
INCISION INTO
PARESIS
SLIGHT/PARTIAL PARALYSIS
PATHY
DISEASE
PHAGIA
EATING, SWALLOWING
PHASIA
SPEECH
PLEGIA
PARALYSIS
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY NERVOUS SYSTEM
RELATED NERVOUS SYSTEM TERMS
Phobia
Ment
Mnes
Algesia
Praxia
Di
Sthenia
Lexia
Atel/o
Fear
Mind
Memory
Sense of pain
Action
Two
Strength
Diction
Imperfect
Lalia
Thym
Hypno
Mania
Phthisis
Tripsy
Noia
Lemma
Mimetic
Pheo
Polio
Pyro
Chrom/a/o
Sympath
Concuss
To talk
Mind, emotion
Sleep
Madness
A wasting
Crushing
Mind
Sheath, husk, rind
Mimic, imitate
Dusky
Gray
Fire
Color
Sympathy
To shake or be shaken up
ANATOMICAL NERVOUS SYSTEM “WORDBYTES”
Arachn
Astro
Cyt/e
Cerebell/o
Cerebro
Cordo
Crani
Disk
Dur
Ganglion
Hydro
Oligo
Dendro
Rachio
Radico
Radicul
Spondylo
Trephinat
Vago
Ventriculo
Cisterno
Spider
Star-shaped
Cell
Little brain
Cerebrum
Cord
Skull
Disk
Dura, hard
Knot
Water
Little
Tree
Spine
Root
Root
Vertebra
A bore, a hole
Vagus, wandering
Little belly
Reservoir, cavity
PATHOLOGY OF THE HEAD, BRAIN, MENINGES
CELPHALAGIA
MIGRAINE HEADACHE
ENCEPHALOCELE/CRANIOCELE
MENINGIOCELE
HYDROCEPHALUS
MENINGITIS
Headache
Syndrome characterized by sudden,
severe, sharp headache usually
present only on one side
Congenital gap in skull with
herniation of brain substance
Protrusion of the membranes of the
brain or spinal cord through a defect
in the skull or spinal column
Abnormally increased amount of
CSF within the brain
Inflammation of meninges of
brain/spinal cord
DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN
ALZHEIMER’S (AD)
Group of disorders associated with
degenerative changes in the brain
COGNITION
Mental activities – thinking, learning
and memory
ENCEPHALITIS
Inflammation of the brain
PARKINSON’S (PD)
Chronic, slowly progressive,
degenerative CNS disorder. Fine
muscle tremors, masklike facial
expression, shuffling gait (walking)
TETANUS
Tet – lockjaw – acute and potentially
Immunization can prevent it.
fatal bacterial infection of the CNS
caused by tetanus bacillus.
BRAIN INJURIES
AMNESIA
Memory disturbance – lack of recall
CONCUSSION (concuss – shaken together)
Shake/jar brain
CEREBRAL CONTUSION
Bruising of brain tissue
CRANIAL HEMATOMA
Collection of blood trapped in brain
tissue. Named for location –
epidural, subdural, intracerebral
ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Conscious
Alert, awake, aware and responding
Syncope
Lethargy
Stupor
Coma
Comatose – one who is in coma
appropriately
Fainting, brief loss of consciousness caused
by brief apnea in brain
Lowered level of consciousness marked by
listlessness, drowsiness and reduced level
of activity
State of impaired consciousness marked by
a lack of responsiveness to environmental
stimuli
Deep state of unconsciousness marked by
absence of spontaneous eye movements, no
response to painful stimuli and no
vocalization.
DELIRIUM – Potentially reversible condition often associated with high
fever that comes on suddenly in which the patient is confused, disoriented
and unable to think clearly.
DEMENTIA – Slow, progressive decline in mental abilities including
memory, thinking, judgment and the ability to pay attention.
STROKES
STROKE – CVA
TIA – transient ischemic attack
ISCHEMIC STROKE –most common type
In elderly persons – affects cerebrum and
damages movement, language, senses
control
APHASIA = without speech
“a”
“phasia”
HEMORRHAGIC STROKE – less
common, but more deadly stroke.
Damage or death of brain tissue caused by
interrupted blood flow by clot or vessel
rupture
Temporay interruption in blood flow to
brain. Sx – weakness, dizziness, balance
off. Sx may pass or may be stroke warning
Carotid artery narrowed blocking blood to
brain or cerebral thrombosis in which a
thrombus (clot) blocks the artery.
Loss of ability to speak, write or
comprehend the written or spoken word
A “bleed” – brain vessel leaks or ruptures
Affects brain areas damaged by leaking
blood
SLEEP DISORDERS –
1. Insomnia – prolonged or inability to sleep.
2. Narcolepsy – syndrome with recurrent, uncontrollable seizures of
drowsiness or sleep. “narco”=stupor “lepsy” = seizure
3. Somnambulism – noctambulism – “sleepwalking” – condition of
walking without awakening. “somn” = sleep “ambul” – to walk
“ism” condition of
4. Somnolence – condition of unnatural sleepiness or
semiconsciousness approaching coma. Person can usually be
aroused by verbal stimuli.
MEDICAL SPECIALTIES RELATED TO THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
1. Anesthesiologist = MD Anesthetist = Nurse - Administers anesthetic
agents before and during surgery. “an”-without “esthesi”-feeling “ologist” –
specialist.
2. Neurologist – Specialist – diagnoses (dx) and treats (tx) nervous system
disorders. Neurosurgeon – Specialist - surgery on the nervous system.
3. Psychiatrist – Specialist – MD who dx and tx emotional problems,
chemical dependencies and mental illness.
4. Psychologist – Nonmedical degree – evaluates/tx emotional problems.