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Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump
to appropriate section of the glossary. If the term you are looking
for starts with a digit or symbol, choose the '#' link.
acetylcholine
acute
having a sudden onset
adrenergic
aneurysm
a weakness in the wall of a blood vessel
angiography
an imaging technique that provides a picture, called an angiogram,
of blood vessels.
amnesia
impairment or loss of memory
angina
see coronary angina
angina pectoralis
see coronary angina
angor animi
anoxia
loss of oxygen
antagonist
a substance that inhibits the function of certain neuron receptor
sites--opposite of agonist
arteries
the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart. Arteries carry
the full cardiac pressure. See also veins.
ataxia
ataxic gait
aura
a symptom of classic migraine headache in which the patient sees
flashing lights or zigzag lines, or may temporarily lose vision
BAM
abbreviation and short term for Basilar Artery Migraine.
-
basilar artery migraine
migraine, occurring mostly in young women, children and adolescents
(though also occurring in others) that involves a disturbance of
the basilar artery and the vertebrobasilar circulatory system. Brainstem
ischemia often results. Symptoms include vertigo, double vision,
and poor muscular coordination.
benign exertional headache
headache brought on by running, lifting, coughing, sneezing,
or bending.
beta blockers
Bickerstaff's Migraine
name first given Basilar Artery Migraine.
biofeedback
a technique in which patients are trained to gain some voluntary
control over certain physiological conditions, such as blood pressure
and muscle tension, to promote relaxation. Thermal biofeedback
helps patients consciously raise hand temperature, which can sometimes
reduce the number and intensity of migraines.
brainstem
brainstem stroke
calcium channel blockers
cerebral cortex
a thin layer of "gray matter" covering the cerebral
hemispheres of the brain. It plays a role in higher functions
of the brain, including behavior.
cluster headaches
intensely painful headaches-occurring suddenly and lasting between
30 and 45 minutes-named for their repeated occurrence in groups
or clusters. They begin as minor pain around one eye and eventually
spread to that side of the face.
coma
computer tomography (CT)
an imaging technique that uses X-rays and computer analysis to
provide a picture of body tissues and structures.
coronary angina
cortical functions
see higher integrative functions
cortical spreading depression
daymare
depersonalization
derealization
dihydroergotamine
a drug that is given by to treat cluster headaches and other
forms of migraine. It is a form of the antimigraine drug ergotamine
tartrate..Forms of ergotamine tartrate are vasoconstrictors and
are potentially dangerous when used on patients with basilar artery
migraine.
diplopia
disethesia
dizziness
drop attack
dysphasia
electroencephalogram (EEG)
a technique for recording electrical activity in the brain. Useful
in differential diagnosis of basilar artery migraine to rule out
epilepsy and/or other neurological disorders.
electromyography (EMG)
a special recording technique that detects electric activity
in muscle. Patients are sometimes offered a type of biofeedback
called EMG training, in which they learn to control muscle tension
in the face, neck, and shoulders.
endorphins
naturally occurring painkilling chemicals. Some scientists theorize
that people who suffer from severe headache have lower levels
of endorphins than people who are generally pain free.
ergotamine
see ergotamine tartrate
ergotamine tartrate
a drug that is used to control the painful dilation stage of
migraine. Dangerous when used for treatment of basilar artery
migraine, as it is a vasoconstrictor. See also dihydroergotamine.
expressive aphasia
frontal lobe
(empty)
hemianopia
hemiparesis
hemiplegia
hemiplegic migraine
a type of migraine causing temporary paralysis on one side of
the body (hemiplegia)
higher integrative functions
histamine
homeostasis
Horner's syndrome
hypnagogic hallucination
a hallucination occuring between the stages of wakefulness and
sleep
hypothalamus
a portion of the brain which controls many of the functions of
homeostasis, such as temperature regulation, as well as endocrine
processes, many bodily functions, sleep-wake cycles, and appetite.
infarct
a localized area of of decay or ischemic necrosis in a tissue,
vessel, organ or part, produced by occlusion of the blood supply.
See also lacunar infarcts.
infarcted
having suffered an infarct, such as an area of tissue
infarction
a localized area of decay in a tissue, vessel, organ or part.
inflammatory headache
a headache that is a symptom of another disorder, such as sinus
infection, and is treated by curing the underlying problem.
inter-ictal
referring to the period of time between seizures or attacks
ischemia
interruption in the blood supply to an area
ischemic
having poor blood supply to an organ or part
(empty)
(empty)
lacunar infarcts
small infarcts that produce a space or cavity
lateral
referring to the side
lobe
a section of the brain, such as the Frontal Lobe or Occipital
Lobe
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
an imaging technique that uses radio waves, magnetic fields,
and computer analysis to provide a picture of body tissues and
structures.
medulla oblongata
meninges
the three membranes (the arachnoid, the dura mater, and the pia
mater) that cover the brain
migraine
a vascular headache believed to be caused by blood flow changes
and certain chemical changes in the brain leading to a cascade
of events - including constriction of arteries supplying blood
to the brain and the release of certain brain chemicals - that
result in severe head pain, stomach upset, and visual disturbances.
migraine equivalent
migraineur
one who suffers from migraines
migrainous neuralgia
migralepsy
mosaic vision
motor
pertaining to the actions and modulation of the muscles
muscle-contraction headaches
headaches caused primarily by sustained muscle tension or, possibly,
by restricted blood flow to the brain. Two forms of muscle-contraction
headache are tension headache, induced by stress, and chronic
muscle-contraction headache, which can last for extended periods,
involves steady pain, and is usually felt on both sides of the
head.
myoclonic jerks
necrosis
death of individual cells or of a group of cells, or of an area
of tissue
necrotized
dead tissue
negative scotoma
see scotoma
neuralgia
neurological
of or pertaining to the nervous system
neuromuscular
pertaining to the junction of nerves and muscles
neuronal
of or pertaining to neurons
neuron
a "nerve cell," an information-conducting cells of
the nervous system. Cells in the brain consist of neurons and
"glial cells."
neuropathological
pertaining to disease of the nervous system
neuropathy
disease of neurons
neurotransmitter
a chemical "messenger" used for communicate between
neurons
neurotropic
pertaining to the growth of neurons
nociceptors
the endings of pain-sensitive nerves that, when stimulated by
stress, muscular tension, dilated blood vessels, or other triggers,
send messages up the nerve fibers to nerve cells in the brain,
signaling that a part of the body hurts.
(empty)
paraesthesia
parasthesia
parasthesia
parasympathetic
parietal lobe
paroxism
positive scotoma
see scotoma
precordial
of or relating to the area of the chest over the heart, called
the precordium
predisposition
pseudomigraine
prodrome
prosopagnosia
prostaglandins
naturally occurring pain-producing substances thought to be implicated
in migraine attacks. Their release is triggered by the dilation
of arteries. Prostaglandins are extremely potent chemicals involved
in a diverse group of physiological processes.
occipital lobe
ophthalmoplegic migraine
a form of migraine felt around the eye and associated with a
droopy eyelid, double vision, and other sight problems.
receptive aphasia
Reversible Ischemic Neurological Deficit
RIND
see Reversible Ischemic Neurological Deficit
scotoma
serotonin
a key neurotransmitter that acts as a powerful constrictor of
arteries, reducing the blood supply to the brain and contributing
to the pain of headache.
sinusitis
an infection, either viral or bacterial, of the sinus cavities.
The infection leads to inflammation of these cavities, causing
pain and sometimes headache.
spasm
a sudden, usually violent involuntary muscular contraction
status migrainosus
a rare, sustained, and severe type of migraine, characterized
by intense pain and nausea and often leading to hospitalization
of the patient.
stupor
syncope
temporal lobe
thermography
a technique sometimes used for diagnosing headache in which an
infrared camera converts skin temperature into a color picture,
called a thermogram, with different degrees of heat appearing
as different colors.
temporomandibular joint dysfunction
a disorder of the joint between the temporal bone (above the
ear) and the lower jaw bone that can cause muscle-contraction
headaches.
TIA
see transient ischemic attack
tic douloureux
see trigeminal neuralgia
tinnitus
ringing in the ears. Can be caused by any of a number of underlying
problems.
traction headaches
headaches caused by pulling or stretching pain-sensitive parts
of the head, as, for example, when eye muscles are tensed to compensate
for eyestrain.
transient global amnesia (TGA)
see amnesia
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
tricyclic andidepressants (TCAs)
a family of drugs, originally used to treat depression, but often
used as a prophylactic treatment for migrane, including basilar
artery migraine. Commonly prescribed TCAs include amitryptylene
and nortriptylene.
trigeminal neuralgia
a condition resulting from a disorder of the trigeminal nerve.
Symptoms are headache and intense facial pain that comes in short,
excruciating jabs.
trigger
(empty)
vagal
of or relating to the vagus nerve, or "wandering nerve"
vagotonic
vagus nerve
also called the "wandering nerve," refers to either
of the two longest cranial nerves. The vagus nerve is involved
in, and essential for, many functions of the body, including swallowing
and speech.
vascular headaches
headaches caused by abnormal function of the brain's blood vessels
or vascular system. Migraine is a type of vascular headache.
vasoconstrictor
vasomotor system
the component of the nervous system that controls the dialation
and contraction of blood vessels
vasovagal
vegetative
veins
the vessels that carry blood to the heart. See also arteries.
verapamil
a calcium channel blocker used for prevention of Basilar Artery
Migraine, as well as migraine
vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI)
vertigo
vestibular
of or relating to the inner ear, specifically the "vestibule"
of the inner ear
(empty)
(empty)
(empty)
(empty)
5-hydroxytryptamine
serotonin
Many more terms and definitions to come!
