Term	Definition
	Ataxia	Lack of muscle coordination in the execution of voluntary movement
	Cerebral palsy	Self-limiting paralysis due to development defects in the brain or trauma during the birth process
	Clonic spasms	Alternate contraction and relaxation of muscles
	Closed head trauma	Injury to the head in which the dura mater remains intact and brain tissue is not exposed
	Coma	Abnormally deep unconsciousness with absence of voluntary response to stimuli
	Concussion	Transient loss of consciousness as a result of trauma to the head
	Dementia	Broad term that refers to cognitive deficit, including memory impairment
	Echoencephalography	Ultrasound technique used to study the intracranial structures of the brain and, especially, diagnose conditions that cause a shift in the midline structures of the brain
	Electroencephalography	Recording of electrical activity in the brain, whose cells emit distinct patterns of rhythmic electrical impulses
	Electromyography	Recording of electrical signals (action potentials) that occur in a muscle when it is at rest and during contraction to assess nerve damage
	Guillain-Barre's Syndrome	Condition of acute polyneuritis with progressive muscle weakness in extremities
	Herpes Zoster (Shingles)	Painful, acute infectious disease of the posterior root ganglia of only a few segments of the spinal or cranial nerves
	Hydrocephalus	Accumulation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain, causing thinning of brain tissue and separation of cranial bones
	Myelography	Diagnostic radiological examination of the spinal canal, nerve roots, and spinal cord after injection of contrast medium into the spinal cord
	Paraplegia	Paralysis of the lower portion of the trunk and both legs usually as a result of injury or disease of the spine
	Paresis	Slight or incomplete paralysis
	Paresthesia	Sensation of numbness, prickling, tingling, or heightened sensitivity
	Quadriplegia	Paralsysis of all four extremities and usually the trunk
	Sciatica	Severe pain in the leg along the course of the sciatic nerve felt at the base of the spine, down the thigh, and radiating down the leg due to a compressed nerve
	Syncope	Temporary loss of consciousness due to the sudden decline of blood flow to the brain; also called fainting
	Transient ischemic attack	Temporary interference with blood supply to the brain lasting from a few minutes to a few hours
	Computed tomography (CT)	Imaging technique that rotates an x-ray emitter around the area to be scanned and measures the intensity of trasmitted rays from different angles
	Positron emission tomography (PET)	Scan using CT to record the positrons emitted from a radiopharmaceutical and produce a cross-sectional image of metabolic activity in body tissues to determine the presense of disease
	Spinal puncture, spinal tap, CSF analysis	Series of chemical, microscopic, and microbial tests used to diagnose disorders of the central nervous system, including viral and bacterial infections, tumors, and hemorrhage
	Analgesics	Drugs used to relieve or eliminate pain

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