Glossary
- NEURALGIA
- A paroxysmal pain extending along the course of one or more nerves.
- NEURALGIA
- Pain of a severe, throbbing, or stabbing character in the course or distribution of a nerve.
- NEURECTOMY
- Excision of part of a nerve.
- NEURITIS
- Inflammation of a nerve; may also be used to denote non-inflammatory nerve lesions of the peripheral nervous system.
- NEUROBLASTOMA
- Tumor of sympathetic nervous system origin, found mostly in infants and children.
- NEUROFIBROMA
- Fibrous tumor of a nerve, which may affect a nerve root and thus give the appearance of herniated disc disease.
- NEUROFIBROMA
- A tumor of the peripheral nerves due to an abnormal collection of fibrous and insulating cells.
- NEUROFIBROMATOSIS
- A familial condition characterized b by developmental changes in the nervous system, muscles and skin, marked by numerous tumors affecting these organ system.
- NEUROHYPOPHYSIS
- The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
- NEUROLYSIS
- Removal of scar or reactive tissue from a nerve or nerve root.
- NEUROMA
- A tumor or new growth largely made up of nerve fibers and connective tissue.
- NEUROMUSCULAR SCOLIOSIS
- Scoliosis caused by a muscle or central nervous system disorder.
- NEUROPATHY
- Any functional or pathologic disturbance in the peripheral nervous system.
- NEUROSTIMULATOR
- A device for electrical excitation of the central or peripheral nervous system.
- NEUROSURGERY
- The surgical specialty involved in the treatment of disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
- NEWMAN
- C-1 to C-2 posterior fusion without fixation.
- NON-UNION
- Failure of the fragments of a fractured bone to heal or to obtain bony fusion following an arthrodesis.
- NUCHAL LIGAMENT
- Large posterior midline ligament in the neck from the base of the skull to the seventh cervical vertebra.
- NUCLEUS PULPOSUS
- The semi-gelatinous tissue in the center of an intervertebral disc. It is surrounded and contained by the annulus fibrosus which prevents this material from protruding outside the disc space.
- NURICK SCALE
- Classification scale for spinal cord compression due to spondylosis.
- NYSTAGMUS
- Involuntary rapid movement of the eyes in the horizontal, vertical or rotary planes of the eyeball.
- OCCIPITAL NERVE
- Nerve from the back of the neck that supplies motor function and sensation to the forehead; two parts- greater and lesser.
- OCCIPUT
- The back part of the head. The base of the skull.
- OLIGODENDROGLIA
- Non-nerve cells, (see glia) forming part of the supporting structure of the central nervous system.
- OLIGODENDROGLIOMA
- A growth of new cells derived from the oligodendroglia.
- OLISTHY
- Slipping of bone(s) from normal anatomic site; for example, a slipped disc.
- OPHTHALMOPLEGIA
- Paralysis of one or more of the eye muscles.
- ORTHOPAEDIC IMPLANTS
- Medical devices used to replace or provide fixation of bone or to replace articulating surfaces of a joint.
- ORTHOPAEDICS (also ORTHOPEDICS)
- The medical specialty involved in the preservation and restoration of function of the musculoskeletal system that includes treatment of spinal disorders and peripheral nerve lesions.
- ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
- A physician who treats the musculoskeletal system, extremities, and spine by operation or manipulation.
