291. Nerves

See also 14. ANATOMY ; 51. BODY, HUMAN ; 56. BRAIN .

cataplexy

a temporary paralytic or hypnotic state, often brought on by strong emotion. —cataplectic, adj.

electrotonus

the state or condition of a nerve when an electric current is passing through it. —electrotonic, adj.

neuralgia

a sharp and paroxysmal pain along the course of a nerve. —neuralgie, adj.

neurasthenia

1. Medicine. a nervous debility and exhaustion, as from overwork or prolonged nervous strain.

2. popularly, a nervous breakdown, —neurasthenie, adj.

neurism

Rare. the theory that all the body’s activity is controlled by nervous fluid.

neuritis

1. an inflammation in a nerve.

2. a continuous pain in a nerve, associated with paralysis, loss of reflexes, and sensory disturbances. —neuritic, adj.

neuroanatomy

Medicine. the branch of anatomy that studies the anatomy of the nervous system. — neuroanatomical, adj.

neurography

the branch of neurology concerned with description of the nerves and nervous system. —neurographic, neurographical, adj.

neurology

the branch of medical science that studies the nerves and the nervous system, especially the diseases that affect them. —neurologist, n. —neurological, adj.

neuromimesis

Medicine. a psychosomatic disease. —neuromimetic, adj.

neuropathology

the pathology of the nervous system. —neuropathologist, n. —neuropathologic, neuropathological, adj.

neuropathy

any disease or disorder of the nerves. —neuropathist, n. —neuropathie, adj.

neuropsychiatry

the branch of medicine dealing with diseases affecting the mind and the nervous system. —neuropsychiatrist, n. — neuropsychiatric, adj.

neurosis

a functional disorder of the nervous system. See also 334. PSYCHOLOGY . —neurotic, n. , adj.

neurotomy

the cutting of a nerve, as to relieve neuralgia. — neurotomist, n.

polyneuritis

neuritis that affects several or many nerves.

prosopalgia

neuralgia affecting the face.

pseudesthesia, pseudaesthesia

Pathology. false or ghost sensations, such as those which seem to come from a missing limb. —pseudesthetic, pseudaesthetic, adj.

rhizotomy

the surgical cutting of the nerve roots of the spine, usually the sensory or posterior roots, to relieve pain or eliminate paralysis.