Medications

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials - Medical

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials: See: ABR test. Last Editorial Review: 9/28/2003 ABR test: Auditory brainstem response test. A test for hearing and brain (neurological) functioning. ABR may be used in the evaluation of: Hearing integrity (...

Brainstem - Medical

Brainstem: The lowest part of the brain which merges with the spinal cord and provides the major route by which the upper realms of the brain send information to, and receives information from, the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The brainstem con...

Brainerd diarrhea - Medical

Brainerd diarrhea: A syndrome characterized by the acute onset of watery nonbloody diarrhea (3 or more loose stools per day), lasting 4 weeks or more, and resolving spontaneously. The disease is of unknown causation and appears in outbreaks or as spo...

Brain, water on the - Medical

Brain, water on the: See: Water on the brain.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Water on the brain: Known medically as "hydrocephalus", this is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain. The fluid is o...

Brain, fornix of the - Medical

Brain, fornix of the: An arching fibrous band in the brain connecting the two lobes of the cerebrum. (The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and consists of two hemispheres separated by a deep longitudinal fissure). Each fornix -- there are t...

Brain ventricle - Medical

Brain ventricle: One of a system of four communicating cavities within the brain that are continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord. The four ventricles consist of the two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle and the fourth ventricl...

Brain tumor - Medical

Brain tumor: A benign or malignant growth in the brain. Primary brain tumors arise in brain tissue. Secondary brain tumors are cancers that have spread to the brain tissue (metastasized) from elsewhere in the body. Brain tumors can and do occur at ...

Brain swelling - Medical

Brain swelling: See: Cerebral edema. Last Editorial Review: 2/20/2004 Cerebral edema: Accumulation of excessive fluid in the substance of the brain. The brain is especially susceptible to injury from edema, because it is located within a confined...

Brain stem glioma - Medical

Brain stem glioma: A malignant tumor that arises in the brain stem, the part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord. The brain stem controls many vital functions. Tumors in this area generally cannot be removed. They are often resistant ...

Brain stem - Medical

Brain stem: The stemlike part of the brain that is connected to the spinal cord. Or conversely, the extension of the spinal cord up into the brain. The brain stem is small but important. It manages messages going between the brain and the rest of the...

Brain plasticity - Medical

Brain plasticity: See Neuroplasticity.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the br...

Brain malleability - Medical

Brain malleability: See Neuroplasticity.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the ...

Brain lesions - Medical

Brain lesions: an anatomical abnormality of any part of the brain. A brain lesion may be due to trauma or any other disease that can cause inflammation, malfunction, or destruction of a brain cells or brain tissue. A lesion may be localized to one pa...

Brain Hemorrhage - Medical

Brain hemorrhage: Bleeding within the brain. Brain hemorrhage is also known as cerebral hemorrhage or intracerebral hemorrhage. Cerebral (brain) hemorrhage can occur inside the brain, between the brain and the membranes that cover it (subdural), betw...

Brain freeze - Medical

Brain freeze: See: Ice cream headache.Last Editorial Review: 7/15/2004...

Brain edema - Medical

Brain edema: See: Cerebral edema. Last Editorial Review: 2/20/2004 Cerebral edema: Accumulation of excessive fluid in the substance of the brain. The brain is especially susceptible to injury from edema, because it is located within a confined spac...

Brain cancer - Medical

Brain cancer: Cancer of the central information processing center of the body. Tumors in the brain can be malignant or benign, and can occur at any age. Only malignant tumors are cancerous. Primary brain tumors cancer initially forms in the brain tis...

Brain biopsy - Medical

Brain biopsy: Biopsy of the brain. Removal of a small piece of tissue from the brain for diagnostic purposes. One way the procedure may be done is by stereotactic needle biopsy in which the spot to be biopsied is located three-dimensionally, the in...

Brain anthrax - Medical

Brain anthrax: Anthrax infection of the central nervous system (the spinal cord and brain) and meninges (the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. These microscopic findings come from a fatal case of anthrax that occurred in Californ...

Brain aneurysm - Medical

Brain aneurysm: An aneurysm of a blood vessel in the brain, usually due to a defect in the vessel at birth or from high blood pressure. Rupture of the aneurysm causes a sudden severe headache, often with nausea, vomiting, decreased consciou...

Brain - Medical

Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called "hemispheres." ...

Braille system - Medical

Braille system: A system of raised-dot writing devised by Louis Braille (1809-1852) for the blind in which each letter is represented as a raised pattern that can be read by touching with the fingers. The System: Each braille character or "cell...

Bradypnea - Medical

Bradypnea: (Pronounced brad-ip-nea.) Abnormally slow breathing. A respiratory rate that is too slow. The normal rate of respirations (breaths per minute) depends on a number of factors, including the age of the individual and the degree of exertion. ...

Bradyphrenia - Medical

Bradyphrenia: Slowed thought processes. Can be a side effect of certain psychiatric medications.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Bradykinetic - Medical

Bradykinetic: Pertaining to slowed ability to start and continue movements, and impaired ability to adjust the body's position. Bradykinesia can be a symptom of neurological disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease, or a side effect of medications...

Bradykinesia - Medical

Bradykinesia: Slowed ability to start and continue movements, and impaired ability to adjust the body's position. Can be a symptom of neurological disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease, or a side effect of medications. The word bradyki...

Bradycardia - Medical

Bradycardia: A slow heart rate, usually defined as less than 60 beats per minute. The word bradycardia is logically derived from two Greek roots: bradys, slow + cardia, heart = slow heart.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Brachytherapy, coronary artery - Medical

Brachytherapy, coronary artery Local radiation treatment within an artery to the heart. Coronary artery brachytherapy has been used to reduce the recurrence of blockage (obstruction) of a coronary artery after successful treatment of a blockage of a ...

Brachytherapy - Medical

Brachytherapy: Radiation treatment given by placing radioactive material directly in or near the target, which is often a tumor. Brachytherapy for prostate cancer, for example, is also called interstitial radiation therapy or seed implantation. In b...

Brachydactyly - Medical

Brachydactyly: Short, stubby fingers and toes. Brachydactyly is a frequent feature of syndromes of congenital malformation (constellations of birth defects) including Down syndrome (trisomy 21). Brachydactyly or, as it sometimes referred to, brachy...