Hydrocephalus Glossary

abdomen

The cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvis

abdominal

To with the abdominal viscera

Alzheimer's disease

A disease of the nervous system. Mostly the effects are of cognitive imparements, often agitation and emotional outbursts occur. Memory is often affected, this leads to confusion due to difficulty remembering everyday tasks. In later stages there is widespread atrophy of the brain.

aneurysm

A local dilation of an artery

anterior

At, or towards, the front

antibiotics

A drug which destroys bacteria

antisiphon device

A device which prevents siphoning see the Antisiphon document

aplasia

Defective development of tissue or organ

apraxia

The inability to recognise common articles or perform correct movenents

aqueduct of Sylvius

A passage whick connects the third and fourth ventricles

aqueductal stenosis

Aqueductal stenosis is the enlargement of the lateral and 3rd ventricles with a normal 4th ventricle

arachnoid

A web-like membrane covering the brain. Lies between the dura and pia matter.

arachnoid villi

The protrusions in the arachnoid where the CSF reabsorbed into the blood stream

Arnold-Chiari malformation

A rare congenital anomaly in which two parts of the brain, the brainstem and the cerebellum, are longer than normal and protrude down into the spinal canal. In most cases, symptoms begin during infancy, however onset of symptoms may be delayed until adolescence or adulthood. Symptoms usually include vomiting, muscle weakness in the head and face, difficulty swallowing, and varying degrees of mental impairment. Paralysis of the arms and legs may also occur.
Adults and adolescents with Chiari malformation who previously were asymptomatic may show signs of progressive brain impairment as they grow older, such as involuntary, rapid, downward eye movements. Other symptoms include dizziness, headache, double vision, deafness, an impaired ability to coordinate movement, and episodes of acute pain in and around the eyes.

arthroscopy

The exampnation of a joint using a endoscope

aspiration

The removal of fluids from a body cavity by means of suction

atretic

Lacking it natural openings

atrium

One of the upper chambers of the heart(pleural= atria)

atrophy

The wasting away of part of the body due to degeneration of the cells.

Bovie cautery

An electrical current is used to heat a treatment filament or a tip. The tip becomes extremely hot and is then used to transfer heat to the tissue, producing a thermal clinical effect

Burr hole

A hole drilled into the skull, this process is called trepanation

butterfly needle

calcification

The depositing af calcium oxide

cannula

A type of needle used for the delivery, or the draining, of fluids from the body

catheter

A tube used for the drainage of a liquid

carbonic anhydrase

An enzyme. It affects the absorbtion of carbon dioxide in haemoglobin. It also catalyses the formation of carbinic acid in the stomache

cauda

The bundle of sacral and lumbar nerves with which the spinal chord terminates

caudal

To do with the cauda

cautery

A device which used a red hot wire to cauterize a tissue

cauterize

To cut using heat

cerebrospinal fluid

See the CSF document

choroid plexus

Structures lining the floor of the lateral ventricle and the roof of the third and fourth ventricles. The choroid plexus is the junction between the blood stream and the ventricles. The choroid plexus allows nutrient to pass into the CSF, and waste back into the blood stream.

circulatory system

The system which caries blood around the body.

cisterns

Local enlargements of the subarachnoid space

claustrophobia

A fear of confined spaces

coagulate

To clot.(coagulation= the thickening of a bodily fluid)

commissure

Fibers connecting different parts of the brain

coronal

To do with the top(corronal sutere= the area on the top of an infants head where dhe bones have not fused)

craniocephalic

Large head created by a hydrocephalic brain

craniosynostosis

Result of apposition and overlapping of the cranial sutures in an infant, following decompression of hydrocephalus

craniotomy

Surgery which includes opening of the skull

cysts

A tumour with a membanous capsule which contains fluid

Dandy-Walker malformation

The Dandy-Walker syndrome is a malformation of the brain that involves the maldevelopment of the cerebellum (hindbrain), associated with a cystic enlargement of this area, and frequently hydrocephalus.

dementia

A condition where the cognitive functions and the memory are failing

dilated

Opened (eg. the iris of the eye is dilated to let in more light)

diptheroids

False membranes which grow on mecus membranes

distal

Placed further away.

dna

The matter which containg the all the information needed by a cell.

dura mater

A tough and fibrous mater which is partialy attached to the cranial cavity The cranial dura matter has 2 layers, the periosteal (outer layer) and the meningeal (inner layer)

ectopia

Displacement, or abnormal placement.(ectopic = places abnormaly)

electrocardiogram

The resulting output from an electocardiograph

electocardiograph

An aparatus which measures the electrical activity of the heart

endoscope

A device which passes light into a body cavity and allows the body cavity to be viewed

endoscopy

The usage of an endoscope to examing internal body cavities

encysted

Enclosed in a cyst

ependyma

The membrane lining of the cerebral ventricles and the spinal chord

epilepsy

Disturbances in the medial temporal lobe structures. The effects are convulsive seizures of varying severity

etiology

The cause of diseases, and the study thereof

fenestrate

To cut an opening in a membrane, often to allow fluid to escape.

fiberoptic

Using glass strands to pass light.

fontanel

A soft membranous space between the cranial bones of an infant

foramena of Luschka

Two lateral openings which serve to connect the fourth ventricle to the subarachnoid space

foramen of Magendie

A medial opening which serves to connect the fourth ventricle to the subarachnoid space

foramina of Monroe

A medial opening which serves to connect lateral ventriclesto the third ventricle

fossa

A small depression or pit

fulminating

Occuring suddenly, and quick to take course

glioma

A malignant growth of nerve connective tissue

Hematoma
(haematoma)

A hemorrhage in the brain

hemorrhage

A bleeding into a blody cavity

hemostat

A clamp used for stopping bloodflow

hydrocephalus

For a concise explanation see: here

hypernatremia

A condition of increased sodium in the body, usually caused by water loss.

hypophyseal fossa

(See sella turcica)

hypotension

Low pressure

Idiopathic intercranial hypertension (IIH)

also called "pseudotumor cerebri" is a condition where there is an imbalance in the pressure regulation of the CSF pressure, and and an empty sella.

IIH is characterised by headache, papilledema, nausea, auditory visual problems, and elevated intercranial pressure.

In IIH, unlike in hydrocephalus, these effects occur with-out enlargement of the ventricles.

The CSF will have roughly twice the normal pressure.
The cause of IIH is unknown, the condition occures most often in women in their 30's.

incisions

A cut

indolent

Slow; eg. slow to heal

inion

The inion is the most prominent projection of the occipital bone at the posterioinferior (lower rear) part of the skull.

intravenous

Within a vein

jugular

To do with the neck (eg jugular vein)

Klippel-Feil syndrome

Fussion of, or reduction in numbers, of the cervical vertibrea. Affected children have short necks and low hairlines, movement of the neck is limited. Compression of the spinal chord can cause paraplegia. Can cause retardation or learning dificulties.

lateral

To the side

lethargy

A condition of drosiness or stupor

lesions

A wound or injury. A structural change in an organ.

ligature

A thread used to tie a vessel

lumbar

To do with the lower section of the spine

lumbar puncture

A prodedure in which a canula is inserted into the spinal canal, usually to extract or measure the pressure of the CSF.

meninges

The membranes covering the brain and spinal chord(the dura matter, the arachnoid, and the pia matter). They protect and nourish the brainstem and spinal cord

meningitis

Inflamation of the meninges

microgyria

A disorder of neuronal migration characterized by an excess of secondary sulcation of the cerebral hemispheres resulting in a brain with a complex convolutional pattern.

myelomeningocele

A herniation of the meninges and the spinal chord, a seen in spina bifida

neonatal

Refering to the first months of life

neonate

A child in the first 2 years of life

nuclei

Alural of nucleus.

nucleus

The dna containing part of the cell, it controls the activity of the cell.

nystagmus

Involuntary rapid movement of the eyeball

occipital

Refering to the back of the head

occlusion

A blockage

optic nerves

Nerves to do with the image from the eye

orthopaedic

To do with the correction of deformities

osmolarity

To do with regulation of liquid passing through a cell membrane

P wave

The P wave is caused by the depolarization of the right and left atrium

Palpation

Contraction

papilledema

Swelling of the eye's nerve

papilloma

A growth of epithelial tissue

parenchyma

The lining of the spine and brain

Parinaud's syndrome

Paralysis of upward gaze secondary to compression of the midbrain tectum

Parkinson's

Uncontrolable contractions of muscles, particularily hands and feet

patency

Openness, being open or exposed.

pathology

The cause of a disease, or the study thereof

pathophysiology

The causing physical factor

pediatric

To do with childrens medicical problems

peritoneal

To do with the the peritoneum

peritoneal cavity

The cavity in the abdomen in which all of the intestines and abdominal organs are located

peritoneum

The membrame lining of the abdominal cavity

peritonitis

Inflamation of the peritoneum

pharmacological

To do with drugs or medicines

pineal gland

A small cone shaped structure on the base of the brain, it produces hormones which are thought to affect the actions of several other glands such as the pituitary, adrenal glands, and the gonads.

Platybasia

Is a deformity where the angle formed by the basisphenoid and the clivus, normally 130-140 degrees, is increased with flattening of the skull base

pleura

The membrame lining the thorax

pleural

To do with the pleura

pleural space

The cavity within the chest which surrounds the lungs

polygyria

Excess of the normal number of convolutions of the brain.

porencephaly

Abnormal cavity within brain tissue, usually resulting from outpouching of a lateral ventricle

proximal

Possitioned close by

pseudo

A prefix. meaning false

pus

Yellow substance consisting of dead leucocytes, bacteria, debris of cells, and tissue fluid. It is the result of pagocytes destroying bacteria

radioisotope

A substance which gives of radiation

sagital

Arrow shaped

saline

Containing salt(s). A 0.9% salt solition for replaceing body fluids

scintillation

An abnormal area of the visual field that is positive and luminous, sometimes becoming hemianopic and appearing in a migraine aura.

scoliosis

Abnormal curviture of the spine

sella turcica

The sella turcica is a saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone at the base of the human skull, saddle is known as the hypophyseal fossa, which holds the pituitary gland.

septicemia

Infection on the blood suply

silicones

Organic compounds containing silica, which are repellant to water

sinus

A venous channel, especialy within the cranium

siphoning

The drawing of a liquid from one place to another, by utilizing the fact that liquids flow to the place of lower pressure

slit ventricle syndrome

A condition where the ventricles are much smaller than usual

sonogram

An image gathered by usage of sound waves, this removes the risk caused by radiation. A sonogram is a quicker method of scanning, and the apparatus is more portable.

spina bifida

A congenital condition where the meninges and nerves protrude through and opening in the lower spinal column

Sphenoid bone

The sphenoid bone is an unpaired bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporal bone and basilar part of the occipital bone.

Staphylococcus

A type, or genus, of bacteria.These a mostly harmless, and are normally found one the skin of humans and other animals

stenosis

Narrowing of a vessel(blood or CSF vessels)

sternomastoid muscle

A large muscle between the sternum and the head. This muscle is involved in turning and flexing the head.

stupor

A state where a person deos not react or interact with its suroundings

stylette

1: A fine wire that is run through a catheter, cannula, or hollow needle to keep it stiff or clear of debris.
2: A surgical probe.

subarachnoid spaces

Spaces which contain CSF which serve as a cusion for the brain and spine

subcutaneous

Under the skin

subdural

Under the dura mater

suprasellar region

Above the sella turcica

suture

1: A stitch, or a series of stitches closing a wound; The bones at the top of the head with close after birth
2. The fibrous area between the plates of the skull which allow the plates of the skull to grow.

syrinx

A syrinx is a fluid-filled cavity within the spinal cord (syringomyelia) or brain stem

tectal

Concerning the tectum

tectum

The roof of the midbrain, it contains reflex centers for visual and auditory inpulses

tentorial notch

A oval opening in the tentorium, which surrounds the midbrain. The spine passes through the tentorial notch.

theca

A sheath, eg the covering of the spinal chord

three way stopcock

A three-way stopcock can be used on IV tubing to turn off one solution and turn on another.

thrombosis

the formation of a thrombus

thrombus

a stationary blood clot caused by the coagulation of the blood vessel.

Torcular Herophili

the connecting point of the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus, and occipital sinus.

torso

The bulk of the body. The body excluding the limbs and head.

toxoplasmosis

A condition of enlarged glands and fever, caused by a protozoon

trauma

Damage to the body

umbilicus

Tha navel; the scar in the center of the abdomen

urological

To do with diseases of the urinary tract

utero

To do with the uterus(womb)

vascular

Relating to vessels; consisting largely of vessels

vein of Galen

A large vein which collects venous blood from the internal cerebral veins and two basal veins.

venous

To do with the veins; consisting largely of veins

ventriculostomy

Surgery of the ventricles

ventricles

1) A fluid (CSF) filled spaces in the brain
2) the lower chambers of the heart

vermis

The part of the brain which connects the the two hemispheres

villi

Finger-like projections from a surphase.

viscera

The internal organs of the body