Medical Terminology: Nervous System Roots

Nervous System Word Roots and Combining Forms

• cerebr/o refers to the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain responsible for higher brain functions.
• crani/o denotes the cranium, the skull that encases and protects the brain.
• dendr/o translates as "tree," often used to describe the branched structure of nerve cells (neurons).
• encephal/o signifies the brain, crucial for processing information and coordinating actions.
• gangli/o means ganglion, a structure containing nerve cell bodies, often linked to the nervous system's network.
• gli/o represents "glue" in relation to neurological tissue, specifically supportive cells in the nervous system known as glial cells.
• kinesi/o refers to movement, pivotal in the study of motor function and physical activity.
• lept/o means thin, used in medical terminology to describe thin structures or conditions.
• lex/o indicates word or phrase, relevant in linguistics and the study of language-related neurological function.
• mening/o or meningi/o pertains to the meninges, the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
• myel/o refers to bone marrow or spinal cord, the latter involved in transmitting signals between the brain and body.
• narc/o relates to stupor or sleep, important in understanding various states of consciousness and conditions like narcolepsy.
• neur/o signifies nerve, the fundamental component of the nervous system responsible for conducting signals.
• radicul/o denotes nerve root, the segment of a nerve that connects to the spinal cord, integral for sensory and motor signal transmission.
• sthen/o means strength, often used in the context of muscle strength and neurological function.
• thec/o translates as sheath, typically referring to protective coverings around nerves or blood vessels.
• thalam/o indicates thalamus, a part of the brain involved in relaying sensory information and regulating consciousness.
• ton/o signifies tension, commonly associated with muscle tone and the regulation of muscle contraction.
• ventricul/o refers to ventricle, which can denote cavities within the brain containing cerebrospinal fluid or spaces in the heart.