Key Terms

ablative surgery

procedure that destroys the brain tissues that produce abnormal chemical or electrical impulses responsible for the tremors in a patient with Parkinson disease

absence generalized seizure

seizure during which the patient stares into space and may have slight twitching

acetylcholine

key neurotransmitter essential in muscle contraction

acute back pain

sudden pain in the back that typically lasts for a few days to a few weeks

Alzheimer disease

disorder in the brain that destroys memory and thinking abilities

amyloid plaque

deposits that occur when the brain’s beta-amyloid proteins malfunction

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

disease of the central nervous system that affects the brain and spinal cord’s motor neurons, causing patients to lose control of their muscles

angiogenesis

formation of new blood vessels

apoptosis

normal, controlled process of cell death

astrocyte

star-shaped glial cell that forms part of the brain’s supportive tissue

astrocytoma

malignant tumor originating in astrocytes

atonic generalized seizure

seizure during which the patient loses normal muscle tone, which may cause them to involuntarily drop their head or fall down

attack

migraine stage when the headache begins; symptoms during this stage include throbbing or pulsating pain, nausea, and sensitivity to sound, light, touch, and/or smell

aura

occurrence that may take place at the beginning of a seizure and may include a sense of déjà vu and/or a sudden feeling of intense emotion such as fear or happiness

autonomic function

automatic movements, such as the heart beating, that individuals do not control

autonomic nerve

nerve that controls muscles and organs regulating bodily functions that patients cannot control consciously, such as the heart, lungs, and digestive system

axial spondyloarthritis

inflammatory disease that affects the spine

basal ganglia

areas of the brain where movement is controlled

benign

noncancerous

bradykinesia

slowed movement as patients attempt to do things such as walk or write

brain atrophy

loss of neurons and synapses sometimes caused by disorders such as MND, infections, and cerebral palsy

brain sagging

disorder that causes cognitive dysfunction and other issues typically associated with MND. Imaging shows the brain in a sagging position

brain tumor

abnormal growth of cells found within the brain or near it

Brudzinski’s sign

condition characterized by rigidity and passive flexion of the neck with flexion of both legs and thighs

bulbar nerve

nerve that holds the jaw in place and controls swallowing, chewing, and speaking processes

cerebral angiography

type of x-ray that creates digital images of the anatomy of the brain with a focus on the blood vessels within and around the brain

cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)

net pressure gradient required to ensure sufficient oxygen delivery to the brain and allow optimal pressure levels for proper brain health

cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)

colorless fluid found within the subarachnoid space of the meninges of the brain, which surrounds both brain and spinal cord, acting to maintain health and functioning of the brain

chordoma

rare, slow-growing benign tumor found at the base of the skull or in the lower spine

chronic back pain

back pain that appears suddenly or gradually, occurs daily, and lasts more than twelve weeks

clonic generalized seizure

seizure during which the patient has repetitious jerking movements on both sides of their body

contracture

shortening and/or hardening of muscles, tendons, and tissues that causes deformity and rigidity in joints

craniopharyngioma

benign tumor that typically arises from the pituitary gland and becomes embedded deep in the brain near critical structures

Cushing’s triad

changes in a patient’s vital signs, including widened pulse pressure in systolic blood pressure, bradycardia (low pulse rate), and irregular breathing patterns

decerebrate posturing

neurological reflex movement of muscles causing the limbs to extend and hold rigidly at the sides of the body

decorticate posturing

neurological reflex movement of muscles causing the limbs to flex and hold rigidly across the chest

deep brain stimulation

surgical procedure that implants a device in the brain to produce electrical impulses and disrupt the brain signals causing Parkinson disease

demyelinating disease

condition that damages the protective covering of the brain’s nerve fibers

dermatome

section of the body’s skin that depends on nerves connected to the spinal cord

dopamine

chemical neurotransmitter in the brain’s basal ganglia that is involved in movement, as well as disposition and memory

dura

spinal cord’s thin covering

ependymoma

less common malignant brain tumor that occurs when the ependymal cells that line the ventricular system experience a neoplastic transformation

epidural blood patch

process of injecting a small amount of autologous blood into a patient’s epidural space to plug the leak

epilepsy

neurological disease that causes recurring seizures

exacerbation

time period when symptoms are manifested and/or worsened in patients with MS

extradural

relating to spinal tumors located outside both the dura and the spinal cord

fasciculation

uncontrolled twitching in the muscles

fibro fog

cognitive difficulties caused by fibromyalgia that may include difficulty concentrating, lack of alertness, forgetfulness, reduction in thinking skills, and difficulty retrieving information stored in the brain

fibromyalgia

chronic condition that affects soft tissues and muscles throughout the body, causing musculoskeletal pain and tenderness

flaccid posturing

abnormal body posturing that occurs when muscles lack tension and go limp

focal seizure

seizure that begins in one area of the brain

frontotemporal disorder

condition that occurs when the brain’s frontal and temporal lobe neurons are damaged; condition progressively gets worse and causes personality and behavior changes

gangliocytoma

rare benign tumor that involves the neoplastic nerve cells and typically occurs in young adults

generalized seizure

seizure that affects both sides of the brain at the same time

glial cell

brain’s supporting cell that provides nourishment to neurons

glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)

most invasive of the malignant glial tumors

glioma

malignant brain tumor produced from the brain’s glial cells

glomus tumor

rare benign tumor that occurs in the head and neck, often near the jugular vein

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)

rare autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, affecting motor function

herniated disk

compression in the disk in the spine, irritating nearby nerves

herniation

protrusion of tissue that can displace the brain

ictal

relating to the phase of a seizure that begins with the first symptom and lasts until the seizure ends

increased intracranial pressure (IICP)

increase in intracranial pressure that occurs as a result of factors such as changes to blood volume, changes in the rates of CSF production and absorption, fluctuations in brain tissue volume, and obstruction of CSF flow

intracranial pressure (ICP)

pressure within the rigid confines of a skull in which brain tissue, blood, and CSF exist together

intradural-extramedullary

relating to spinal tumors located on the inside of the dura but outside the actual spinal cord

intramedullary

relating to spinal tumors located on the inside of the spinal cord

Kernig’s sign

condition characterized by the inability to fully extend the knee when the hip is flexed at a 90-degree angle while the patient is supine

Lewy body dementia

condition that occurs when the brain has abnormal deposits of protein; condition progresses slowly and changes a patient’s ability to think and concentrate

low back pain

feeling of aching, burning, stabbing, or shooting pains in the muscles of the lower back

lumbar spinal stenosis

narrowing of the spinal cord in the lower back, putting pressure on the nerves

lumbar spine

five vertebrae that comprise the lower section of the spine found between the body’s ribs and pelvis

major neurocognitive disorder (MND)

group of disorders characterized by neurological changes that make it more challenging for patients to continue routine activities

malignant

describing a cancerous growth that harms normal tissue by invading and spreading

medulloblastoma

malignant, high-grade brain tumor that typically occurs in children, affecting the cerebellum

meningioma

the most common type of benign intracranial tumor that begins growing in the meninges around the brain and spinal cord

meningitis

(also: meningoencephalitis) an inflammation of the meninges, which are the membranes covering both brain and spinal cord

metastatic brain tumor

secondary tumor that originates outside the brain, such as in the lung or breast tissue, and spreads into brain tissue

metastatic spinal tumor

tumor that originates elsewhere in the body and spreads to the spine

migraine

serious neurological disease characterized by a severe, throbbing pain or pulsing sensation that affects one side of the head

Monro-Kellie doctrine

principle that intracranial volume remains constant while within rigid skull constraints

motor nerve

nerve that controls muscles that patients voluntarily control, such as those used to talk and walk

multiple sclerosis (MS)

autoimmune condition of the central nervous system characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration

myasthenia gravis (MG)

autoimmune neuromuscular condition caused by the body’s production of hyperreactive antibodies that block acetylcholine receptors on muscle fibers, prohibiting communication to the nerves and affecting voluntary muscles

myoclonic generalized seizure

seizure during which the patient has twitches and/or jerks in the arms, upper body, or legs

neoplastic transformation

when oncogenes are activated while tumor suppressor genes are inactivated

neurodegenerative disease

chronic condition that damages the brain and central nervous system, causing problems with cognitive abilities and physical movement

neurofibrillary tangle

disorganized structure that results when the brain’s tau proteins malfunction

neurofilament light chain (NfL)

protein that increases when neurons are damaged; patients with ALS typically have a high serum level of NfL

neuromuscular junction

point where nerve impulses meet muscles to create movement

nonpenetrating

relating to brain injuries that occur when the assault is strong enough to move the brain around inside the skull, but the skull is not broken

norepinephrine

primary chemical messenger for the sympathetic nervous system, which controls bodily functions such as blood pressure and heart rate

oligodendroglioma

malignant brain tumor occurring in the cells that produce the brain’s myelin, which insulates the brain’s wiring

oncogene

mutated proto-oncogene that can cause cancer

onset awareness

focal seizure in which the patient is awake and aware

onset impaired awareness

focal seizure in which the patient is confused and not fully aware

orthostatic hypotension

sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up or sitting down

osteoarthritis

inflammation in the joints that can occur in the spine

osteoporosis

skeletal disorder that causes bones to lose mass and possibly fracture; when this occurs in the spine, the fractures cause low back pain

papilledema

swelling in the eye’s optic disks

paraplegia

form of paralysis from a spinal cord injury that affects some or all of the trunk, pelvic organs, and legs, but patients can still move their arms

paresthesia

abnormal sensations of burning, prickling, and tingling

Parkinson disease

brain disorder that affects the nervous system, causing body parts controlled by nerves to have movements that are unintended and uncontrollable

penetrating

relating to brain injuries that occur when the skull is pieced by a sharp object that enters brain tissue

peripheral nervous system

division of the nervous system that contains the nerves that travel from the brain and spinal cord to carry signals to the rest of the body

petechiae

round spots on the skin caused by bleeding in the skin

phonophobia

aversion to loud noises

photophobia

increased sensitivity to light

pituitary adenoma

common type of benign tumor that begins in the pituitary gland

polyneuropathy

peripheral nerve disorder that occurs when multiple peripheral nerves all over the body are damaged and malfunction simultaneously

postdrome

migraine stage that may last up to twenty-four hours after the headache is over; postdrome symptoms include exhaustion, confusion, and elation

postictal

relating to the recovery period after a seizure ends when patients may experience issues such as confusion, anxiety, memory lapses, headache, muscle weakness, and loss of bladder control

primary brain tumor

tumor that originates within the brain or the area surrounding the brain; may be benign or malignant

primary injury

injury that occurs immediately after a traumatic brain injury happens

primary spinal tumor

tumor that originates in the spine or the spinal cord

prodrome

phase before a seizure actually begins; includes warning signals that indicate a seizure is going to happen

proto-oncogene

gene that enables cells to stay alive by growing and dividing properly

ptosis

vision problem that includes double vision and drooping eyelids

quadriplegia

(also: tetraplegia) paralysis from a spinal cord injury that affects patients’ arms and hands, as well as their trunk, pelvic organs, and legs

remission

time period when symptoms disappear or minimize for patients with MS

schwannoma

common type of benign brain tumor found in adults near nerves

sciatica

compression of the sciatic nerve in the lower back by a bone spur or herniated disk

scoliosis

condition that causes the spine to curve sideways

secondary injury

injury that occurs gradually in response to reactive processes in the brain that are caused by the trauma

seizure

sudden and uncontrolled electrical activity in of the brain’s neurons, sending incorrect messages between brain cells

seizure threshold

likelihood that a patient will have a seizure

sensory nerve

nerve that transmits messages about pain, temperature, feelings, and other information gathered by the senses

somatic function

conscious movement that individuals control

spinal cord injury

damage to any area of the spinal cord, including the nerves and nerve fibers that transmit signals from the brain

spinal disorder

disease or injury that affects the spinal cord and back

spinal tumor

growth of abnormal tissue inside or encompassing the spinal column or the spinal cord

spondylolisthesis

condition in which a vertebra slips out of place in the spine

subacute back pain

back pain that may occur suddenly or gradually and usually lasts four to twelve weeks

tetraplegia

(also: quadriplegia) paralysis from a spinal cord injury that affects patients’ arms and hands, as well as their trunk, pelvic organs, and legs

thymus gland

gland that can produce antibodies that block acetylcholine; if the gland has a tumor and malfunctions, it may contribute to MG

tonic generalized seizure

seizure during which the patient’s muscles stiffen, typically in the arms, legs, and/or back

tonic-clonic generalized seizure

seizure during which the patient has a combination of reactions that may include repetitious jerking, stiffening, and/or a loss of consciousness

traumatic brain injury (TBI)

damage that results when the brain experiences a sudden assault from an external source

vascular dementia

condition that occurs when the brain does not have sufficient blood and oxygen, resulting in damage to the brain’s blood vessels; condition may affect all aspects of a patient’s cognitive abilities, including behavior, memory, and reasoning

vertigo

sensation that causes patients to feel dizzy, sometimes as if they are spinning or in motion while still