Neuroglossary
Terms used in brain injury, spinal cord injury and other neurotrauma treatment and rehabilitation
ICP - Intra cranial pressure. Virtually any significant injury to the brain will result in a generalized edema (swelling) with corresponding increase in ICP. Such edema and pressure increases may generate a temporary alteration in the activity of otherwise functional neurons located at sites far distant from a localized injury. Upon the resumption of normal brain size and the restoration of normal pressure, these areas will often resume normal functioning. However, prolonged pressure elevations and/or edema may cause new damage to previously uninvolved tissue, as the parenchyma is flattened against the hard skull axons are stretched to the point of severing, circulatory patterns are disrupted, and cell death causes chemical reactions which are themselves toxic to healthy remaining brain tissue.
iliocostocervicallis - A muscle within the sacrospinalis that allows the vertebral column to extend and laterally flex.
iliolumbar ligament - Strong band that goes from the transverse processes of the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae to the internal tip of the adjacent part of the iliac crest.
impairment- Any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function.
impingement - Encroaching upon; used to point out compression, deformation, or displacement of the nerve roots or thecal sac. Instead of impingement, in the case of the nerve root or sac not being clearly distorted, but being inseparable from a disc herniation or hypertrophic facet (in MRI reports), ﾓabuttingﾔ or ﾓcontactingﾔ are better descriptions.
inferior - Shows direction. For example, standing in an upright position, the top of the head is superior to the feet, which are, in turn, interior to the head. Another example, in an upright position, the sole of the foot is inferior while the dorsum (upper part) of the foot is superior. Below. Caudal.
inferior gluteal nerve - General sensory nerve that originates in the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve and distributes into the skin of the lower part of the buttock.
inferior tubercle - Nodule or small eminence such as a rough, rounded elevation, on the lower surface of a bone.
inflammation - Part of the healing process, it has been historically accepted by four cardinal points; pain, heat, redness, and swelling. It involves a lot of metabolic and histological changes.
innervation - Distribution or supply of nerves to a part of the body.
intercostal - Situated between the ribs.
internal vertebral plexuses - Network of veins inside the spinal canal covering the dura and the neural tissue (spinal cord and nerves).
interspinal ligaments - Any of several fine, fibrous membranes that extend from one vertebral spinous process to the next. They consist of fine membranes in the lumbar region and of small cords in the thoracic region, and do not occur in the cervical region.
intertransverse ligaments - Any of several poorly developed fibrous bands that extend from one vertebral transverse process to the next. They consist of fine membranes in the lumbar region and of small cords in the thoracic region, and do not occur in the cervical region.
intervertebral discs - Plates of fibrocartilage placed between two vertebrae, covering their inferior and superior surfaces. They play a primary role in weight bearing and a lesser degree in movement.
intra- - Prefix meaning situated, formed or occurring within the element indicated by the word stem to which it is affixed.
intracerebral hemorrhage - Small, multiple bleeds associated with contusions that occur within brain substance.
intrathecal - Refers to contents in the dura mater. An intrathecal injection refers to inserting a needle into the dura and injecting a substance that will mix with cerebral spinal fluid. The brain, the spinal cord, and the spinal fluid are covered by the dura.
ischemia - Local and temporary deficiency of blood supply due to obstruction of circulation to a part.
isometric - Of or involving no change in the muscle length as the muscle contracts against resistance, such as with the arm forward and the hand flat against a wall.
isotonic- Of equal tone, tension, or activity. An isotonic saline solution refers to concentration of solutes such as the blood. In isotonic muscular contraction, the muscle remains under relatively constant tension while its length changes. For example, with arm bent and muscle bulging.
isthmus - Refers to a narrow connection between two larger bodies or parts; a general term for such a structure or region. Each vertebra, on either side, has facets that constitute the upper and lower joints of the vertebra. They are described as being superior and inferior. The part of the vertebra making up the bony junction between the two is narrower in comparison to the width of the facets. Therefore, that part is called the isthmus. Because they are situated between the superior and inferior articulations of the facets, they are also called the pars interarticularis, meaning the part between the joints. Because of its shape, it is more susceptible to fracture, and a report of spondylolysis means a fracture of the isthmus, the pars interarticularis. These terms are frequently seen in radiological reports where a diagnosis of spondylolysis has been made.
-itis - Suffix meaning inflammation of the part indicated by the word stem to which it is attached.
