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May 22, 2013


Guillain-Barre Syndrome Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Guillain-Barre Syndrome article.

Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th...

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Acute idiopathic polyneuritis: Also known as the Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disorder chara...

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Airway: The path that air follows to get into and out of the lungs. The mouth and nose are...

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Analysis: In psychology, a term for conversation-based therapeutic processes used to gain ...

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Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm.

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

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Botulism: An uncommon but potentially very serious illness, a type of food poisoning, that...

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Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

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Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

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Cerebrospinal fluid: A watery fluid that is continuously produced and absorbed and that fl...

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Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

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Circulation: In medicine, the movement of fluid through the body in a regular or circuitou...

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Cranial: 1. Pertaining to the cranium or skull. 2. Toward the head. As oppo...

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Cranial nerves: The nerves of the brain, which emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium...

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Demyelination: A degenerative process that erodes away the myelin sheath that normally pr...

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Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

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Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

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Epstein-Barr virus: A virus in the herpes family that is best known as the cause of infect...

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Extremity: An uttermost part of the body, such as a hand or a foot.

Flu: Short for influenza. The flu is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract w...

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Gait: A manner of walking. Observation of gait can provide early diagnostic clues for a nu...

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Guillain-Barré syndrome: A disorder characterized by progressive symmetrical paraly...

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Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

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Heparin: An anticoagulant (anti-clotting) medication. Heparin is useful in preventing thro...

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Herpes: A family of viruses. Herpes also refers to infection with one of the human herpesv...

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Herpesvirus: One of a family of viruses that contain DNA and that cause infections in huma...

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Idiopathic: Of unknown cause. Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin may be te...

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Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

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Immunity: The condition of being immune. Immunity can be innate'for example, humans are in...

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Immunization: Vaccination. Immunizations work by stimulating the immune system, the natur...

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Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

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Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

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Joint: The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to m...

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Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

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Lumbar: Referring to the five lumbar vertebrae, the disks below them, and the correspondin...

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Lumbar puncture: A procedure in which cerebrospinal fluid is removed from the spinal canal...

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Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ...

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Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a 'surface.

Microscopic: So small it cannot be seen without the aid of microscope. As opposed to macro...

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Mumps: An acute (sudden, shortlived) viral illness that usually presents with inflammation...

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Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

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Myasthenia gravis: An autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by fatigue a...

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Myelin: The fatty substance that covers and protects nerves. Myelin is a layered tissue th...

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Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

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Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

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Neuropathy: Any disease or malfunction of the nerves.

Oxygenation: The addition of oxygen to any system, including the human body. Oxygenation m...

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Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

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Paralysis: Loss of voluntary movement (motor function). Paralysis that affects only one mu...

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Pediatrics: The field of medicine that is concerned with the health of infants, children, ...

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Peripheral: Situated away from the center, as opposed to centrally located.

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

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Physical therapy: A branch of rehabilitative health that uses specially designed exercises...

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Plasma: The liquid part of the blood and lymphatic fluid, which makes up about half of the...

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Plasmapheresis: A procedure in which whole blood is taken from a person and separated into...

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Probability: The likelihood that something will happen. For example, a probability of less...

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Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity, advancing, or going forward. For example, a ...

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Protein: One of the three nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Protein...

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Pulse: The rhythmic dilation of an artery that results from beating of the heart. Pulse is...

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Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Respiratory failure: Inability of the lungs to perform their basic task of gas exchange, t...

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Rule out: Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from considera...

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Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

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Spinal tap: Also known as a lumbar puncture or "LP", a spinal tap is a procedure whereby ...

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Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

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Supportive care: Treatment given to prevent, control, or relieve complications and side ef...

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Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

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Sweating: The act of secreting fluid from the skin by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. The...

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Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Tachycardia: A rapid heart rate, usually defined as greater than 100 beats per minute.

Tendon: The soft tissue by which muscle attaches to bone. Tendons are somewhat flexible, b...

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Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Thiamine: Vitamin B1. Thiamine (vitamin B1) acts as a coenzyme in the metabolism of the bo...

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Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

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Vaccination: Injection of a killed microbe in order to stimulate the immune system against...

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Ventilator: A machine that mechanically assists a patient in the exchange of oxygen and ca...

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Viral: Of or pertaining to a virus. For example, if a person has a viral rash, the rash wa...

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Viral infection: Infection caused by the presence of a virus in the body. Depending on...

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Virus: A microorganism that is smaller than a bacterium that cannot grow or reproduce apar...

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