Atrophy
This is a process when one of the body organs, or part of it, physically wastes away. This usually results from that body part being
Autonomic
That part of the nervous system that controls processes that are not under voluntary control, such as sweating, responses to exercise and digestive processes.
Basilar invagination
We can envisage the skull, in simple terms, as ball sitting on top of a pipe, the latter representing the spinal column. We refer to
Benign intracranial hypertension
The original term for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, still used by some neurologists and neurosurgeons.
Brain slump
An anatomical state where the cerebellum appears to have fallen (or is being pushed) downwards, into the volume created by a surgical decompression at the
Brain stem
This is the most primitive part of the brain, connecting the rest of the brain to the body, via the spinal cord. In addition to
Budd-Chiari syndrome
George Budd was a Scottish physician who, along with Hans Chiari, described a disorder affecting the liver. It has no relationship to Chiari or Arnold-Chiari
Burr hole
A small hole, usually about 15 to 20mm in diameter, which is drilled through the skull, using either a hand-held bit and brace or, more
Glossary
The Charity appreciates that hospital specialists will almost inevitably use some medical jargon at times, even when they are trying to explain medical matters in lay terminology. The table below lists many of the medical terms that are likely to be used, from time-to-time, by doctors, when they are talking to patients, or in composing medical correspondence. It is hoped that our explanation of the meaning of these terms throws at least some light on matters.
