Back to AI Flashcard MakerMedicine /Medical Terminology: Nervous System Part 4
Define: Epilepsy
A neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy can manifest in various forms depending on the brain regions affected.
Tap or swipe ↕ to flip
Swipe ←→Navigate
1/25
Key Terms
Term
Definition
Define: Epilepsy
A neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy can manifest in various forms d...
Define: Seizure
A sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movements, or consciousness. During a seizure, the indi...
Define: Status Epilepticus
A medical emergency characterized by prolonged or repeated seizures without recovery between them. Status epilepticus requires immediate medical inter...
Define: Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
A chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, leading to demyelination and various neurological symptoms. Multiple sclerosis c...
Define: Parkinson’s Disease
A progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, causing tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Parkinson’s disease results from the degenerat...
Define: Alzheimer’s Disease
A progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most comm...
Related Flashcard Decks
Study Tips
- Press F to enter focus mode for distraction-free studying
- Review cards regularly to improve retention
- Try to recall the answer before flipping the card
- Share this deck with friends to study together
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Define: Epilepsy | A neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy can manifest in various forms depending on the brain regions affected. |
Define: Seizure | A sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movements, or consciousness. During a seizure, the individual may experience convulsions or loss of awareness. |
Define: Status Epilepticus | A medical emergency characterized by prolonged or repeated seizures without recovery between them. Status epilepticus requires immediate medical intervention to prevent brain damage. |
Define: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | A chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, leading to demyelination and various neurological symptoms. Multiple sclerosis can cause muscle weakness, vision problems, and coordination issues. |
Define: Parkinson’s Disease | A progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, causing tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Parkinson’s disease results from the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons. |
Define: Alzheimer’s Disease | A progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. |
Define: Dementia | A general term for a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life, often due to neurodegenerative diseases. Dementia can affect memory, thinking, and social abilities. |
Define: Huntington’s Disease | A hereditary neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms. Huntington’s disease typically manifests in mid-adulthood. |
Define: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) | A progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. ALS is often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. |
Define: Peripheral Neuropathy | A condition resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves, causing weakness, numbness, and pain, usually in the hands and feet. Peripheral neuropathy can result from diabetes, infections, or toxic exposure. |
Define: Guillain-Barré Syndrome | An autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis. Guillain-Barré syndrome often follows a viral infection. |
Define: Myasthenia Gravis | A chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal muscles, which are responsible for breathing and moving parts of the body. Patients with Myasthenia Gravis often experience muscle weakness that worsens with activity. |
Define: Bell’s Palsy | A condition that causes sudden, temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face due to inflammation of the facial nerve. After a viral infection, she developed Bell’s Palsy and could not close her left eye. |
Define: Trigeminal Neuralgia | A chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve in the face, causing intense, stabbing pain in response to stimuli such as touch or temperature. He experienced episodes of trigeminal neuralgia whenever he brushed his teeth. |
Define: Meningitis | An inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, typically caused by an infection. The doctor suspected meningitis after the patient presented with fever and a stiff neck. |
Define: Encephalitis | An inflammation of the brain tissue, often caused by a viral infection, leading to symptoms like headache, fever, and confusion. The patient was diagnosed with encephalitis following a severe headache and altered mental state. |
Define: Brain Tumor | An abnormal growth of cells in the brain that can be benign or malignant, causing various neurological symptoms. The MRI revealed a brain tumor that required immediate intervention. |
Define: Glioblastoma | A highly aggressive type of brain tumor that arises from glial cells, characterized by rapid growth and poor prognosis. She was diagnosed with glioblastoma, which is known for its resistance to treatment. |
Define: Hydrocephalus | A condition characterized by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricles of the brain, leading to increased intracranial pressure. The infant was treated for hydrocephalus after showing signs of increased head circumference. |
Define: Spinal Cord Injury | Damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function, mobility, or sensation, often leading to paralysis. After the accident, he suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. |
Define: Concussion | A type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth. She was diagnosed with a concussion after falling during the soccer game. |
Define: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) | An injury to the brain caused by an external force, resulting in temporary or permanent impairment of cognitive, physical, and psychosocial functions. The veteran suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during combat, affecting his memory. |
Define: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) | A progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries, leading to cognitive decline and mood disorders. Former athletes often face a risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) due to multiple concussions. |
Define: Migraine | A neurological condition characterized by intense, debilitating headaches often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. She had to lie down in a dark room to alleviate her migraine symptoms. |
Define: Cluster Headache | A series of relatively short but extremely painful headaches that occur in clusters, often affecting one side of the head. He experienced cluster headaches that would wake him from sleep at night. |