Medical terms - Letter N (page 6) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Neuralgia, postherpetic

Localized pain in the area of involvement of shingles that persists beyond one month. The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia. This occurs when the pain associated with shingles persists…
Neuralgia, sphenopalatine

A distinctive syndrome of headaches, better known today as cluster headache. There are two main clinical patterns of cluster headache -- the episodic and the chronic: > >Episodic: This is the most common pattern of…
Neuralgia, vidian

A distinctive syndrome of headaches, better known today as cluster headache. There are two main clinical patterns of cluster headache -- the episodic and the chronic: > >Episodic: This is the most common pattern of…
Neuraminidase inhibitor

A drug that inhibits the enzyme called neuraminidase. For example, oseltamivir (Tamiflu), an antiinfluenza agent, acts by inhibiting the neuraminidase enzyme on the surface of the influenza virus. This prevents the…
Neurectomy

The removal of part or all of a nerve
Neurinoma, acoustic

A benign tumor that may develop on the hearing and balance nerves near the inner ear. The tumor results from an overproduction of Schwann cells -- small sheet-like cells that normally wrap around nerve fibers like onion…
Neuritis

Inflammation of nerves.
Neurobiological disorder

An illness of the nervous system caused by genetic, metabolic, or other biological factors. Many illnesses categorized as psychiatric disorders are neurobiological, including autism, bipolar disorders…
Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma: A leading childhood form of cancer that arises in the adrenal gland or in tissue in the nervous system that is related to the adrenal gland. Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor outside the brain…
Neurocysticercosis

Infection of the brain by the larval form of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium. Neurocysticercosis is a form of cysticercosis and is the most common worm infection of the central nervous system. The disease is most…
Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation

See: Hallervorden-Spatz disease
Neurodermatitis

Scaly patches of skin on the head, lower legs, wrists, or forearms caused by a localized itch such as from an insect bite that becomes intensely irritated when scratched
Neuroendocrine

Having to do with neuroendocrinology: the interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system
Neuroendocrine cancer of the skin

Also called Merkel cell carcinoma. An uncommon but highly malignant skin tumor that characteristically starts in a sun-exposed area in a lightskinned person over 60 as a firm painless shiny lump that can be red, pink…
Neuroendocrinology

Having to do with the interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system. In the human body, two systems control all physiologic processes. One of these systems is neurologic while the other is endocrine…
Neuroepithelial

Having to do with tissue made up of sensory cells that serve in the reception of external stimuli. Neuroepithelial tissue is found in the ear, nose, and tongue
Neurofibromatosis

A genetic disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects the development and growth of neural (nerve) cell tissues, causes tumors to grow on nerves, and may produce other abnormalities. Neurofibromatosis (NF)…
Neurofibromatosis type 1

NF1, a genetic disorder characterized by a number of remarkable skin findings including multiple cafe au lait (coffee with milk) spots, multiple benign tumors called neurofibromas on the skin, plexiform neurofibromas…
Neurofibromatosis type 2

Abbreviated NF2. A genetic disorder characterized by the growth of benign tumors of both acoustic nerves (the nerves to the ears). These tumors are called acoustic neuromas or, more precisely, vestibular schwannomas…
Neurofibromatosis, bilateral acoustic

See: Neurofibromatosis type 2
Neurofibromatosis, central

See: Neurofibromatosis type 2
Neurogenesis

The process by which new nerve cells are generated. In neurogenesis, there is active production of new neurons, astrocytes, glia, and other neural lineages from undifferentiated neural progenitor or stem cells…
Neurogenic

Starting with or having to do with the nerves or the nervous system
Neurogenic shock

A type of shock (a life-threatening medical condition in which there is insufficient blood flow throughout the body) that is caused by the sudden loss of signals from the sympathetic nervous system that maintain the…
Neuroleptic

A term that refers to the effects of antipsychotic drugs on a patient, especially on his or her cognition and behavior. Neuroleptic drugs may produce a state of apathy, lack of initiative and limited range of emotion…
Neurological

Having to do with the nerves or the nervous system
Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Nat'l Institut

Of (NINDS): One of the National Institutes of Health in the U.S., the NINDS's mission is to 'support and conduct research and research training on the normal structure and function of the nervous system and on the…
Neurologist

A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system
Neurology

The medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system -- the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves. Thumbnail history of neurology -- The first scientific studies of nerve…
Neuroma

A tumor that arises in nerve cells
Neuroma, acoustic

A benign tumor that may develop on the hearing and balance nerves near the inner ear. The tumor results from an overproduction of Schwann cells -- small sheet-like cells that normally wrap around nerve fibers like onion…
Neuroma, optic

A benign tumor of the optic nerve
Neuromuscular

Pertaining to both nerves and muscles, as in neuromuscular blockade by an anesthetic agent, the neuromuscular junction (the meeting place of a nerve and a muscle fiber), and neuromuscular transmission (the transfer of…
Neuron

A nerve cell that sends and receives electrical signals over long distances within the body. A neuron may send electrical output signals to muscle neurons (called motor neurons or motoneurons) and to other neurons. A…
Neuron, arcuate

See: Arcuate neuron
Neuron, sensory

See: Sensory neuron
Neuron, spindle

See: Spindle neuron
Neuron-specific enolase (NSE)

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a substance that has been detected in patients with certain tumors, namely: neuroblastoma, small cell lung cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, carcinoid tumors, pancreatic endocrine…
Neurone

A variant spelling of neuron. Sometimes preferred in the UK, as in 'His suffering from motor neurone disease (MND) was finally over because he had chosen to die.' (article by Lesley Close in The Guardian, May 25, 2004)…
Neuronitis, vestibular

See: Vestibular neuronitis
Neurooncologist

A physician trained to diagnose and treat patients with brain tumors and other types of tumors of the nervous system. From neuro- + oncology and sometimes written with a hyphen as neuro-oncologist. A neurooncologist may…
Neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain: Chronic pain resulting from injury to the nervous system. The injury can be to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the brain and spinal…
Neuropathologist

A pathologist who specializes in the diagnosis of diseases of the brain and nervous system by microscopic examination of the tissue and other means
Neuropathy

Any and all disease or malfunction of the nerves
Neuropathy, accessory

See: Accessory neuropathy
Neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth

See Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Neuropathy, diabetic

See: Diabetic neuropathy
Neuropathy, hypoglossal

See: Hypoglossal neuropathy
Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their…
Neuropsychologist

A psychologist who has completed special training in the neurobiological causes of brain disorders, and who specializes in diagnosing and treating these illnesses using a predominantly medical (as opposed to…