Neurological Glossary

CADASIL

(Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy); the most common form of hereditary stroke disorder. A progressive illness

Calcarine cortex

Primary visual cortex located in the occipital lobe (striate area 17)

Capillaries

Tiny blood vessels.

Cardio-embolic stroke

Stroke due to a clot that has formed in the heart and travelled to the brain.

Carotid sinus

Arterial baroreceptor located at the bifurcation of the external and internal carotid arteries that regulates arterial pressure and heart rate in response to changes in stretch and transmural pressure

Catamenial

Referring to menses; with regard to women with epilepsy or migraine

Cataplexy

Sudden loss of postural tone

Cauda equina

('horse's tail') collection of intradural spinal nerve roots caudal to the spinal cord that supply the lower limbs and pelvis; since this structure is part of the peripheral nervous system

Caudal

Toward the tail

Caudate

Portion of the basal ganglia that lies in the floor of the lateral ventricle

Cavernoma (cavernous malformation)

Vascular malformations composed primarily of large venous channels without a clear-cut arterial component

Cavernous sinus

Paired

Central chromatolysis

Regenerative response to axonal injury consisting of neuronal swelling

Central cord syndrome

Spinal cord injury syndrome associated with damage to the central portion of the spinal cord characterized by bilateral weakness of distal>proximal muscles in the arm>leg

Central herniation

Downward displacement of the cerebral hemispheres pushing the diencephalon and midbrain through the tentorial notch; symptoms classically follow a rostrocaudal deterioration

Central nervous system (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord

Central post-stroke pain (CPSP)

Also called thalamic pain or neuropathic pain syndrome; where all stimuli cause a pain reaction

Central sulcus

Prominent sulcus on the dorsolateral aspect of the cerebral hemispheres formed by the precentral and postcentral gyri; defines the boundary between the frontal and parietal lobes

Centrally-acting drugs

Medicines that act on the brain or central nervous system

Centrum semiovale

Expansive region of white matter in the dorsal core of the frontal and parietal lobes

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (congophilic angiopathy)

Vascular disorder in which beta amyloid protein is deposited within the media and adventitia of small- to medium-sized meningeal and cortical blood vessels

Cerebral aqueduct

Portion of the ventricular system that lies in the dorsal midbrain and connects the third and fourth ventricles

Cerebral arteriosclerosis

Thickening and hardening of the arteries within the brain.

Cerebral atherosclerosis

Build-up of fatty deposits in the inner wall of cerebral arteries; form of cerebral arteriosclerosis

Cerebral atrophy

The shrinking of the brain or brain cells.

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts & leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL)

Familial arterial disease of the brain caused by mutations in the Notch3 gene and consisting of recurrent subcortical strokes starting in midadult life

Cerebral cortex

The thin outer layer of the cerebrum

Cerebral haemorrhage

Bleeding from a ruptured blood vessel in the brain.

Cerebral hemisphere

Symmetrical half of the cerebrum as separated by the sagittal sulcus and containing the cerebral cortex

Cerebral Palsy

A disorder of movement and posture due to a non-progressive defect or lesion to the immature brain

Cerebral peduncle (crus cerebri)

White matter tracts (corticospinal and corticobulbar) on the ventral surface of the midbrain containing the efferent axons of cerebral cortex that project to brainstem and spinal cord

Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)

Mean arterial pressure (MAP) ' intracranial pressure (ICP)

Cerebral salt wasting

Centrally-mediated hypovolemic hyponatremia associated with negative sodium balance that occurs in approximately 30-50% of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage despite their being given maintenance volumes of fluid. Excessive sodium loss is thought to be due to impaired sodium reabsorption in the proximal tubule and may be caused by disruption of sympathetic input to the kidneys

Cerebral Thrombosis

Formation of blood clot in an artery of the brain

Cerebritis

Inflammation of the brain

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Clear

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain

Charcot-Bouchard aneurysm

Aneurysmal dilation of small intraparenchymal vessels commonly seen in the brains of patients with hypertensive haemorrhage

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)

An inherited neurological disorder damaging motor and sensory peripheral nerves and causing muscle weakness and reduced sensation in the legs

Charcot joint

Progressive destruction and deformity of bone and soft tissue at weight bearing joints due to severe sensory or autonomic neuropathy

Cheiro

Relating to the hand

Chiari malformation

CNS disorder characterized by cerebellar elongation and protrusion through the foramen magnum into the cervical spinal cord. Type I consists of caudal displacement of the medulla and inferior pole of the cerebellar hemispheres through the foramen magnum. Type II=type I + hydrocephalus and lumbosacral spina bifida. Type III involves herniation of the entire cerebellum through the foramen magnum with a cervical spina bifida cystica. Type IV involves cerebellar hypoplasia

Cholesterol

A fatty substance made in the liver and also present in some foods

Chorea

Uncontrollable

Choreoathetosis

Involuntary movements showing features of both chorea and athetosis

Choroid plexus

Intraventricular structure that secretes cerebrospinal fluid

Choroid plexus papilloma

Histologically benign intracranial tumor of neuroectodermal origin that is most commonly located in a ventricle (lateral>fourth>third)

Chronic daily headache

Headache disorder consisting of frequent headache occurring 15 or more days per month and including headache associated with medication overuse

Chronic pain

Pain which persists over a long period of time and is resistant to most medical treatments

Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania

Indomethacin-responsive headache disorder characterized by the occurrence of multiple daily attacks lasting 5 to 30 minutes of severe unilateral head pain often associated with autonomic phenomenon (eye tearing

Chronic-progressive

Developing over months to years; implies gradual deterioration as occurs with degenerative diseases like Alzheimer disease

Cingulate gyrus

Cortical component of the limbic system located on the medial aspect of the hemisphere superior to the corpus callosum; involved in emotional and cognitive processing

Cingulate herniation

Horizontal displacement of a cerebral hemisphere due to an expanding lesion that forces the cingulate gyrus under the falx cerebri

Circadian rhythm

Innate daily fluctuation of physiological or behavioral functions

Circle of Willis

The main arterial trunk located at the base of the brain where the two internal carotid arteries and the basilar artery join

Circulatory problems

Impairment or malfunction of a part of the circulatory system

Constraint-induced Movement Therapy (CIT)

An intensive movement rehabilitation programme

Claude Syndrome

Ipsilateral oculomotor palsy and contralateral ataxia and hemichoreoathetosis due to a dorsal midbrain tegmental lesion affecting the III nerve fascicles

Claustrum

Thin plate of gray matter lying in the white matter between the insula and the basal ganglia that modulates cortical activity

Clay shoveler's fracture

Typically stable fracture through a spinous process due to hyperextension injury

Clinical psychologist

Health professional who assesses and treats psychological dysfunction

Clonic seizure

Generalized seizure characterized by jerking movements on both sides of the body

Clonus

Rhythmic contraction relaxation tremor due to cyclic alternations of the spindle stretch reflex and the Golgi tendon organ reflex; indicative of exaggerated stretch reflexes

Clopidogrel

Anti-platelet drug used to stop clots from forming

Cluster headache

Primary headache syndrome characterized by intense

CNS

Central nervous system

CNS metastasis

Metastatic tumours typically spread by a haematogenous route and found at the junction between gray matter and white matter where they are trapped by the acute angle branching of the microvasculature

Cognition

The function of processing information and applying knowledge.

Cognitive functions

Processes requiring thought and intelligence

Cogwheeling

Ratchety movement due to superimposition of tremor on rigidity

Coital headache

Indomethacin-responsive headache disorder characterized by sudden

Coma

State of unarousable unresponsiveness with closed eyes

Common carotid artery

Artery that arises from the brachiocephalic artery on the right and from the aortic arch on the left

Communicating hydrocephalus

Blockage of CSF flow outside the ventricular system

Community physiotherapist

Provides a local or domiciliary service (where patients are housebound) for adults with physical health difficulties or rehabilitation needs. Usually works as part of a team providing assessment and treatment for difficulties with mobility

Compensation

Adapting to an impairment in order to perform a task successfully

Complementary (therapy)

Various treatments

Complex partial seizure

Partial seizure in which consciousness or awareness is impaired; epileptic discharge either originates in limbic structures (hippocampus) or spreads to them from neocortex

Complex tic

Distinct

Computed Tomography (CT)

The X-ray technique most commonly used to examine the brain. Sometimes referred to as CAT - computed or computerised axial tomography.

Concentration

The ability to direct and focus one's thinking in whatever direction one would intend.

Concussion

Traumatic closed head injury that results in temporary impairment of neurological function

Confabulation

Unconscious fabrication of experiences and events to cover gaps in memory. May be caused by damage to the anterior communicating artery and frontal area of the brain.

Conduction aphasia

Selective impairment of the ability to repeat due to a lesion of the arcuate fasciculus

Conduction block

Failure of impulse conduction along an anatomically intact axon; characteristic of demyelinating neuropathy

Conductive Education

A learning system which can enable some children with cerebral palsy to function more independently

Congenital

'present at birth' i.e. a condition which originates prenatally

Continence

Automatic control of bladder and bowel function. Loss of one or both (incontinence) may happen for a time after stroke.

Contracoup

Opposite to the site of impact

Contractures

Permanent shortening of muscle and tendon resulting from spastic tightening of muscles over a long period

Contralateral

Located on the opposite side of the body (brain)

Contusion

Oedematous brain lesion containing punctuate parenchymal haemorrhages on the surface of the brain that may extend bi-directionally into the white matter and the subdural and subarachnoid spaces; occur at the site of impact (coup contusion) with direct trauma and at a site opposite to the site of impact (contracoup contusion) with acceleration/deceleration injury

Conus medullaris

Caudal-most part of the spinal cord located between the first and second lumbar vertebrae. Since this structure is part of the spinal cord but is in close proximity to spinal nerve roots

Convergence

Coordinated inward movement of the eyes in order to fixate on a near object

Convergence-retraction nystagmus

Form of nystagmus consisting of jerking eye movements inward and backward; associated with dorsal midbrain lesion

Coprolalia

Uncontrolled

Coronal

Vertical plane from head to foot and parallel to the shoulders

Corona radiata

Fan-like arrangement of fibres projecting from all aspects of the cerebral cortex and converging toward the thalamus where they will form the internal capsule

Corpus callosum

Large fibre structure that makes connections between homotopic regions of the cerebral hemispheres; bend at its anterior limit is called the genu; bend at its caudal end is called the splenium; portion between the two is called the body.

Correct positioning

After stroke where one side of the person is weak or paralysed

Cortical

Referring to the cerebral cortex

Cortical blindness

Apparent lack of visual functioning in spite of anatomically and structurally intact eyes due to bilateral lesions of the primary visual cortex

Corticobasal degeneration

Progressive neurological disorder characterized by nerve cell loss in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia and producing parkinsonism

Corticobulbar tract

Axons originating in the posterior frontal lobe and projecting to lower motor neurons in the brainstem

Corticospinal tract (pyramidal tract)

Motor pathway responsible for voluntary movement that arises from primary motor cortex

Cough headache

Indomethacin-responsive headache disorder characterized by transient

Coup

Lesion at the site of impact

Cowdry A inclusion bodies

Eosinophilic nuclear inclusions surrounded by a clear halo in neurons or glial cells occurring in herpes simplex encephalitis

Cowdry B inclusion bodies

Large glassy eosinophilic nuclear inclusions occurring in herpes simplex encephalitis

Craft palsy

Dystonia occurring in the setting of a highly learned skilled task

Craniectomy

Surgical removal of a section of bone (bone flap) from the skull for the purpose of operating on the underlying tissues or relieving intracranial pressure

Craniopharyngioma

Suprasellar WHO grade I tumour of children/young adults that causes significant morbidity and mortality; characterized histologically by basal palisading

Cranioplasty

Surgical repair of a defect or deformity of the skull; replacement of a bone flap

Craniorachischisis totalis

Fatal neural tube defect consisting of total failure of neurulation; a neural plate-like structure is entirely exposed without overlying bony or dermal covering

Craniosynostosis

Premature closure at birth of one or more cranial sutures

Craniotomy

Surgical removal of a section of bone (bone flap) from the skull for the purpose of operating on the underlying tissues

Creatine kinase

Enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of creatine to phosphocreatine and is released into the blood by tissues'particularly muscle'that consume adenosine triphosphate (ATP) rapidly; elevated levels are seen in myopathy

Cremasteric reflex

Superficial (cutaneous) reflex elicited by stroking the superior and medial part of the thigh in a downward direction; normal response is contraction of the cremasteric muscle that pulls up the scrotum and testis on the side stroked; dependent on nerve roots L1 and L2

Crepitus

A medical term to describe the grating

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Fatal prion disease characterized by spongiform changes in the brain

Crossed adductor reflex

Reflex contraction of the adductor magnus caused by tapping the opposite knee; indication of hyperreflexia on the side of the adductor contraction; commonly thought to be due to stimulation of the adductor muscle on the hyperreflexive side through slight jarring of the pelvis

Crural

Relating to the leg

Cryptogenic

Occurring without known cause; in the context of epilepsy

CT/ CAT Scan

Diagnostic technique using a combination of computer and X-rays [Computed Axial Tomography] - provides cross-sectional images of tissue which are clearer and more detailed than X-rays alone with minimal exposure to radiation

CVA

The abbreviation for 'cerebro-vascular accident' meaning stroke. The term is widely used but may cause confusion.