Medical Terminology: Neurology Terms

Questions and Answers

What is the definition of cerebr/o?

Condition of excessive strength

Largest, uppermost portion of the brain (correct)

Ganglion

Pain in a nerve

Define crani/o.

Cranium (skull)

What does encephal/o refer to?

Brain

What is the meaning of gangli/o?

Ganglion (knotlike mass of nerve cells in peripheral nervous system) Signup and view all the answers

What does gli/o mean?

Glue; neuroglial tissue Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of kinesi/o?

Movement Signup and view all the answers

Define lept/o.

Thin, slender Signup and view all the answers

What does lex/o mean?

Word, phrase Signup and view all the answers

What are mening/o and meningi/o referring to?

Membranes covering the brain and spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

What does myel/o refer to?

Bone marrow; spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

What does poli/o mean?

Gray; gray matter (of brain or spinal cord) Signup and view all the answers

Define narc/o.

Stupor; numbness; sleep Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of neur/o?

Nerve Signup and view all the answers

What does -lysis mean?

Separation; destruction; loosening Signup and view all the answers

Define radicul/o.

Nerve root Signup and view all the answers

What does sthen/o refer to?

Strength Signup and view all the answers

What is hypersthenia?

Condition of excessive strength Signup and view all the answers

What does thalam/o mean?

Thalamus; part of diencephalon Signup and view all the answers

What does thec/o refer to?

Sheath (usually refers to meninges) Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of ton/o?

Tension Signup and view all the answers

Define ventricul/o.

Ventricle (of the heart or brain) Signup and view all the answers

What do -algesia and -algia represent?

Pain Signup and view all the answers

What does synalgia mean?

Referred pain Signup and view all the answers

What does -asthenia signify?

Weakness, debility Signup and view all the answers

Define -esthesia.

Feeling Signup and view all the answers

What does -kinesia refer to?

Movement Signup and view all the answers

What does -lepsy mean?

Seizure Signup and view all the answers

What does -paresis refer to?

Partial paralysis Signup and view all the answers

What does -phasia mean?

Speech Signup and view all the answers

Define -plegia.

Paralysis Signup and view all the answers

What does -taxia mean?

Order, coordination Signup and view all the answers

What is ataxia?

Without coordination Signup and view all the answers

What does pachy- refer to?

Thick Signup and view all the answers

What does para- mean?

Near, beside; beyond Signup and view all the answers

What does syn- imply?

Union, together, joined Signup and view all the answers

Define neuralgia.

Pain in a nerve Signup and view all the answers

What is dyskinesia?

Painful or difficult movement Signup and view all the answers

Define dysphasia.

Difficult speech Signup and view all the answers

What does aphasia signify?

Lacking or without speech Signup and view all the answers

What is radiculopathy?

Inflammation of the nerve root; also called radiculitis Signup and view all the answers

What does ischemic refer to?

Type of stroke caused by narrowing of carotid arteries Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

cerebr/o: Refers to the cerebrum, the largest and uppermost portion of the brain.
crani/o: Denotes the cranium, commonly known as the skull.
encephal/o: Represents the brain, the central organ of the nervous system.
gangli/o: Indicates a ganglion, which is a knotlike mass of nerve cells located in the peripheral nervous system.
gli/o: Signifies neuroglial tissue, often referred to as "glue" in the nervous system.

Movement and Function Terms

kinesi/o: Relates to movement, essential for physical activity and function.
sthen/o: Refers to strength, significant in muscle function.

Additional Anatomical Terms

mening/o, meningi/o: Refers to the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord (two spellings).
myel/o: Denotes both bone marrow and spinal cord, crucial for hematopoiesis and nerve signal transmission.
poli/o: Indicates gray matter, which is made up of neuronal cell bodies in the brain and spinal cord.
thalam/o: Refers to the thalamus, an important part of the diencephalon that processes sensory information.

Suffixes Indicating Conditions and Symptoms

-lysis: Indicates separation, destruction, or loosening in medical terminology.
-algia, -algesia: Both denote pain, used in various medical conditions.
-asthenia: Refers to weakness or debility, indicating reduced strength or energy.
-esthesia: Signifies feeling or sensation.
-kinesia: Relates to movement, often used in combination with other terms to describe movement disorders.
-lepsy: Indicates seizure activity, often seen in neurological terms.
-paresis: Signifies partial paralysis, a condition impacting voluntary movement.
-phasia: Refers to speech, with variations indicating different speech difficulties.
-plegia: Denotes paralysis, a complete loss of movement in affected areas.
-taxia: Indicates order or coordination, important in understanding neurological function.

Disorders and Conditions

synalgia: Describes referred pain, where discomfort is felt in a location different from the source.
neuralgia: Identifies pain in a nerve, often debilitating and challenging to manage.
dyskinesia: Refers to painful or difficult movements, often associated with neurological disorders.
dysphasia: Indicates difficulty in speech, which may arise from brain injury or stroke.
aphasia: Represents a total lack or loss of ability to speak, typically resulting from brain damage.
radiculopathy: Identifies inflammation of the nerve root, also known as radiculitis, impacting nerve function.

Prefixes Indicating Relative Position or Condition

pachy-: Indicates thickness, often used in relation to tissues.
para-: Means near, beside, or beyond, often used in medical context to describe adjacent structures.
syn-: Signifies union or being joined together, important in describing joint actions or associations.

Stroke Types

ischemic: Refers to a type of stroke caused by narrowing of carotid arteries, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain.

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Description

Test your knowledge of essential medical terminology related to the nervous system with this quiz. Each question covers important roots and definitions, including terms like cerebrum, cranium, and more. Perfect for students studying healthcare or neurology.