Medical, Surgical, & Viewing Terms and Abbreviations
Medical Careers & Professional Terminology
neurologist: specialist in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the nervous system
neurology: study of nerves
neurosurgeon: surgeon who specializes in operations on the nervous system
psychiatrist: medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
psychiatry: specialty of the mind
psychologist: nonmedical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
Imaging Techniques/Diagnostic Procedures/Procedures for the Organ System
cerebral angiography: process of recording vessels in the cerebrum
CT myelography: process of recording the spinal cord with computed tomography
electroencephalogram: the record of electrical activity of the brain
electromyography: test that measures the electrical activity between the brain and spinal cord and the peripheral nerves innervating the skeletal muscles
lumbar puncture: procedure used to test cerebrospinal fluid
myelography: radiography of the spinal cord and nerve roots
tensilon test: test used to diagnose myasthenia gravis
Surgical Techniques/Procedures Used in the Organ System
craniotomy: removal of part of the skull to relieve pressure in the brain tissue
ganglionectomy: excision of a ganglion
lobotomy: incision into a lobe of the brain
neurectomy: excision of the nerves
neurotomy: incision into a nerve
neurolysis: dissolution of nerve (for pain management)
neuroplasty: surgery to repair a nerve
neurorrhaphy: suturing of a nerve
rhizotomy: incision into a nerve root
Abbreviations Commonly Used with the Organ System
AD: Alzheimer’s disease
ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
CNS: central nervous system
CP: cerebral palsy
CSF: cerebrospinal fluid
CTE: chronic traumatic encephalopathy
CVA: cerebrovascular accident
EEG: electroencephalogram
EMG: electromyography
EP studies: evoked potential studies
LP: lumbar puncture
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
MS: multiple sclerosis
OCD: obsessive-compulsive disorder
PD: Parkinson’s disease
PET: positron emission tomography
PNS: peripheral nervous system
PTSD: post-traumatic stress disorder
SAH: subarachnoid hemorrhage
TIA: transient ischemic attack
Medical Terms Practice
For each card, click the speaker icon to hear the correct pronunciation of the listed term. Practice saying the term to yourself, then attempt to define the term from memory. Click “Turn” to flip the card and see the definition. Use the right and left arrows to toggle through the cards in each set.