Here at Neurology Associates, we understand that many
patients can feel overwhelmed by the use of medical terminology.
That is why we make this "Medical Terminology Dictionary" available
for your use. We hope you enjoy!
| ADHD |
ADHD is a syndrome generally characterized by inattention,
distractibility, impulsivity and hyperactivity. ADHD is common
in both children and adults. Many factors contribute to ADHD
including physical factors, problems surrounding pregnancy, genetic
factors, diet, and infant malnutrition. |
| Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome |
A circadian rhythm disorder in which phases of
the daily sleep/wake cycle are advanced with respect to clock
time. The sleep phase occurs well ahead of conventional bedtime,
creating a tendency to fall asleep or wake up too early. |
| Alpha Rhythm |
An EEG brainwave produced when an individual is in a relaxed
awake condition with their eyes closed. The frequency is 8-13
Hz in human adults, and is predominately present in the occipital
lobe of the brain. It indicates the awake state in most normal
individuals. |
| Alpha Sleep |
Sleep in which alpha activity occurs with sleep EEG patterns. |
| Alpha-Delta Sleep |
On rare occasions, Delta brainwaves (deep sleep) are mixed
with alpha brainwaves (relaxed wakefulness). Alpha-delta sleep
occurs with conditions such as arthritic pain, stimulant use
and thyroid imbalance. |
| Alzheimer’s |
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative disease of the
brain from which there is no recovery. The disease slowly attacks
nerve cells in all parts of the brain’s cortex as well
as some surrounding structures thereby impairing a person’s
abilities to govern emotions, recognize errors and patterns,
coordinate, movement, and remember. Two significant abnormalities
occur in the brain affected by Alzheimer’s: twisted nerve
cell fibers, known as neurofibrillay tangles and a sticky protein
called beta amyloid. |
| Ambulatory EEGs |
AEEG is a technology that allows 72-hour monitoring of a patient
in the home setting. The chances of recording an ictal event
over this prolonged time period are increased versus other 24-hour
alternatives. Ambulatory electroencephalography is less expensive
than most inpatient monitoring as well. |
| Ambulatory Monitor |
Portable system used for the continuous recording of multiple
physiological variables during sleep. |
| Amnesia |
Loss of memory. Types of amnesia include: anterograde Loss
of memory of events that occur after the onset of the etiological
condition or agent. retrograde Loss of memory of events that
occurred before the onset of the etiological condition or agent. |
| Apnea |
Cessation of breathing for 10 or more seconds during sleep.
There are two basic types of sleep apnea: Obstructive Apnea is
caused by a closure of the air passage despite efforts to breathe;
Central Apnea is a lack of effort to breathe. Obstructive Sleep
Apnea is by far the most common type. True apnea during wakefulness
is extremely rare. |
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| Benzodiazepines |
Class of sedative medication commonly used to treat anxiety
and insomnia. |
| Beta Activity |
Brain waves seen in alert wakefulness which have a frequency
greater than 13 Hz (Hertz). |
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| Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
This condition presents with burning, tingling, itching and
or numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers especially
the thumb, the index and the middles fingers. Carpal Tunnel occurs
when the median nerve which runs from the forearm into the hand,
becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. Thickening from the
irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes
the median nerve to be compressed. |
| Central Nervous System (CNS) |
The brain and spinal cord. |
| Central Sleep Apnea |
A period of at least 10 seconds without airflow, during which
no respiratory effort is evident. |
| Chronotherapy |
Treatment of a circadian rhythm sleep disorder by systemically
changing sleeping and waking times to reset the patient's biological
clock. |
| Circadian |
Any periodicity that is near but not necessarily exactly 24
hours. |
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| Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome |
A circadian rhythm disorder, which in the daily sleep/wake
cycle, is delayed with respect to clock time. Accordingly, the
sleep phase occurs well after the conventional bedtime. Usually
associated with difficulty getting up in the morning. |
| Diagnostic Sleep Study |
Continuous monitoring of several physiological activities in
a sleeping individual. Usually carried out to determine the absence
or presence of a specific sleep disorder. A diagnostic sleep
study can be performed in a sleep disorders center or in a patient's
home with portable recording equipment. |
| Drowsiness, Drowsy |
A state of quiet wakefulness that typically occurs prior to
sleep onset. If the eyes are closed, diffuse and slowed alpha
activity usually is present, which then gives way to early features
of stage 1 sleep. |
| Déjà vu |
A paramnesia consisting of the sensation or illusion that one
is seeing what one has seen before. |
| Dyslexia |
Inability or difficulty in reading, including word-blindness
and a tendency to reverse letters and words in reading and writing. |
| Dyssomnia |
Primary disorders of sleep or wakefulness characterized by
insomnia or hypersomnia as the major presenting symptom. Dyssomnias
are disorders of the amount, quality, or timing of sleep. |
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| Electrocardiography (EKG) (ECG) |
Method of measuring the electrical activity of the heart. EKG
is continuously recorded in both diagnostic sleep studies and
CPAP titration sleep studies. |
| Electrodes |
Small devices that transmit brain waves or other biological
electrical signals from a patient to a polysomnograph machine,
where the signal is amplified and displayed. |
| Electroencephalogram (EEG) |
A recording of the electrical activity generated by the brain.
Brain wave frequencies are expressed in hertz (Hz) or cycles
per second (cps), and amplitude is expressed in microvolts. Characteristic
frequency and amplitude patterns of the activity define which
stage of sleep the patient is experiencing. Brain waves are recorded
in both diagnostic and CPAP titration sleep studies. |
| Electromyogram (EMG) |
A recording of the electrical activity of the muscles. The
absence of very low level of EMG activity indicates the presence
of REM sleep. Very high levels can help identify periods of wakefulness.
Non-invasive EMG is recorded in both diagnostic and CPAP titration
sleep studies. |
| Epilepsy |
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells,
or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. The result
can be seizures, and strange sensations, emotions, behavior and
loss of consciousness. Epilepsy can be caused by illness, brain
damage, and abnormal brain development. Often abnormal brain
wiring or a chemical imbalance (neurotransmitters) can contribute.
Persons experiencing two or more seizures are considered to have
Epilepsy. |
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| Fatigue |
A feeling of tiredness or weariness usually associated with
performance decrements. |
| Fibromyalgia |
FM is a chronic pain illness characterized by widespread musculoskeletal
aches, pain and stiffness, soft tissue tenderness, general fatigue
and sleep disturbances. The most common sites of pain include
the neck, back, shoulders, pelvic girdle and hands, but any body
part can be involved. Fibromyalgia patients experience a range
of symptoms of varying intensities that wax and wane over time. |
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| GABA (Gamma-Amniobutyric Acid) |
A major inhibiting compound (neurotransmitter) in the brain,
which is considered to be involved in muscle relaxation, sleep,
diminished emotional reaction and sedation. GABA is released
in the greatest amount from the cerebral cortex during slow wave
sleep. |
| Gastroesphageal Reflux Disease (GERD) |
The flow of stomach acid upwards into the esophagus, which
can cause arousals and disrupt sleep. |
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| Hypersomnia |
Excessive sleepiness, as evidenced by prolonged nocturnal sleep,
difficulty maintaining an alert awake state during the day, or
undesired daytime sleep episodes. ideas of reference The feeling
that casual incidents and external events have a particular and
unusual meaning that is specific to the person. This is to be
distinguished from a delusion of reference, in which there is
a belief that is held with delusional conviction. |
| Hypnagogic |
Referring to the semiconscious state immediately preceding
sleep; may include hallucinations that are of no pathological
significance. |
| Hypnopompic |
Referring to the state immediately preceding awakening; may
include hallucinations that are of no pathological significance. |
| Hyoid Suspension |
Surgical procedure sometimes used in the treatment of sleep
apnea or snoring. It is designed to improve the airway behind
the base of the tongue. The hyoid bone is located in the neck
where some tongue muscles attach. If the hyoid bone containing
these muscles is pulled forward in front of the voice box, it
can open the airway space behind the tongue. This is performed
under local intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, and requires
a one or two day hospital stay. |
| Hypnic Jerk |
Sensation of falling, and then "jerking" awake just
as one drifts to sleep. It is a normal sensation experienced
by many people. |
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| Insomnia |
A subjective complaint of difficulty falling or staying asleep
or poor sleep quality. |
| Initial Insomnia |
Difficulty in falling asleep. |
| Inappropriate Sleep Episodes |
Periods of sleep that are not planned and often occur in an
unsafe situation (i.e., while driving). These episodes are always
due to sleep deprivation. |
| "Intermediary" Sleep Stage" |
A term sometimes used for non-REM stage 2 sleep. |
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| Jet Lag |
A disturbance induced by a major rapid shift in environmental
time during travel to a new time zone. Symptoms include fatigue,
sleep and impaired alertness. |
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| K Complex |
An EEG waveform most commonly found in stage 2 sleep. It has
a well-delineated negative sharp wave that is immediately followed
by a slower positive component. |
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| Leg Movement |
Leg movements are recorded in diagnostic sleep studies to test
for Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. |
| Limit-Setting Sleep Disorder |
Occurs when a child stalls or refuses to go to bed, and subsequently
does not receive enough sleep. |
| Linear Sleepiness Rating Scale |
A measure of subjective sleepiness. The scale consists of a
horizontal line, 100 mm in length on which the right extreme
is labeled "Very Sleepy" and the left extreme is labeled "Very
Wide Awake." |
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| Middle insomnia |
Awakening in the middle of the night followed by eventually
falling back to sleep, but with difficulty. |
| Melatonin |
A hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. Melatonin
has been reported to have hypnotic properties, leading some to
suggest that melatonin, which is released at night, may be an
endogenous sleep inducer. |
| Multiple Sclerosis |
MS is an unpredictable and incurable disease of the central
nervous system. The condition can range from relatively benign
to somewhat disabling to devastating, as communication between
the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted. Many investigators
believe MS to be an autoimmune disease -- one in which the body,
through its immune system, launches a defensive attack against
its own tissues. In the case of MS, it is the nerve-insulating
myelin that comes under assault. Such assaults may be linked
to an unknown environmental trigger, perhaps a virus. |
| Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) |
The standard test used to quantify the overall daytime sleep
tendency by measuring the speed of falling asleep (sleep latency)
usually in 5 tests carried out at two-hour intervals. This test
also helps in the diagnosis of narcolepsy. Patients with narcolepsy
often go directly from wakefulness to REM, which can be evaluated
with the MSLT. |
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| Narcolepsy |
A sleep disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness, cataplexy,
sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations, and an abnormal tendency
to pass directly into REM sleep from wakefulness. It was recently
found to be caused by an abnormal gene in the brain. |
| National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research |
Created by the U.S. Congress in 1990, the commission conducted
a comprehensive study of the social and economic impact of sleep
disorders in America, and made recommendations based on its findings
to Congress in January of 1993. |
| NCVs |
NCV is a Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test of the speed
of conduction of impulses through a nerve. The nerve is stimulated,
usually with surface electrodes, which are patch-like electrodes
(similar to those used for ECG) placed on the skin over the nerve
at various locations. One electrode stimulates the nerve with
a very mild electrical impulse. The resulting electrical activity
is recorded by the other electrodes. The distance between electrodes
and the time it takes for electrical impulses to travel between
electrodes are used to calculate the nerve conduction velocity. |
| Neurology |
A specialized branch of medicine that deals specifically with
the nervous system and its diseases. |
| Neuropsych Tests |
Neuropsychological tests are noninvasive; that is, they do
not involve attaching you to machines or using X-rays. Commonly,
the tests involve a question-and-answer format and/or working
with materials on a table. Some tests are administered using
a computer. Clinical Neuropsychologists use this knowledge to
assist in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. |
| Neurotransmitters |
Endogenous chemical components that are released from axon
terminals of one neuron and transmit the signal to the next neuron
by combining with its receptor molecules. Examples of neurotransmitters
that appear to be important in the control of sleep and wakefulness
include: norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine, dopamine,
adrenaline and histamine. The process of neurotransmission may
be inhibited, modulated, or enhanced by other chemical mediators
within the brain, or by exogenous pharmaceuticals. |
| Nightmare |
An unpleasant and/or frightening dream that usually awakens
a person from REM sleep. Occasionally called a dream anxiety
attack, it is not synonymous with a night (sleep) terror. |
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| Obesity-Hypoventilation Syndrome |
A term applied to obese individuals who have abnormally slow
and shallow respiration (hypoventilation) during wakefulness,
resulting in an increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood. |
| Obstructive Hypopnea |
Periodic, partial closure of the throat during sleep resulting
in reduced air exchange. The medical consequences of this partial
closure can be as severe as sleep apnea (full closure of throat)
Usually characterized by snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness,
and other symptoms of fatigue |
| Obstructive Sleep Apnea |
Repetitive cessation of breathing during sleep for 10 seconds
or more due to complete closure (collapse) of the throat. Usually
characterized by snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, and other
symptoms of fatigue. |
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| Paramnesia |
A disorder of memory in which dreams or fantasies are confused
with reality. |
| Parasomnia |
Abnormal behavior or physiological events occurring during
sleep or sleep-wake transitions. |
| Parkinson’s Disease |
Parkinson's disease is a slowly progressive disorder that affects
movement, muscle control, and balance. It occurs when cells are
destroyed in certain parts of the brain stem, particularly the
crescent-shaped cell mass known as the substantia nigra. The
primary cause of Parkinson’s is unknown. Although it is
clear that dopamine deficiency is the primary defect in Parkinson's
disease, researchers now must discover how this dopamine is lost.
Symptoms often start with an occasional tremor in one finger
that spreads over time to involve the whole arm. |
| Periodic Limb Movement Disorder |
Also known as Periodic Leg Movements of Sleep and Nocturnal
Myoclonus. Characterized by periodic episodes of repetitive limb
movements during sleep. The movements are often associated with
a partial arousal or awakening; however, the patient is usually
unaware of the limb movements or frequent sleep disruption. There
can be marked night-to-night variability in the number of movements. |
| Persistent Insomnia |
Continuing insomnia that responds poorly to treatment. |
| Polysomnogram |
A continuous and simultaneous recording of multiple physiological
variables during sleep. |
| Polysomnograph |
A biomedical instrument for the measurement of multiple physiological
variables of sleep. It records the sleep physiological parameters
of EEG, EOG, EMG, EKG, respiratory airflow, respiratory movements,
leg movements, and other parameters depending on the situation. |
| PSG |
A polysomnograph is a test of sleep cycles and stages through
the use of continuous recordings of brain waves (EEG), electrical
activity of muscles, eye movement (electrooculogram), breathing
rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rhythm
and direct observation of the person during sleep. There are
two states of sleep: non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and
rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep alternates with NREM
sleep approximately every 90 minutes. A person with normal sleep
usually has four to five cycles of REM and NREM sleep during
a night. |
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| Quiet Sleep |
The term frequently used instead of NREM sleep in describing
the sleep of infants. Quiet/NREM sleep comprises 50% of a newborns'
total sleep time. |
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| Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REM Sleep) |
The sleep stage in which vivid dreaming occurs; identified
by the occurrence of rapid eye movements under closed eyelids,
motor atonia and low voltage EEG patterns. Also associated with
bursts of muscular twitching, irregular breathing, irregular
heart rate, and increased autonomic activity. |
| Restless Legs Syndrome |
The sleep disorder characterized by tingling, creeping, crawling,
or aching sensation in the legs that tends to occur when an individual
is not moving. There is an almost irresistible urge to move the
legs that relieve the sensations. Inability to remain at rest
can result in severe sleep disturbance. |
| Restlessness (Referring to Quality of Sleep) |
Persistent or recurrent body movements, arousals, or brief
awakenings in the course of sleep. |
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| Sleep Terror Disorder |
One of the parasomnias, characterized by panic and confusion
when abruptly awakening from sleep. This usually begins with
a scream and is accompanied by intense anxiety. The person is
often confused and disoriented after awakening. No detailed dream
is recalled, and there is amnesia for the episode. Sleep terrors
typically occur during the first third of the major sleep episode. |
| Serotonin |
A neurotransmitter in the brain that modulates mood, appetite,
sexual activity, aggression, body temperature and sleep. |
| Sleep |
Overall state in which an individual rests quiescently in a
recumbent position, disengages from the environment, and become
unresponsive to stimuli. |
| Sleep Apnea |
Cessation of breathing for 10 or more seconds during sleep.
There are two basic types of sleep apnea: Obstructive Apnea is
caused by a closure of the air passage despite efforts to breathe;
Central Apnea is a lack of effort to breathe. Obstructive Sleep
Apnea is by far the most common type. |
| Sleep Architecture |
The sequence and duration of each sleep stage and awakening
during a sleep period. Often displayed in the form of a histogram. |
| Sleep Cycle |
The progression through an orderly succession of sleep states
and stages. In a healthy adult, the first cycle is always initiated
by going from wakefulness to non-REM sleep. The first REM period
follows the first period of non-REM sleep to complete the first
sleep cycle. The two sleep states continue to alternate throughout
the night with an average cycle period of about 90 minutes. A
full night of normal human sleep will usually consist of 4-6
non-REM/REM sleep cycles. |
| Sleep Debt |
The result of recurrent sleep deprivation that occurs over
time, when an individual does not obtain a sufficient amount
of restorative daily sleep. Sleep debt is like a monetary debt;
it must be paid back at some time. The larger the sleep debt,
the stronger the tendency to fall asleep. This accumulation of "lost
sleep" may contribute to a decreased quality of life, the
onset of related health problems, and the increased risk of injury
and/or accident. See Sleep Deprivation. |
| Sleep Deprivation |
An acute or chronic lack of sufficient sleep, which causes
a person to feel unrefreshed during wakefulness. |
| Sleep Disorders |
A broad range of illnesses arising from many causes, including;
dysfunctional sleep mechanisms, abnormalities in physiological
functions during sleep, abnormalities of the biological clock,
and sleep disturbances that are induced by external factors. |
| Sleep Hygiene |
Behavioral activities that either contribute to or detract
from restorative sleep. Good sleep hygiene would include activities
such as going to bed the same time each night, restricting caffeine
intake, and avoiding napping during the day. |
| Snoring |
Sounds made during sleep caused by breathing vibrations in
the pharynx. In the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, snoring
volume and frequency of occurrence often correlate with the severity
of the condition. Snoring noise is recorded in both diagnostic
sleep studies and CPAP titration studies. |
| Strokes |
A stroke has the same relationship to the brain as a heart
attack does to the heart; both result from a blockage in a blood
vessel that interrupts the supply of oxygen to cells, thus killing
them. A stroke is usually defined as either ischemic or hemorhagic,
depending upon whether it is caused by a blockage in an artery
or by a tear in the artery's wall that produces bleeding in the
brain. |
| Systemic Lupus Erythematosus |
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system turns
against parts of the body it is designed to protect leading to
inflammation and damage to various body tissues. The cause of
Lupus is unknown. It can affect joints, skin, kidneys, heart,
lungs, blood vessels, and brain. Common symptoms include extreme
fatigue, painful or swollen joints (arthritis), unexplained fever,
skin rashes, and kidney problems. Lupus can run in families indicating
a genetic basis however additional factors may include sunlight,
stress, certain drugs, and infectious agents such as viruses. |
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| Terminal insomnia |
Awakening before one's usual waking time and being unable to
return to sleep. |
| Therapeutic Botox |
Botulinum toxin injection therapy (also known as "BOTOX® therapy")
is used to treat dystonia—a neuromuscular disorder that
produces involuntary muscle contractions, or spasm—that
affects muscles that control movement in the eyes, neck, face,
voice box, or the smooth muscle in the bladder. The goal of the
therapy is to reduce muscle spasm and pain. This potent neurotoxin
is produced by Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that causes
food poisoning (botulism). Botulinum toxin has proven to be useful
in the treatment of many forms of dystonia. Neurons generate
new nerve endings that reactivate the dystonia, so improvement
is not long lasting, and treatment is usually repeated every
3 to 4 months. |
| Thoracic Excursion |
Thoracic (chest) movement, which indicates respiratory effort.
This is recorded in diagnostic sleep studies, and is typically
measured by the placement of a sensor band around the chest.
The sensor band records chest wall movement associated with respiration.
This measurement is used in differentiating the type of sleep
apnea. |
| Transient Insomnia |
Difficulty sleeping for only a few nights. |
| Trigger Points |
A trigger point is a knot or tight, ropy band of muscle that
forms when muscle fails to relax. The knot often can be felt
under the skin and may twitch involuntarily when touched (called
a jump sign). The trigger point can trap or irritate surrounding
nerves and cause referred pain — pain felt in another part
of the body. Scar tissue, loss of range of motion, and weakness
may develop over time. TPI is used to alleviate myofascial pain
syndrome (chronic pain involving tissue that surrounds muscle)
that does not respond to other treatment. Many muscle groups,
especially those in the arms, legs, lower back, and neck, are
treated by this method. |
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| Unintended Sleep Episode |
A sleep episode that is not planned and may happen during an
activity in which such an episode is hazardous, such as when
driving a car or working with machinery. |
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| Wake Time |
The total time scored as wakefulness in a polysomnogram occurring
between "lights out" and final awakening. |
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| Zeitgeber |
An environmental time cue that entrain biological rhythms to
a specific periodicity. Known Zeitgebers are light, melatonin
and physical activity. To be effective, these signals must occur
when the biological clock is in a responsive phase. |
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