Medical terms - Letter N (page 7) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Neuroradiologist

A radiologist who specializes in the use of radioactive substances, x-rays and scanning devices for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system. A neuroradiologist mat be concerned with the clinical…
Neuroradiology

The field within radiology that specializes in the use of radioactive substances, x-rays and scanning devices for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system. Neuroradiology involves the clinical…
Neuroscience

The study of the brain and nervous system, including molecular neuroscience, cellular neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, psychophysics, computational modeling and diseases of the nervous system. See also…
Neuroscientist

A scientist who studies the nervous system, including the neural basis of behavior; parts of the nervous system such as the visual or auditory systems; the function of groups of neurons (nerve cells); what individual…
Neurosis

A chronic disorder featuring irritability of the nervous system (nervousness) and characterized by anxiety and/or extreme behavior dedicated to avoid anxiety situations
Neurosis, hypochondriacal

See: Hypochondriasis
Neurosteroid

A brain steroid, a molecule structurally similar to cortisone, progesterone and the gonadal hormones. Neurosteroids play a role in controlling anxiety and depression. Antidepressant drugs known as selective serotonin…
Neurosurgeon

A physician trained in surgery of the nervous system and who specializes in surgery on the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Sometimes called a 'brain surgeon.
Neurosyphilis

Neurological complications in the third (tertiary) and final phase of syphilis, which involve the central nervous system and can include psychosis, pain, and loss of physical control over a variety of bodily functions
Neurosyphilis, tabes

Also known as tabes dorsalis, the slowly progressive degeneration of the spinal cord that occurs in the late (tertiary) phase of syphilis a decade or more after contracting the infection. Among the terrible features are…
Neurotheology

The search for the place(s) in the brain where religious beliefs originate. Neurotheology mixes terms and methods from science and religion in an attempt to confer the authority of science upon religion. For example, a…
Neurotoxic

Poisonous to nerves or nerve tissue. Mercury and lead are neurotoxic
Neurotoxin

A substance that causes damage to nerves or nerve tissue. For example, lead is a neurotoxin
Neurotransmitter

A chemical that is released from a nerve cell which thereby transmits an impulse from a nerve cell to another nerve, muscle, organ, or other tissue. A neurotransmitter is a messenger of neurologic information from one…
Neutral foot type

The most common type of foot. A runner with a neutral type of foot lands on the heel and rolls forward during the gait cycle until the impact is distributed evenly across the forefoot
Neutral posture

The posture when the joints are not bent and the spine is aligned and not twisted. Working in neutral postures is preferable to working while twisting the back or bending the wrists
Neutropenia

Neutropenia: Not enough neutrophils, neutrophils being a type of white blood cell (specifically a form of granulocyte) filled with neutrally-staining granules, tiny sacs of enzymes that help the cell to kill and digest…
Neutropenia, severe congenital (SCN)

Neutropenia, severe congenital (SCN): Children born with this condition lack neutrophils (a type of white blood cell that is important in fighting infection). These children suffer frequent infections from bacteria…
Neutrophil

A type of white blood cell, specifically a form of granulocyte, filled with neutrally-staining granules, tiny sacs of enzymes that help the cell to kill and digest microorganisms it has engulfed by phagocytosis. The…
Neutrophilia

More than the normal number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell (specifically a form of granulocyte) filled with neutrally-staining granules, tiny sacs of enzymes that help the cell to kill and digest…
Nevi

The plural of nevus
Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome

The Gorlin syndrome
Nevus

1. Any birthmark.2. A benign pigmented spot on the skin such as a mole (a cluster of melanocytes and supportive tissue that appears as a tan, brown, or flesh-colored spot on the skin).3. A benign blood vessel tumor on…
New Engl J Med

The New England Journal of Medicine
New England Journal of Medicine

Despite its regional name, The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) is far from provincial. It is an eminent weekly national and international general medical journal, devoted to no single specialty, but to all of…
New variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Abbreviated nvCJD. A human disease thought due to the same infectious agent as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. Both the human and bovine disorders are invariably fatal brain diseases with…
New, fear of the

An irrational fear of anything new, of innovation, of new situations, places, or things. Also called neophobia. In animal behavior, neophobia refers to the tendency of an animal to avoid or retreat from an unfamiliar…
Newborn hearing screen

Testing of the newborn baby's ability to hear. Newborn screening of hearing is done with automated auditory brainstem response tests or, less often, with what are called otoacoustic emission or conventional auditory…
Newborn intensive care unit

An intensive care unit designed for premature and ill newborn babies. Abbreviated NICU. Also called a neonatal intensive care unit
Newborn screening

Tests of newborns to screen for serious treatable diseases most of which are genetic. The newborn screening tests done in the United States are decided on a state-by-state basis. The most common newborn screening tests…
Newborn test, Brazelton

A widely used test of the newborn baby as to their neurologic status and developmental progress. The Brazelton newborn test is formally called the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). However, the NBAS which was…
Nexus

A connection or link. A causal connection. A connected series. 'Nexus' comes from the Latin 'nectere' meaning 'to bind.' The same Latin root gave rise to 'connect' and 'annex.' 'Nexus' achieved some currency as the…
NF

See: Neurofibromatosis type 1.
NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1)

See: Neurofibromatosis type 1
NF2 (neurofibromatosis type 2)

Neurofibromatosis type 2
NG

Nasogastric
NG tube

See: Nasogastric tube
NGF

Nerve growth factor
NGFB

The beta polypeptide chain of nerve growth factor
NHGRI

Stands for National Human Genome Research Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S. NHGRI's mission is to 'support the NIH component of the Human Genome Project, a worldwide research effort…
NHLBI

Stands for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. The NHLBI's mission is to 'provide leadership for a national research program in diseases of the heart…
NIA (National Institute on Aging)

One of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The mission of the National Institute on Aging is to 'lead a national program of research on the biomedical, social, and behavioral aspects of the aging process; the…
NIAAA (Nat'l Inst. on Alcoh. Abuse and Alcoholism)

Sm: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S. The mission of NIAAA is to 'conduct research focused on improving the treatment and prevention of…
Niacin

Niacin: Nicotinic acid, one of the B-complex B vitamins. Deficiency of niacin in the diet results in the disease pellagra. See: Pellagra.
Niacin deficiency

See: Pellagra
Niacin for high cholesterol

Niacin or nicotinic acid, one of the water-soluble B vitamins, given to lower cholesterol. Nicotinic acid lowers the total cholesterol, 'bad' LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, while raising the 'good'…
NIAID (Nat'l Inst of Allergy and Infectious Dis.)

Seases: One of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the mission of the NIAID is 'to support and conduct research and research training (that) strives to understand, treat, and ultimately prevent the myriad…
NIAMS

Stands for National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. NIAMS's mission is 'conduct and support a broad spectrum of research on normal…
NICHD

A silver-white metallic element. Long-term exposure to nickel, such as from jewelry, can cause a form of contact dermatitis called nickel dermatitis. Exposure to nickel fumes can cause nasal cancer and lung cancer.
Nickel

A silver-white metallic element. Long-term exposure to nickel, such as from jewelry, can cause a form of contact dermatitis called nickel dermatitis. Exposure to nickel fumes can cause nasal cancer and lung cancer