Glossary
- CAUDATE NUCLEUS
- Part of the basal ganglia which are brain cells that lie deep in the brain.
- CENTRAL CORD SYNDROME
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- CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
- Part of the nervous system which consists of the brain and spinal cord, to which sensory impulses are transmitted and from which motor impulses pass out, and which supervises and coordinates the activity of the entire nervous system.
- CENTRUM
- The body of a vertebra.
- CEREBELLUM
- The lower part of the brain which is beneath the posterior portion of the cerebrum and regulates unconscious coordination of movement.
- CEREBRAL
- Relating to the brain or intellect.
- CEREBRAL PALSY
- Disability resulting from damage to the brain before or during birth and outwardly manifested by muscular incoordination and speech disturbances.
- CEREBRALl CORTEX
- Surface layer of gray matter of the cerebrum that functions chiefly in coordination of higher nervous activity; called also pallium.
- CEREBROSPINAL FLUID
- Water-like fluid produced in the brain that circulates and protects the brain and spinal cord, known as CSF.
- CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF)
- Water-like fluid produced in the brain that circulates around and protects the brain and spinal cord. Shrinking or expanding of the cranial contents is usually quickly balanced by increase or decrease of this fluid.
- CEREBRUM
- The principal portion of the brain, which occupies the major portion of the interior of the skull and controls conscious movement, sensation and thought.
- CERVICAL
- Of or relating to the neck.
- CERVICAL PLEXUS
- Plexus of nerves that supply the neck muscles with branches named by muscles supplied, a portion which is called the ansa cervicalis.
- CERVICAL RIB
- Riblike structure in the seventh cervical vertebra that may cause nerve root irritation.
- CERVICAL SPINAL FUSION
- Spinal fusion involving the seven cervical segments. This may include the base of the skull, the occiput, and the first thoracic spine.
- CHEMONUCLEOLYSIS
- A treatment of an intervertebral disc that consists of an injection of chymopapain, a drug that dissolves part of the disc.
- CHIASM (OPTIC)
- Crossing of visual fibers as they head toward the opposite side of the brain. For each optic nerve most of the visual fibers cross to the opposite side, some run directly backward on each side without crossing.
- CHOREA
- A disorder, usually of childhood, characterized by irregular, spasmodic involuntary movements of the limbs or facial muscles.
- CHOROID PLEXUS
- A vascular structure in the ventricles of the brain which produces cerebrospinal fluid.
- CINGULATE GYRUS
- A long, curved convolution of the medial surface of the cortical hemisphere.
- CINGULOTOMY
- Electronic destruction of the anterior cingulate gyrus and callosum.
- CLINICAL STUDIES
- A process of strictly controlled evaluations involving patients. Some of these studies are required by the FDA prior to general release of a device or compound for use in humans.
- COAGULATION
- The process of clotting.
- COBALT-CHROME
- A term that is used in referring to cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, a mixture of metals used in many surgical implants.
- COCCYALGIA
- Pain in the coccyx region5 coccygodynia, coccyodynia, coccydynia.
- COCCYGEAL
- Remaining three or four, somewhat fixed, fused segments at the end of the spine (tailbone) that articulate with sacrum above.
- COCCYGECTOMY
- Excision of the coccyx (tailbone).
- COCCYGOTOMY
- Incision into the coccyx (tailbone).
- COCCYX
- The small bone at the end of the spinal column in man, formed by the fusion of four rudimentary vertebrae. The three, and sometimes four, segments of bone just below the sacrum; referred to as the tailbone.
- COLLAGEN
- A fibrous protein which is a major constituent of connective tissue. Such as skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bones.
