A
Arteriovenous: Relating to or affecting both
an artery and a vein.
Ataxia: A lack of muscle coordination
which may affect speech, eye movements, swallowing, walking, picking up
objects, and other voluntary movements.
Autoimmune disease: An illness where the body’s
immune system attacks its own tissues. The immune system typically “seeks
and destroys” harmful invaders, but in autoimmune diseases, it targets the
body itself. Patients may have unusual antibodies circulating in their
blood that attack their own tissues.
B
Bacterial: Caused by bacteria. Bacteria
are single-celled microorganisms that can live independently or within a
host organism. Unlike viruses, they reproduce on their own.
Bladder: The organ that collects urine
from the kidneys before it is excreted. It is a hollow, muscular, elastic
organ located on the pelvic floor, and urine enters through the ureter and
exits via the urethra.
Bowel: The section of the digestive
system between the stomach and the anus, consisting of the small and large
intestines.
C
Cerebrospinal fluid: A watery fluid that is
continuously produced and absorbed, circulating in the brain's ventricles
and around the brain and spinal cord. (Abbreviated CSF)
Corticosteroids: Steroid hormones produced by
the adrenal glands or synthetically created. These are used to reduce
swelling and immune responses and treat various conditions.
Cyclophosphamide: A drug used to treat cancer,
also acting as an immunosuppressant to decrease the body’s immune
response. It is used for severe autoimmune diseases and transverse
myelitis.
D
Demyelinating: Refers to the damage of the
myelin sheath of neurons, impairing nerve signal conduction and leading to
loss of sensation, movement, cognition, or other functions, depending on
the affected nerves.
E
EEG: Electroencephalogram – a test
that measures electrical activity in the brain using sensors attached to
the scalp.
Encephalitis: A rare condition that causes
inflammation of the brain, typically due to infections.
F
Farnsworth-Munsell hue test: A test to
assess color vision by separating individuals into classes of superior,
average, or low color discrimination and identifying areas of color
confusion in color-deficient individuals.
I
Immunodulation: The process of influencing the
immune system, either to enhance or suppress its activity, often using
drugs.
Immunoglobulin: Antibodies produced by the
immune system in response to bacteria, viruses, or other foreign
substances.
Inflammation: The immune system’s response to
harmful stimuli, marked by pain, redness, heat, swelling, and loss of
function.
Ischemia: The restriction or blockage of
blood flow in a blood vessel, which can cause heart attacks, strokes, and
visual field losses.
Ishihara color chart: A test using colored plates to
diagnose color vision deficiencies, ranging from difficulty distinguishing
colors to complete color blindness.
L
Lupus erythematosus: A group of autoimmune diseases
in which the immune system attacks normal, healthy tissues, affecting
various organs like joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs.
M
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A test that
uses a magnetic field and radio wave pulses to create images of the body’s
internal structures. MRI is used to detect abnormalities that other
imaging methods may miss, including those in the brain and spinal cord.
Methotrexate: A medication used to treat
arthritis and autoimmune conditions, blocking certain enzymes in the
immune system.
Microglial cells: Immune cells in the central
nervous system that act as the first line of defense.
Multiple sclerosis: An autoimmune disease affecting
the brain and spinal cord, characterized by demyelination and resulting in
neurological symptoms.
Muscle spasticity: A condition where muscles
become stiff, restricting movement.
Myelin: The protective layer around
nerves that allows for efficient signal transmission. Damage to myelin
slows down nerve impulses.
N
Neuropathy: A condition involving damage to
peripheral nerves, leading to symptoms like numbness, tingling, pain, and
muscle weakness.
O
Optic Nerve: Also known as cranial nerve II,
it transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.
P
Paresthesias: Abnormal sensations such as
tingling, numbness, or burning, often felt in the hands, feet, arms, or
legs.
Paraparesis: Partial paralysis and weakness
of the lower limbs.
Plasma exchange (Plasmapheresis): A treatment
for autoimmune diseases that involves removing blood, separating cells
from plasma, and returning the cells to the body with fresh plasma.
S
Sarcoidosis: A chronic disease causing
immune cells to form clusters, typically affecting the lungs, spleen,
liver, and other organs.
Sjogren’s syndrome: A chronic autoimmune disease
where the immune system attacks moisture-producing glands, causing dry
eyes, mouth, and sometimes other organs.
Spinal Cord: A vital part of the central
nervous system extending from the brain down the back, surrounded by
cerebrospinal fluid and protected by the vertebrae. It controls motor and
sensory functions, including movement and autonomic functions.
T
T Cell: A type of white blood cell that
attacks virus-infected cells and regulates the immune response.
V
Vasculitis: Inflammation of blood vessels
caused by the immune system attacking blood vessels.
Viral: Caused by viruses,
microorganisms that need living cells to replicate.