Chiari Connection International

Chiari Connection International

 
Glossary Page---3
Dysphagia - Inability to swallow or difficulty in swallowing.

Ectopia - abnormal herniation, displacement or hang down of tissue

Electrocautery - a small instrument that uses heat and is used in many surgeries to stop bleeding.

Epidural Space - The space between the dura and the bone of the vertebral canal.

Filum Terminale - A long slender filament at the end of the spinal cord.

Foramen Magnum - A large opening in the base of the occipital bone through which the spinal cord becomes continuous with the medulla oblongata.

Fossa - A depression on the surface of the end of a bone

Fusion - surgical procedure where vertebra are joined together using bone grafts and often appliances such as rods, screws, etc.

Gait - Manner of walking.

Horner Syndrome - A condition evidenced by contraction of the pupil, partial drooping of the eyelid, recession of eyeball back into socket, and sometimes loss of sweating over the affected side of the face, due to paralysis of the cervical sympathetic nerve trunk.

Hydrocephalus - An abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities (ventricles) of the brain, distending them and stretching and thinning the brain tissue covering them. An increased accumulation of CSF within the ventricles of the brain, resulting from interference with normal circulation and with absorption of the fluid, especially from destruction of the formation of the foramina of Magendie and Lushka. This may also result from developmental anomalies, infection, injury, or brain tumors.

Hydromyelia - having a cyst in, or swelling of, the central canal; sometimes used interchangeably with syringomyelia

ICP- Intracranial pressure.

Idiopathic - due to an unknown cause/causes

Klippel-Fei Syndrome - a congenital condition where 2 or more cervical vertebra are fused together; this is often associated with other neurological conditions

Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP) - An increase in CSF production or blockage resulting in pressure on the brain. The skull cannot expand to accommodate the pressure which leads to symptoms.

Laminectomy - The surgical removal of a portion of the bone comprising a vertebra. It may be used in detethering surgery to gain access to the tethered cord site. This is also done in some decompressions.

Lumbar puncture - a procedure where a hollow needle is inserted into the spinal area (near the base) in order to measure/relieve pressure or withdraw CSF for testing . Special protocol should be employed when this is done on a person with a chiari malformation.

Medulla Oblongata - Portion of the brain stem located between the pons and the spinal cord.

Meninges - Three layers of membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. Cerebrospinal fluid occupies the space between two of the layers.

Meningitis - Infection or swelling of the membrane (meninges) that covers the brain and spinal cord.

Meningocele - is a developmental anomaly. . It is defect of the neural tube, the embryonic structure that gives rise to the spinal cord and vertebral column. This defect leads to protrusion of the spinal cord and its coverings through a defect in the skin.

MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging; diagnostic device which uses a strong magnetic field to create images of the body's internal parts. It was the development of this instrument which led to more understanding of chiari, in general.

Myelocystomeningocele - A congenital defect whereby the membranes and spinal cord protrude within a sac through a defect in the vertebral column.

Neural Tube - The initiator of the central nervous system. Formed by the fusion of the two upturned neural folds formed by the edges of the neural plate, giving rise to the brain and spinal nerve cord.

Nystagmus - Constant, involuntary, cyclical movement of the eyeball. Movement may be in any direction. May be constant or periodic.. Frequently seen with chiari.

Obex - A thin, crescent shaped band of tissue at the end position of the fourth ventricle. The point on the midline of the top surface of the medulla oblongata that marks the tail end of the fourth ventricle.

Occipital - The back of the head.Occipital Bone - The cuplike bone at the back of the skull, marked by a large opening known as the foramen magnum.


Next Page
Site Provided By: CCI Staff Webmaster | © 2010-2015 Chiari Connection International. All rights reserved.

Chiari Connection International