Periodic Limb Movement Disorder Glossary of Terms

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Aging: The process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined and environ...

Amitriptyline: An antidepressant medication. In some patients with depression, abnormal l...

Anemia: The condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or quantity ...

Ankle: The ankle joint is complex. It is made up of two joints: the true ankle joint and ...

Anticonvulsant: A medication used to control (prevent) seizures (convulsions) or stop an o...

Antidepressants: Anything, and especially a drug, used to prevent or treat depression.

Apnea: The absence of breathing (respiration).

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

Benzodiazepines: A class of drugs that act as tranquilizers and are commonly used in the t...

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

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

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 ...

Contraction: The tightening and shortening of a muscle.

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

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diabetes mellitus: Better known just as "diabetes" -- a chronic disease associated with ab...

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

Dopamine: An important neurotransmitter (messenger) in the brain.

Elavil: See: Amitriptyline.

Epilepsy (seizure disorder): When nerve cells in the brain fire electrical impulses...

Hemoglobin: The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells. He...

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

Injure: To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emotional sense. Fr...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Insomnia: The perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep due to a number ...

Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

Iron: An essential mineral. Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen (via hemoglobin ...

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

Knee: The knee is a joint which has three parts. The thigh bone (the femur) meets the lar...

Lab test: A test that is done in the laboratory where the appropriate equipment, supplies,...

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

Limb: An arm or a leg.

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

Metabolic: Relating to metabolism, the whole range of biochemical processes that occur wit...

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

Myoclonus: A condition of abnormal contraction of muscles or portions of muscles.

Narcolepsy: A neurological disorder that is marked by the recurrent, sudden, uncontrollabl...

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...

Neurotransmitter: A chemical that is released from a nerve cell which thereby transmits an...

Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func...

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

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

Pain management: The process of providing medical care that alleviates or reduces pain. Mi...

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

Polysomnography: Continuous recording of specific physiologic variables during sleep. Poly...

Remission: Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer or other disease. A remission...

Restless legs: See: Restless leg syndrome.

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

Sedative: A drug that calms a patient, easing agitation and permitting sleep. Sedatives ge...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Sleep apnea: The temporary stoppage of breathing during sleep, often resulting in daytime ...

Sleep disorders: Any disorder that affects, disrupts, or involves sleep. The most common...

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

Spinal cord injury: Trauma or damage to the spinal cord, the major column of nerve tissue ...

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

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

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

Thyroid: 1. The thyroid gland. Also, pertaining to the thyroid gland. 2. A p...

Thyroid hormone: A chemical substance made by the thyroid gland for export into the bloods...

Tricyclic antidepressants: One of a class of medications used to treat depression. The tri...

Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be ...

Uremia: The presence of excessive amounts of urea in the blood, which may be a sign of ki...

Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm...