This document provides information on common word roots related to the nervous system and how they are used to build medical terminology. It lists word roots such as "encephal" meaning brain, "cerebr" meaning brain, and "neur" meaning nerve or nervous system. Examples are given of how combining word roots describes medical conditions, like "encephalitis" meaning inflammation of the brain. Additional terms related to the nervous system are defined, such as "stroke", "seizure", "epilepsy", and others.

1. Medical terms pertaining to
nervous system

2. Common Word Roots
word root meaning
• encephal(o) brain
• cerebr(o, i) brain
• cerebell(o) cerebellum
• cortic(o) cerebral cortex, outer portion
• myel(o) spinal cord, bone marrow
• mening(o) meninges (membrane)
• neur(o,i) nerve, nervous system
• gangli(o) ganglion

3. Common Word Roots
word root meaning
• somn(i,o) sleep
• psych(o) mind
• phren(o) mind
• esthesia sensation
• tax(o) coordination

4. Word Building with nervous system roots
encephal(o) encephalitis Inflammation of the brain
cerebr(o, i) cerebrovascular
Pertaining to blood vessels and
brain
cerebell(o) cerebellitis Inflammation of the cerebellum
cortic(o) cortical Pertaining to the cortex
myel(o)
myeloma A tumor of the spinal cord
poliomyelitis
Inflammation of the gray matter
of the spinal cord

5. Word Building with nervous system roots
mening(o) meningitis Inflammation of the meninges
neur(o,i)
neuralgia Pain of the nerve
polyneuritis Inflammation of two or more
nerves
gangli(o) ganglioneuroma
A tumor of the neuronal
ganglion
somn(i,o) insomnia Inability to sleep
psych(o) psychiatrist
A physician specializes in
mental illness

6. Word Building with nervous system roots
phren(o) schizophrenia
A condition characterized by
splitting of mind
esthesia
hyperesthesia
A condition of increased
sensitivity to stimulation such as
touch or pain
paresthesia
A condition of abnormal
sensation of numbness and
tingling without objective cause
tax(o) ataxia
A condition of impaired ability to
coordinate movement leading
to staggering gait and postural
imbalance

7. Additional terms:
Coma A state of unconsciousness
Delirium
A state of mental confusion due to cerebral
disturbance
Amnesia Loss of memory
Dementia
An impairment of intellectual function
characterized by memory loss,
disorientation, and confusion
Hemiparesis Partial paralysis of one side of the body
Syncope Fainting

8. Additional terms:
Stroke
Damage of brain tissue due to occlusion of
blood vessel by an embolus or thrombus or
intracranial hemorrhage
Catatonia
Motor disturbance characterized usually by
immobility and muscular rigidity
Chorea
A nervous condition characterized by
involuntary movements of limbs or
facial muscles

9. Additional terms:
Seizure
Sudden, transient disturbance in brain
function resulting from abnormal firing of
nerve impulses leading to motor and/or
sensory abnormality
Convulsion
A series of sudden, involuntary muscle
contractions
Epilepsy Recurrent seizures

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