Neurology Care Center

 

M

medial

inclining toward the center or midline of the body; opposite of lateral

midline

invisible reference line that runs longitudinally and divides any body or object in half

migraine

headache characterized by throbbing, one-sided pain, that may be associated with nausea, vomiting, and aura (sensory disturbances)

mitral valve

one-way valve that allows blood to pass from the left atrium into the left ventricle and normally prohibits its reentry

motor neuron cells

cells located in the spinal cord that give rise to nerves that supply the muscles

MRA (magnetic resonance angiography)

test in which an MRI scanner is used to focus on structures within which blood flows, such as the arteries in the neck, brain, and lungs

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

diagnostic test that uses electromagnetic energy to produce soft-tissue images of the central nervous and musculoskeletal systems

multi-infarct dementia

dementia that is caused by the cumulative affect of multiple strokes

multiple sclerosis (MS)

chronic neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system, i.e., the brain and spinal cord

muscular dystrophy

congenital (hereditary) disorder resulting in muscular weakness and dysfunction

myasthenia gravis

disorder affecting the space between the nerve and the muscle (neuromuscular junction) that results in transient motor weakness of the face and limbs

myocardial infarction

medical emergency that occurs when a blood clot forms suddenly in a coronary artery and blocks blood flow to an area of the heart; heart attack

myopathy

disease of muscular dysfunction, usually causing weakness and atrophy

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N

narcolepsy

sleep disorder characterized by sudden and repeated attacks of sleep, usually accompanied by cataplexy, hypnogogic hallucination, and sleep paralysis

neurofibromatosis

genetic disorder which causes skin lesions, cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors, and tumors on internal organs

neurons

nerve cells of the brain responsible for neurological function

neuropathy

condition resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves that results in weakness or sensory loss and pain in the arms, hand, legs, and feet

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

drugs that act against inflammation, reduce fever, relieve muscle pain, and prevent blood clots (Due to potentially severe gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects, NSAIDs should only be used as instructed.)

normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)

increase in pressure within the ventricles of the brain, causing dementia, gait difficulties, and urinary incontinence

nystagmus

jerking movement of the eyes associated with neurological disorder

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O

occlusion

closure; in sleep apnea, closing of the airway at the back of the mouth or top of the throat

optic nerve

cranial nerve II; transmits visual information from the retina to the brain

osteoarthritis

deterioration of cartilage in the joints

osteomyelitis

infection in a bone

overall survival

percentage of disease survivors, with disease and free of disease, after a specified period of time

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