Defining Our World.....

Arnold Chiari deformity - is a congenital anomaly in which the cerebellum and the medulla oblongata elongates over time and begins to protrude down into the spinal canal through the foramen magnum. It may be associated with other defects such as spina bifida offulta and meningocele. (ref3) Spina bifida occulata - a bony defect (or clef) in the vertebral column which remains hidden (ref3) Spina bifida - a congenital limited defect in the spinal column characterized by absence of the vertebral arches through which the spinal membranes and spinal cord may protrude. (ref3) Ataxia - failure of muscular coordination, irregularity of muscular action (ref3) Hypotonia - condition of demished tone of skeletal muscles. (ref3) Autonomic nervous system - is the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary functions in the body. Neurons that are not under conscious control. The sympathetic and the para-sympathetic nervous systems, together they control the heart, viscera and smooth muscle. (ref1) Syncope - is a sudden but temporary loss of consciousness that is caused by an inadequate flow of blood to the brain. (ref1) Tethered cord - adhesion of the spinal cord to an immovable structure (be in bone, fat, ot other tissue) which causes interference of the free movement of the cord. (ref 2) Asymptomatic - means without obvious signs or symptoms of a disease. (ref3) Neurofibromatosis - is a hereditary disorder which causes tumors to grow along various types of nerves and can effect the development of non-nervous tissues such as bones and skin. (ref4) It is the most common disorder of the nervous system caused by a single germ. Hydrocephalus - is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the cavities called ventricles inside the brain. There are two types of hydrocephalus, Congenital and Acquired. There are two forms of hydrocephalus, Communicative and Non-Communicating. About one child in five hundred children are affected by this condition. It is a life long condition that is treated rather than "cured". (ref4) Types of: (ref4) Congenital - present at birth but is not considered hereditary. (ref4) Acquired - occurs as a result of some form of trauma to the brain. (ref4) Forms of: (ref4) Communicative - caused by inadequate absorption of CSF when the pathways are not obstructed. (ref4) Non-Communicating - caused by blockage in the pathways which through which the CSF flows (ref4) Klippel Feil Syndrome - describes a congenital fusion of at least two of the seven vertebrae in the cervical spine. ref6) Meningocele - a rare condition when only meninges (arachnoid and dura) are extruded and the spinal cord retains its normal position, appearance and function. (ref5) Myele-meningocele - often referred to as a spina bifida because of the associated failure of the vertebral lamina to cover the spinal canal. (ref5) Syringohydromyelia - known as syringomyelia and hydromyelia, a more common simpler name is syrinx. (ref7) Dura Mater - outermost covering of the brain and spinal cord. (ref 8) Meniere's Disease - a disease of the organs of balance in the inner ear in which there is deafness and sudden attacks of extreme giddiness, vomiting and loss of balance. (ref 8) Meninges - 3 layered membrane that covers and protects the brain and the spinal cord. The three layers are the dura mater, the arachnoid and the pia mater. The dura mater is the outer most layer and is the toughest of the three membranes. Beneath the dura mater is the arachnoid, so named because it resembles a spiders web. Beneath the arachnoid and closest tot he brain is the pia mater, a transparent membrane that actually touches the brain and the spinal cord. (ref8) Ventriculostomy (how to treat hydrocephalus) - "recently ventriculascopes have been improved to the point that in some patients new pathways for CSF can be created within the brain or the old ones can be reopened. This is an area of rapid new developments....consult your physician. (ref9) Laminectomy - excision of one or more laminea of the vertebrea, removal of (ref 10) Lumbar drain - a device (usually a long thin flexible tube) inserted through the skin into the cerebrospinal fluid apace of the lower back. It provides a method of draining cerebrospinal fluid. (ref10) Meningitis - an infection or inflamation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. (ref10) Cervical - of or relating to the neck (ref10)

If you have any medical terms that you would like to see defined, send them to me and I'll see what I can find and add then to this list. I hope over time this page will grow.....not that I want to, but for for those who feel like they are drowning in terms that they do not know. Thanks Connie

1. The World Book Medical, Editor Erich E Bruschke, copywriter 1995 2. Tethered Cord Syndrome and Associated Anomalies in Adults 3. Online Medical Dictionary 4. Hydrocephalus Association 5. Community Rehabilitation 6. Neurofibromatosis.org 7. Pediatric Neurosurgery, by Dr. Neil Feldstien 8. New Websters Dictionary and Roget's Thesaurus - copywrite 1997 9. Samuel Neff, Md Neurosurgery online 10. Neurosurgery Oncall online