Medical Terminology - Ch. 14 - Nervous System

Key Medical Terms in Nervous System

• cerebr/o refers to the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain responsible for sensory processing and higher cognitive functions.

• crani/o denotes the cranium, which is the skull protecting the brain.

• encephal/o indicates the brain, the central organ of the nervous system.

• kinesi/o signifies movement, essential for motor functions and physical activity.

• mening/o, meningi/o relate to the meninges, membranes that encase the brain and spinal cord, providing protection.

• myel/o can refer to bone marrow or the spinal cord, involved in producing blood cells and relaying signals, respectively.

• neur/o is the prefix for nerve, the fundamental unit of the nervous system transmitting signals throughout the body.

• radicul/o pertains to the nerve root, the point at which nerves exit the spinal cord.

• thalam/o denotes the thalamus, which acts as the relay station for sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex.

• ventricul/o refers to a ventricle, which can be a cavity in the heart or brain, crucial for circulating fluid.

Suffixes Related to Nervous System

• -algia suffix indicates pain, often used in various medical conditions related to discomfort.

• -asthenia signifies weakness or debility, relating to reduced muscle strength or function.

• -esthesia denotes feeling, pertaining to sensation and perception in the nervous system.

• -kinesia indicates movement, used in terms related to motion disorders.

• -lepsy refers to seizures, commonly associated with epilepsy and other seizure disorders.

• -paresis implies partial paralysis, indicating a decrease in muscle strength.

• -phasia pertains to speech, often associated with conditions affecting language ability.

• -plexy indicates stroke, related to blood flow issues in the brain leading to neurological impairment.

• -taxia denotes order or coordination, often referring to coordinated movements or stability.

• -trophy signifies development or nourishment, relevant in contexts of growth and physical development.