-
4-Aminopyridine
(4-AP): an experimental drug currently in
clinical trials for MS and spinal cord injury
that improves conduction of nerve impulses; may
cause seizure, convulsion or dizziness.
-
Abdominal binder:
a wide elastic binder use to help prevent
hypotension (drop in blood pressure) or used for
cosmetic purposes to hold in abdomen.
-
Acute:
a stage of injury or stroke starting at the
onset of symptoms. The opposite of chronic.
-
Acute spinal cord
injury: early stage of spinal cord injury.
Some people use to term to refer to a period
when there is still continuing damage. This
time period is controversial. Some
investigators consider the period to be
relatively short, i.e. several hours during
which treatments can be given to prevent
progressive or secondary tissue damage. Other
investigators may consider the acute period to
extend several weeks, during which there may be Wallerian degeneration of spinal tracts that
have been cut off from the cell body. The acute
period of spinal cord injury precedes a
“subacute” period where presumably the spinal
cord injury is undergoing both degeneration and
repair.
-
Adipose tissue:
fatty tissue.
-
ADA:
Americans with Disabilities Act. The civil
rights law for people with disabilities passed
in 1990, which contain protections for
employment, transportation, access to
telecommunications, and access to public places.
-
ADL: rehab
shorthand for "activities of daily living," e.g.
dressing, eating, cooking.
-
Afferent:
sensory pathway proceeding toward the central
nervous system from the peripheral receptor
organs.
-
Ambulation:
act of walking.
-
Amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS): a disorder involving loss
of use of muscles. The nerves controlling these
muscles are destroyed. Also known as Lou
Gehrig’s disease.
-
Ankylosis:
fixation of a joint leading to immobility, due
to ossification or bony deposits of calcium at
joints.
(See
"Other Conditions")
-
Anoxia:
a state of almost no oxygen delivery to a cell,
resulting in low energy production and possible
death of the cell.
-
Anterior
tibialis:
muscle that flexes the ankles. Located at the
front of the leg between the knee and the ankle,
this muscle is what lifts the foot up during the
swing phase and prevents foot drop. Its
antagonist muscle is the gastrocnemius.
-
Anticholinergic: drug
often prescribed for those with indwelling
catheters to reduce spasms of smooth muscle,
including the bladder; brand names include
Daricon, ProBanthine, Urispas, Ditropan, and
Cystospaz
-
Anticoagulants: a drug therapy used to
prevent the formation of blood clots that can
become lodged in cerebral arteries and cause
strokes.
-
Antiplatelet
agents: a type of anticoagulant drug
therapy that prevents the formation of blood
clots by preventing the accumulation of
platelets that form the basis of blood clots;
some common antiplatelets include aspirin and
ticlopidine; see anticoagulants.
-
Aphasia:
the inability to understand or create speech,
writing, or language; generally due to damage to
the speech centers of the brain.
-
Apoptosis:
a form of cell suicide that does not induce an
inflammatory response, often called programmed
cell death because it is triggered by a genetic
signal, involves specific cell mechanisms, and
is irreversible once initiated.
-
Arrhythmia:
an abnormal heart rhythm. The heartbeats may be
too slow, too rapid, too irregular, or too
early.
-
Arteriovenous malformation (AVM): a
congenital disorder characterized by a complex
tangled web of arteries and veins.
-
ASIA Score: a
measure of function after spinal cord injury,
used by physicians. "A" means complete
injury; "E" means full recovery. (ASIA
web site)
-
Assisted
cough: a technique in
which the patient is assisted by another
individual to produce a more forceful and
productive cough. Also known as "Quad Cough".
-
Astrocyte: a
star-shaped glial support cell that helps
provide the chemical environment for nerve
regeneration.
-
Ataxia: a
problem of muscle coordination not due to
weakness, rigidity, spasticity or sensory loss.
Incoordination of movement.
-
Atelectasis:
the collapse of part or all of a lung by
blockage of the air passages, or by shallow
breathing.
(See
"Other Conditions")
-
Atherosclerosis: a blood vessel disease
characterized by deposits of lipid material on
the inside of the walls of large to medium-sized
arteries which make the artery walls thick,
hard, brittle, and prone to breaking.
-
Atrophy: loss
of bulk in a muscle, nerve, or an organ, from
less than normal usage or from previous damage.
-
Autonomic
dysreflexia: an uninhibited and exaggerated
response of the autonomic nervous system to
stimulation. It occurs in about 85 percent of
patients with spinal cord injury above the level
of the sixth aligmthoracic vertebra and is
potentially dangerous because of attendant
vasoconstriction and elevation of blood
pressure. See also hyperreflexia.
(Signs,
symptoms & causes of AD)
-
Autonomic nervous
system: the part of the nervous system that
controls involuntary activities, including heart
muscle, glands, and smooth muscle tissue;
subdivided into the sympathetic and
parasympathetic systems.
-
Axon: the
nerve fiber or process that carries a nerve
impulse from the nerve terminals in the body
back to the nerve cell
-
Bladder training:
method by which the bladder is trained to empty
(micturition) without the use of an indwelling
catheter. Involves drinking measured amounts of
fluid, and allowing the bladder to fill and
empty at timed intervals. See also
intermittent catheterization.
-
Blood-brain
barrier: an elaborate network of
supportive brain cells, called glia, which
surrounds blood vessels and protects neurons
from the toxic effects of direct exposure to
blood.
-
Body jacket
(TLSO): a support made
of plastic that fits over the chest, abdomen and
upper pelvis, used to support an unstable or
recently fused spine.
-
Bradycardia:
slow pulse (< 60 beats per minute)
-
Brown-Sequard Syndrome: an incomplete spinal cord injury
wherein half of the cord has been damaged. There
is spastic paralysis on the same side as the
lesion and loss of sensation on the opposite
side of the lesion.
-
Catecholamines:
These are a family of neurotransmitters,
including epinephrine, norepinephrine,
serotonin, and others. These are sympathetic
neurotransmitters that tend to increase the
activity of smooth muscles.
-
Catheter: a
rubber or plastic tube used to withdraw urine
from the bladder.
-
Cauda equina:
the spinal roots descending from tail bone area
of the spinal cord.
-
Cauda equina syndrome: injury to the nerves still within
the spinal cord as they form a "horse's tail" to
exit the lumbar and spinal regions; this usually
occurs with fractures below the L2 level and
results in flaccid-type paralysis. The type of
bladder and bowel impairment that results from
such an injury depends on the level of the
injury and can be problematic, particularly for
women, who may have difficulty with urinary
drainage and incontinence.
-
Central nervous
system: nerve tissue within the brain and
spinal cord.
-
Central
stroke pain (central pain syndrome):
pain that is a mixture of sensations, including
heat and cold, burning, tingling, numbness, and
sharp stabbing and underlying aching pain.
-
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): the
circulating clear fluid that bathes the brain
and spinal cord, protecting it from shock.
-
Cervical:
the portion of the spinal cord in the
neck area.
-
Chronic:
a condition that is continuous or
persistent over an extended period of time, not
easily or quickly resolved. The opposite of
acute.
-
Chronic spinal
cord injury: stage of spinal cord injury
where there is no longer continuing damage or
recovery. Some people use the word to refer to
people who have been injured for a long time.
-
Clonus:
involuntary movement of rapidly alternating
contraction and relaxation of a muscle.
-
Coccygeal:
the part of the spine at the bottom of the
spinal column, above the buttocks.
-
Collateral
sprouting: intact
axons located near damaged areas may sprout to
reestablish connections with, and in place of
damaged areas; cannot be assured that the new
connections function exactly as their damaged
neighbors did.
-
Complete injury:
generally, a spinal cord injury that cuts off
all sensory and motor function below the lesion
site.
-
Compression:
indentation of tissue, causing a deformation of
the tissue. When the indentation is fast enough
to cause cell breakage, it is usually called
contusion. If the compression is slow (<0.5
m/sec), the main cause of damage is due to
ischemia or loss of blood flow. The compression
increases tissue pressure and the tissue
pressure counters blood pressure, preventing
blood flow.
-
Computed
tomography (CT) scan: a series of
X-rays of the brain and head; also called
computerized axial tomography or CAT scan.
-
Concussion:
reversible paralysis following brain trauma,
usually involving loss of consciousness and/or a
transient state of confusion.
-
Condom
catheter: external
urine collecting device used by males.
-
Contracture:
a joint that has stiffened to the point it
cannot be moved through its normal range.
-
Contusion:
rapid indentation of tissue, causing damage by
stretching and shearing of cells and cellular
processes.
-
Crede:
technique of pressing down and inward over the
bladder to facilitate voiding.
-
CT scan:
Computerized Axial Tomography; a cross-sectional
x-ray enhancement technique that greatly
benefits diagnosis with high-resolution video
images.
-
Cyst: a
cavity in the spinal cord that fills with fluid
and can lead to loss of function, pain. Same as
syrinx. See also syringomyelia.
(See
"Other Conditions")
-
Cystogram: an
X-ray of the bladder to show reflux (backward
flow of urine back to the kidneys).
-
Cytokines:
small, hormone-like proteins that promote an
inflammatory immune response to an injury.
-
Cytotoxic
edema: an influx of fluids and toxic
chemicals into a cell causing swelling of the
cell.
-
Decompression:
a surgical procedure that reduces pressure on
the spinal cord by bone or disc material;
sometimes performed soon after injury.
-
Decubitus: a
skin sore cause by unrelieved pressure. See also
pressure sore.
(How
to recognize pressure sores)
-
Deep tendon
reflex: this is a muscle reflex that is
activated by sudden stretching of the tendon of
a muscle.
-
Deep vein
thrombosis (DVT):
medical condition
for blood clotting. This is a process for
formation of thrombi that either partially or
completely block circulation in a deep vein,
generally in the lower extremities. See also
pulmonary embolism.
(See
"Other Conditions")
-
Demyelination:
the loss of nerve function due to loss of nerve
insulation called myelin. Common in MS and
spinal cord injury.
-
Dermatome: a
map that shows the expected functional abilities
for various levels of spinal cord injury.
-
Dorsal root entry
zone procedure (DREZ): a surgical method of
pain treatment that precisely cuts nerves in the
dorsal root of the spinal cord.
-
Dysphagia:
trouble eating and swallowing.
-
ECU: short
for Environmental Control Unit, a remote control
device that can control anything in a person's
environment, such as lights, television, bed
etc.
-
Edema:
the swelling of a cell from large amounts of
water or fluid that have entered the cell.
-
Efferent:
motor pathway proceeding from the central
nervous system toward the peripheral end organs.
-
Electro-ejaculation: a method of obtaining
viable sperm from men who are unable to produce
a sample by other means. Uses an electrical
probe in the rectum.
-
Electromyogram (EMG):
test that records the responses of muscles to
electrical stimulation.
-
Embolic
stroke: a stroke caused by an embolus,
a free-roaming clot that usually forms in the
heart.
(See
"Other Conditions")
-
Endotracheal tube:
a tube inserted into the mouth or nose that
serves as an artificial airway. It passes
through the vocal cords, and therefore speech is
not possible with this tube in place. It is the
tube that connects a respirator to the patient.
-
Exacerbation:
in certain diseases (e.g. MS) a recurrence or
worsening of symptoms.
-
Excitatory
amino acids: a type of
neurotransmitter; proteins released by one
neuron to promote an excitatory state in the
other neuron.
-
Excitotoxicity:
excessive release of neurotransmitters causing
damage to nerve and glia cells.
-
Extensors:
the muscles that extend the limbs,
particularly the legs. Leg extensor muscles
include the gluteus maximus, quadriceps, and
gastrocnemius. They are responsible for
supporting the weight of the body against
gravity and oppose the action of flexor muscles.
-
Flexors:
the muscles that flex the limbs. Leg
flexor muscles include the psoas, the
hamstrings, and the anterior tibialis.
-
Foley
Catheter: a tube
inserted into the bladder to drain the urine
into a plastic bag either attached to the leg or
the bed.
-
Free Radicals: highly reactive
chemicals that attack molecules and modify their
chemical structure.
-
Friedreich’s
ataxia: an inherited, progressive
dysfunction of the cerebellum, spinal cord, and
peripheral nerves.
-
Functional
electrical stimulation (FES): application of
low-voltage currents to enhance function of
paralyzed muscles. Facilitates exercise,
ambulation, grip, bladder control, etc.
-
Functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): a
type of imaging that measures blood flow within
the brain.
-
Glasgow coma
scale (GCS): a rating scale devised by
Teasdale and Jennett to assess the level of
consciousness following brain damage. The scale
assesses eye, verbal and motor responses. The
GCS is grade 1-15, the lower score indicating
the greater neurologic impairment.
-
Glia:
also called neuroglia; supportive (derived from
the Greek for glue) cells of the nervous system
that make up the blood-brain barrier, provide
nutrients and oxygen to the vital neurons, and
protect the neurons from infection, toxicity,
and trauma. Three kinds: oligodendroglia,
astrocytes, and microglia.
-
Glutamate:
glutamic acid, an amino acid, an excitatory
neurotransmitter in the brain.
-
Guillain-Barre
syndrome: an acute nerve inflammation that
damages portions of the nerve cell, resulting in
muscle weakness or paralysis.
-
Halo orthosis:
a metal ring and supporting frame, placed around
the head and attached to a body jacket or vest,
to immobilize the upper body and cervical spine.
-
Harrington
Rods: metal braces
fixed along the spinal column for support and
stabilization.
-
Hemiparesis:
weakness on one side of the body.
-
Hemiplegia:
paralysis on one side of the body.
-
Hemorrhagic
stroke: sudden bleeding into or around
the brain.
-
Heterotopic
ossification: bone deposits around the hips
and knees and other connective tissue.
(See
"Other Conditions")
-
Hippocampus:
the portion of the brain implicated in memory
and learning.
-
Hubbard
Tank: large
full-body tank of water used for wound care and
range of motion.
-
Hydronephrosis:
kidney distended with urine to the point that
its function is impaired; can cause uremia, the
toxic retention of blood nitrogen.
-
Hyperbaric oxygen
therapy: a system of delivering pressurized
oxygen to help treat decompression sickness (the
bends), smoke inhalation, air embolism and other
conditions.
-
Hyperreflexia:
See Autonomic dysreflexia.
(Signs,
symptoms & causes of AD)
-
Hypothermia:
a technique to cool the spinal cord or brain
after trauma. May reduce swelling and reduce the
metabolic requirements of damaged tissue.
-
Hypoxia:
lack of oxygen delivery to a cell.
-
Ileostomy: a
surgical procedure that opens the ileum (small
intestine) to facilitate the removal of fecal
material through the abdomen.
-
Immune response:
the body’s defense mechanism to attack and
eliminate microorganisms, viruses, and
substances recognized as foreign and potentially
harmful.
-
Incomplete
injury: generally, a spinal cord injury with
preserved sensory or motor function below the
lesion level.
-
Incontinence:
loss of control of bowel or bladder.
-
Indwelling
catheter: a flexible tube that remains in
the bladder for continuous draining.
-
Intermittent
catheter: a flexible tube that is used to
empty the bladder on a regular schedule;
self-catheterization.
-
Infarct:
an area of tissue that is dead or dying because
of a loss of blood supply.
-
Interleukins: a group of
cytokine-related proteins involved in the
inflammatory immune response of the ischemic
cascade.
-
Intracerebral hemorrhage: a vessel
within the brain leaks blood into the brain.
-
Interneurons:
neurons with axons that remain within the spinal
cord.
-
Intrathecal:
delivery of drugs (e.g., the spasm-control drug
baclofen, or the pain-killer morphine) by way of
a small, implanted pump, allowing for higher
dosage with fewer side effects.
-
Intravenous
pyelogram (IVP): a type of X-ray to study
the kidneys, bladder, and ureters (the tubes
which carry urine from the kidneys to the
bladder).
-
Intubation:
process of putting a
tube into a hollow organ or passageway, often
into the airway.
-
Ischemia:
a loss of blood flow to tissue, caused by an
obstruction of the blood vessel.
