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SPINAL CORD INJURY
NETWORK INTERNATIONAL
Glossary of Terms
Other glossaries:
-
Spinal
Cord Injury: Emerging Concepts: An NIH Workshop (1997).
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PoinTis:
select "glossary of terms" from the listing which appears on the left frame
of the screen
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Glossary
of Neurosurgical Terms (The American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress
of Neurological Surgeons)
Medical Terms
activated lymphocytes
a lymphocyte is a white blood cell which originates from stem cells; they
are part of the immune system of the body; activated means that they have
been converted to an active form which has a particular biological action
(in SCI research with stem cells they are promoting growth of neural cells
in the spinal cord)
activities of daily living
the home and self-care tasks we perform daily
acute
the early stages of an injury
ADL
activities of daily living
algia
word suffix meaning pain or ache
antegrade continence enema
treatment for intractable fecal incontinence; first described in 1990
anterior
front
anterior cord syndrome
an incomplete SCI where all functions are absent below the level of the
injury except sensation and
the sense of movement and position
arachnoiditis
progressive inflammatory disorder of the membranes covering the spinal
cord; some cases advance to paralysis; SCI individuals may be at greater
risk to develop this disorder
atelectasis
loss of breathing function characterized by collapsed lung tissue
autonomic dysreflexia
(or hyperreflexia) a potentially life-threatening SCI complication involving
an increase in blood pressure, sweating, chills and other autonomic reflexes;
often in reaction to an impacted bowel or overfull bladder; occurs in individuals
with SCI at the thoracic level and above
baclofen
(Lioresal) drug used to treat upper motor neuron spasticity due to SCI
blood-brain barrier/blood-spinal-cord barrier barriers
, largely formed by endothelial cells that line blood vessels, that restrict
the entry of circulating substances and immune cells into the brain and
spinal cord. Trauma may compromise these barriers and contribute to further
damage in the brain and spinal cord. These barriers also prevent entry
of some potentially therapeutic drugs.
brady
word prefix meaning slow
Brown-Sequard Syndrome
an incomplete SCI where half of the cord has been damaged
catheter
flexible rubber or plastic tubing to withdraw or inject gluids into a body
cavity such as the bladder
central cord syndrome
central cord syndrome affects the cervical region of the cord and results
from focused damage to the corticospinal tracts. Patients with this type
of injury often spontaneously and rapidly recover a great deal of function
within days or weeks after injury.
central nervous system
(CNS) the brain, spinal cord, and retina.
cervical spine
the seven vertebrae of the spine in the area of the neck
clinical trials
systematic studies in human patients aimed at determining the safety and
effectiveness of new or unproven therapies. There are three phases to systematic
clinical testing in the United States. Phase I trials determine the criteria
for safe and effective use of the therapy. Phase II trials, using relatively
small groups of patients, establish whether the therapy, at safe and optimal
doses, works. Phase III trials, which usually require much larger numbers
of patients, compare the new therapies to established therapies and/or
placebo.
coccyx
the tailbone
computed tomography
(CT) a diagnostic imaging method in which x-ray measurements from many
angles are combined in an image. CT scans help physicians evaluate bone
structures and bleeding within the skull and spine.
contusion
a bruising injury. Spinal cord contusions result in a cavity or hole in
the center of the spinal cord. Myelinated axons typically survive around
the perimeter of the spinal cord, and the dura may even remain unbroken
by the injury.
decubitus ulcer (or pressure sore)
breakdown in the skin due to pressure which results in tissue death and
sometimes infection
deep vein thrombosis
clots in the leg veins
degenerative disorder
condition characterized by deteriorating body parts over time
descending pathways
nerve pathways that go down the spinal cord and allow the brain to control
movement of the body below the head.
dis
word part meaning removal or reversal
dys
word part meaning difficulty
dysphagia
difficulty swallowing
ecto
word part meaning outside
ectomy
word suffix meaning surgical removal
edema
abnormal accumulation of fluid between cells resulting in swelling
endo
word part meaning inward
ep, epi
word parts meaning above
fibroblasts
a connective-tissue cell that secretes proteins and produces the collagen
found in the body's connective tissue
Foley catheter
tube inserted into the bladder to drain the urine into a plastic
bag
Frankel classification
5-point scale (A through E) for describing sensory and motor function
Friedreich's Ataxia
progressive, hereditary disease affecting the neuromuscular system caused
by the gradual deterioration of nerve cells on the back portion of the
spinal nerves, spinal cord and brain; motor coordination is affected producing
numbness or weakness of the arms and legs, curvature of the spine, and
lower limb paralysis
functional electrical stimulation (FES)
the application of low-level, computer-controlled electric current to the
muscles, including paralyzed muscles, to enhance or produce function.
glia
supporting cells of the nervous system. Glial cells in the brain and spinal
cord far outnumber nerve cells. They not only provide physical support,
but also respond to injury, regulate the chemical composition surrounding
cells, participate in the blood-brain and blood-spinal-cord barriers, form
the myelin insulation of nervous pathways, help guide neuronal migration
during development, and exchange met |
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