Anatomy and Physiology

• Lumbar punctures (LP) are best performed between the L3 and L4 vertebrae.
• Vitreous humor is a semi-gelatinous liquid within the eye.
• The fibrous layer of the eye consists of the sclera and cornea.
• Interruption of oxygen due to blood vessel blockage results in cerebrovascular issues.
• Sensorineural hearing loss is due to damage to the nerve pathways to the brain.
• The pineal gland secretes melatonin.
• Leukocytes function to defend against diseases.
• The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, blood, and capillaries.
• Hypertension is measured using a sphygmomanometer.
• Hypertension is diagnosed when systolic readings exceed 140 mm Hg or diastolic readings are greater than 90 mm Hg.
• Clotting disorders include hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
• Glucagon, produced by the pancreas, increases blood sugar levels.
• Platelets are also known as thrombocytes.
• Insulin is secreted by beta cells in the pancreas.
• Adrenaline is a synonym for epinephrine.

Nervous System Disorders

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system (CNS) involving the formation of plaques in the brain and spinal cord.
• Poliomyelitis involves inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord.
• A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.
• An epidural hematoma is a collection of blood between the skull and dura mater.
• Aphasia is the loss of speech.
• Syncope is fainting.
• A ganglion is a group of neuron cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.
• Hydrocephalus is the excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain.
• Depression is a disorder resulting in prolonged periods of loss of interest.
• Neurotransmitters are potent chemicals in the synapse between neurons.
• Paresthesia is numbness.
• A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary interruption of blood supply to the brain.
• Astrocytoma is a star-shaped tumor.
• Demyelination is the loss of myelin.

Vocabulary

• Encephal/o refers to the brain.
• Dopamine (DA) is a neurotransmitter.
• Anacusis is total deafness.
• Malleus is located in the middle ear.
• An optician is a technician who fills eyeglass prescriptions.
• Astigmatism is an irregularity in the cornea's curvature, distorting light entry.
• OS refers to the left eye.
• AU refers to both ears.
• AS refers to the left ear.
• OU refers to both eyes.
• Aur/o refers to the ear.
• Acous/o refers to hearing.
• Irid/o refers to the iris.
• Phac/o refers to the lens.
• Ophthalm/o refers to the eye.
• A cataract is cloudiness of the lens.
• Presby/o refers to old age.
• An ossicle is a small bone.
• Tympan/o refers to the eardrum.
• Hyperopia is farsightedness.
• Rods and cones are photoreceptors in the eye.
• Retin/o refers to the retina.
• Auditory ossicles are three small bones in the middle ear.
• The auditory tube connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx.
• An ophthalmoscope is used to examine the interior of the eyeball.
• Lacrimal is an adjective associated with tears.
• Myelin is a white, fatty protective layer around neurons.
• TIA stands for transient ischemic attack.
• An otorhinolaryngologist is a physician specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders.
• Otorrhea is fluid discharge from the ear.
• The tympanic membrane is the eardrum.
• An axon conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.
• MS stands for multiple sclerosis.
• MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging.
• CSF stands for cerebrospinal fluid.
• PNS stands for peripheral nervous system.
• The ciliary body is a group of muscles that suspend the lens.
• Glaucoma is an eye disease characterized by increased intraocular pressure.
• Otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear.
• Delirium is an altered state of consciousness.
• An audiologist measures hearing efficiency and treats hearing impairment.
• The cochlea contains sensory receptors for hearing.
• The retina is the layer of the eye containing rods and cones.
• Meningomyelocele is a hernia of the meninges and spinal cord.
• Cerumen is a wax-like secretion in the external auditory canal.
• Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain.
• Electroencephalography records the electrical potential of the brain.
• PD is a disease of the nerves in the brain due to a loss of dopamine.
• Absence seizure is a petit mal seizure.
• Lobotomy is an incision into a lobe of the brain.
• -mnesia means memory.
• Myelomeningocele is a protrusion of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord through a defect in the vertebral column.
• Phacolysis is the destruction and operative removal of the lens.
• CVA stands for cerebrovascular accident.
• OD refers to the right eye.
• AD stands for Alzheimer's disease.
• A sty is also known as a hordeolum.
• Retinopexy is surgical fixation of a detached retina.
• Exophthalmos is a condition in which eyes bulge from their sockets.
• -tropin means nourishment or stimulation.
• CT refers to calcitonin.
• Acr/o refers to extremities.
• FBS stands for fasting blood sugar.
• Crin/o means to secrete.
• GTT stands for glucose tolerance test.
• Adren/o refers to the adrenal gland.
• Glyc/o refers to sugar.
• LH stands for luteinizing hormone.
• ADH stands for antidiuretic hormone.
• Polyphagia is excessive appetite.
• Glycosuria is sugar in the urine.
• Polyuria is excessive urination.
• Polydipsia is excessive thirst.
• Hyperglycemia is high blood sugar.
• -ectasis means dilation or expansion.
• Thromb/o refers to a clot.
• Angi/o refers to a vessel.
• -stenosis means a narrowing.
• -gram means written record.
• Valvulo/o refers to a valve.
• Artery stenosis is the narrowing of an artery.
• The myocardium is the thickest of the heart's three layers.
• Leukemia is a condition characterized by a high number of white blood cells (WBCs).
• Isch- is a root meaning restricting.
• Angioplasty is the surgical repair of a blood vessel.
• The SA node is the pacemaker of the heart.
• Varic/o refers to dilated.
• Atri/o refers to the atrium.
• Ather/o refers to fatty.
• Hyperlipidemia is elevated blood fat.
• CABG stands for coronary artery bypass graft.
• An aneurysm is a localized dilation of an artery.
• Cardioversion is an electric current used to restore normal sinus rhythm.
• Plasma is the fluid portion of blood consisting mainly of water.
• Diabetes insipidus is a disorder related to low levels of antidiuretic hormone.
• Estrogen and progesterone are two hormones produced by the ovaries.
• -emia refers to blood.
• Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute.
• The tricuspid valve is the right atrioventricular (AV) valve.
• The bicuspid valve is the mitral valve.
• Thyroidectomy is the excision of the thyroid.
• CAD stands for coronary artery disease.
• A-fib stands for atrial fibrillation.
• Coronary arteries are the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle.
• Aldosterone regulates water and electrolyte balance.
• Thyrotropin is thyroid stimulating hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
• Insulin transports glucose into cells and decreases excess blood glucose levels.
• Endocrine means to secrete within.
• Cushing syndrome is hypersecretion of cortisol.
• An antiarrhythmic drug treats heart rhythm abnormalities.
• Vasospasm is the spasm of a vein.
• Dyscrasia is an abnormality of the blood.
• Hemolysis is the destruction of red blood cells (RBCs).
• A hematologist is a medical specialist of blood.
• Leukemia is a malignant disease of blood.
• Arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm.
• SA stands for sinoatrial.
• MI stands for myocardial infarction.
• Thrombocytopenia is an abnormal decrease in the number of thrombocytes.
• Androgen is a male sex hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex.
• My/o refers to muscle.
• Arteri/o refers to artery.
• Brady- means slow.
• Phleb/o refers to vein.
• Peri- means around.
• ACTH stands for adrenocorticotropic hormone.
• GH stands for growth hormone.
• O blood type is the universal donor.
• AB blood type is the universal recipient.
• A goiter is caused by hyperthyroidism.
• Hyperpituitarism is excessive pituitary secretions.
• Adrenalopathy is disease of adrenal glands.
• Suprarenal means above the kidney.