ME102 Nervous System

By Ivy Vo

Roots

• Dys- : difficult, impaired

• Encephalo- : brain

• Epi- : upon or over

• Hemi- : half

• -itis : inflammation

• -lepsis/lepsy : seizure, fit

• -lexia : words or language

• -logy : study of science

• -lysis : loosening or dissolution

• Meninx/mening- : membrane

• Myelo- : marrow

• Neuro- : nerves or nervous system

• -oma : tumor or mass

• Para- : beside or near

• -paresis : weakness or paralysis

• -pathy : suffering, disease or feeling

• -phasia : speech

• -phobia : fear or aversion

• Photo- : light

• -plegia : stroke or paralysis

• Radix/radic- : root

Vocabulary

Medical Terminology

• Terminology [Root] : Definition

• Neurology [neuro-logy] : study and treatment of the nervous system

• Neuropathy [neuro-pathy] : condition of damage or dysfunction of nerves

• Radiculopathy [radic-(ulo)-pathy] : disorder of nerve roots

• Myeloma [myelo-oma] : cancer in bone marrow

• Meninges [mening(es)] : membrane around the brain and spinal cord

• Meningitis [mening-itis] : inflammation of the meninges

• Encephalopathy [encephalo-pathy] : any disease or dysfunction of the brain

• Hemiplegia [hemi-plegia] : paralysis on one side of the body

• Paralysis [para-lysis] : loss of muscle function

• Paraplegia [para-plegia] : paralysis of lower half of the body

• Hemiparesis [hemi-paresis] : weakness or paralysis on one side of the body

• Epilepsy [epi-lepsy] : recurrent, unpredictable seizures

• Dysphasia [dys-phasia] : language disorder

• Photophobia [photo-phobia] : abnormal sensitivity to light

• Dyslexia [dys-lexia] : difficulty reading, spelling, and writing

Common History, Signs, Symptoms

• Numbness : loss of sensation or feeling

• Tingling : feeling of prickling or pins and needles

• Disorientation : feelings lost or unsure of location, time or situation

• Confusion : uncertainty or difficulty concentrating

• Coma : state of prolonged unconsciousness

• Seizure : uncontrolled changes in behavior, movement, or consciousness

Idioms/Slangs

Black out - losing consciousness, fainting

• ex. After being hit in the head, Joe blacked out and went to the hospital.

Kink in my neck - having stiffness or soreness in one’s neck

• ex. My pillow was too tall and I woke up with a kink in my neck. 

Out cold - to be unconscious but breathing

• ex. She fainted during her presentation and was out cold for several minutes.

Pass out - losing consciousness, fainting

• ex. He felt lightheaded and dizzy, and eventually passed out.

Pins and needles - a tingling, prickling, and numbing sensation

• ex. After sitting still for hours, she felt pins and needles in her legs.