Multiple Sclerosis (MS) FAQs Glossary of Terms

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Autoimmune: Pertaining to autoimmunity, a misdirected immune response that occurs when the...

Autoimmune disease: An illness that occurs when the body tissues are attacked by its own i...

Bladder: A hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The kidneys filter waste f...

Bowel: The small and large intestine.

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

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

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

Chronic disease: A disease that persists for a long time. A chronic disease is one lasting...

Cognitive: Having to do with thought, judgment, or knowledge.

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

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

Dizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible causes including disturbances of ...

Endocrine: Pertaining to hormones and the glands that make and secrete them into the blood...

Etiology: The study of causes, as in the causes of a disease. The form aetiology is genera...

Exacerbate: To make worse. For example, smoking may exacerbate lung disease.

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

Fiber: The parts of fruits and vegetables that cannot be digested. Fiber is of vital impor...

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

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

Heart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of bloo...

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

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

Indication: 1. In medicine, a condition which makes a particular treatment or proce...

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

Latent: Hidden, dormant, inactive.

Medical school: A school with a curriculum leading to a medical degree. The mission of eve...

Memory: 1. The ability to recover information about past events or knowledge. ...

Motor: Something that produces or refers to motion. For example, a motor neuron is a nerve...

Multiple sclerosis: A disease that is characterized by loss of myelin (demyelinization). A...

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

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

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

Nerve cell: See: Neuron.

Neurological: Having to do with the nerves or the nervous system as, for example, a neurol...

Neurologist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of th...

Neurology: The medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders o...

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex...

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

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

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

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

Pneumonia: Inflammation of one or both lungs, with dense areas of lung inflammation. Pneum...

Postpartum: The period just after delivery, as with postpartum depression. Postpartum refe...

Predispose: To make more likely or render susceptible. Smoking predisposes to a number of ...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

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

Rehabilitation: The process of helping a person who has suffered an illness or injury rest...

Relapse: The return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a remission.

Sclerosis: Localized hardening of skin. Sclerosis is generally caused by underlying diseas...

Sibling: A brother or sister.

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

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

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

Tiredness: See: Tired.

Women's hospital: A hospital for the exclusive use of women.