15 15 Neurosurgical terminology and clinical procedures terms. terms
Hello, my name is Ciany and I study Natural Sciences at Ahuntsic College! At about 10 years old, I became passionate about medicine and healthcare, especially about the functioning of our human brain (neurosurgery). Neurosurgery is a specialized branch of medicine focused on surgical treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of disorders affecting the brain. I created this glossary for students interested in learning complex medical terminology and clinical vocabulary. I hope this glossary helps you to expand your medical vocabulary!
Enjoy :).
aneurysm clip
compound noun
A tiny, permanent metal device used in brain surgery to pinch off a weak, bulging blood vessel and stop blood from filling it.
Example: During the delicate brain surgery, the neurosurgeon placed a tiny titanium aneurysm clip across the neck of the bulging blood vessel to permanently stop blood flow into it.
fr: clip pour anévrisme
benign
adjective
Not cancerous: In healthcare, a benign tumor or growth does not spread to other parts of the body. Not life-threatening: It is not expected to cause death or severe harm, though it can still cause local pressure if it grows large.
Example: There are a number of causes of jaundice, some of them BENIGN and some of them malignant and looking at your clinical picture and the story you have told us, we cannot rule out the possibility that you may have a cancer that is obstructing your bile system, which is why you are suffering from jaundice.
fr: bénin
biopsy
noun
A medical procedure where a doctor removes a small sample of tissue or cells from the body to check for disease under a microscope.
Example: Example: In the absence of the bullae, no definitive diagnosis was made from this BIOPSY.
fr: biopsie
cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator
compound noun
An advanced medical device that uses high-frequency sound waves to break apart and suction out soft tissue during operations.
Example: The Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA) is essential in neurosurgery because it removes tumor tissue with minimal damage to healthy brain structures.
fr: aspirateur chirurgical à ultrasons Cavitron
cerebrospinal fluid
compound noun
A clear, colorless liquid that cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord.
Example: The diagnosis relies upon demonstrating the presence of trypanosomes by microscopic examination of chancre fluid, lymph node aspirates, blood, bone marrow, or, in the late stages of infection, CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF).
fr: liquide céphalo-rachidien
craniotomy
noun
A surgical operation where a neurosurgeon temporarily removes a piece of the skull (called a bone flap) to reach and treat the brain.
Example: A CRANIOTOMY also allows greater access to the brain and therefore more control should a bleed occur.
fr: craniotomie
electroencephalogram
noun
A safe and painless medical test that measures and records the electrical activity of your brain.
Example: The neurologist ordered an electroencephalogram to monitor the patient for seizure activity.
fr: électroencéphalogramme
head trauma
compound noun
Any physical damage to the scalp, skull, or brain caused by an external force.
Example: Minor HEAD TRAUMA such as hitting head on impact could cause haemorrhage in an elderly patient predisposed to haemtoma formation as a result of cerebral atrophy and stretching of veins in the subdural space..
fr: traumatisme crânien
intracranial pressure
compound noun
The total pressure exerted by the contents inside the skull.
Example: A space occupying lesion will lead to raised INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE depending on the size of the lesion. Signs of raised INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE include nausea and vomiting, headaches (often worse in the morning) and papilloedema, none of which reported in her history. didn't report any weight loss a sign associated with neoplasms.
fr: pression intracrânienne
ischemia
noun
A medical condition where a part of the body receives a reduced or blocked supply of blood.
Example: However, slow increases are indicative of prolonged ISCHEMIA and persistent coronary occlusion.
fr: ischémie
malignant
adjective
Cancerous Growths: A malignant tumor invades nearby tissues and spreads through the blood or lymph system, unlike a harmless or benign growth.
Example: An estimated 1 in 3 people will develop cancer during the course of their lives, of which the four most common cancers - breast, lung, colorectal and prostate - account for over half of the 270,000 new cases of MALIGNANT cancer registered each year (1).
fr: maligne
spinal cord
compound noun
A long, fragile tube of nervous tissue that runs from the base of the brain down through the center of the spine.
Example: The corticospinal tract decussates in the SPINAL CORD, activity thus originating in the cerebral hemisphere will influence the contralateral side of the body explaining why disruption of the nervous activity originating in the motor cortex of the 'infarcted' left hemisphere impacts on the right side of the body (decreasing muscle size) in this patient.
fr: moelle épinière
stereotactic
adjective
A precise medical technique that uses 3D imaging and coordinates to find and treat a specific target inside the body.
Example: The team used stereotactic radiosurgery to target the tumor without damaging healthy surrounding brain tissue.
fr: stéréotaxique
stroke
noun
A dangerous medical emergency when blood flow to the brain stops.
Example: Cardiovascular examination will therefore be important especially blood pressure, arrhythmia and carotid bruits which may all indicate risk factors for STROKE.
fr: accident vasculaire cérébral
tumor
noun
An abnormal mass of tissue that forms when cells grow and divide too fast or do not die when they should.
Example: Most breast tumors develop oestrogen resistance though, making endocrine treatment useless and therefore relying on the more traditional methods, such as radiotherapy and possibly surgery. So it can be seen that for a TUMOR to develop in breast tissue there has to be a series of errors, involving damage to DNA, damage.
