Neurological Glossary

Babinski response

Extension of the great toe on stimulation of the sole of the foot

Balint syndrome

Syndrome comprising paralysis of visual fixation

Barthel Index

Widely used in hospitals to assess patients' level of dependence and need for support in activities of daily living

Basal ganglia

Large subcortical nuclear masses consisting of the caudate

Basilar artery

Large brainstem artery located on the ventral surface of the pons formed by the joining of the two vertebral arteries and bifurcating into the posterior cerebral arteries; supplies blood to cerebral circulation and ventral pons

Basilar migraine

form of migraine characterized by a visual aura followed by an often occipital headache and one or more of the following symptoms: dysarthria

Behavioral symptom

Complex changes in personality and behaviour

Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis)

Cranial neuritis affecting the facial nerve thought to be due to reactivation of the herpes simplex virus; results in lower motor neuron facial weakness

Bell's phenomenon

Fluttering of the eyes upward when closed eyelids are opened by the examiner

Benedikt Syndrome

Ipsilateral oculomotor palsy and contralateral hemichoreoathetosis due to lesion of the ventral midbrain tegmentum affecting the IIII nerve fascicles and the red nucleus

Berry aneurysm

Small saccular aneurysm of an intracranial artery

Bilateral

On both sides of the body

Binswanger's disease (subcortical leukoencephalopathy)

Degenerative white matter disease producing dementia due to hypertensive microvascular changes lipohyalinosis of the small arteries and fibrinoid necrosis of the larger vessels inside the brain.

Blepharospasm

Excessive involuntary contraction of the orbicularis oculi sometimes resulting in functional blindness; a focal dystonia

Blood-brain barrier

Specialized system of capillary endothelial cells that strictly limits transport into the brain through both physical (tight junctions) and metabolic (enzymes) barriers

Bobath

An important approach to rehabilitation in the care of patients with injuries to the brain or spinal cord

Botox (botulinum toxin)

A highly toxic protein

Brachial

Relating to the arm

Brachium

Anatomical structure comprising a collection of axons that resemble an arm

Brachycephaly (acrocephaly)

Premature fusion of bilateral coronal sutures producing a foreshortened skull

Bradykinesia

Slowed movement due to dysfunction of the basal ganglia and related structures

Bradyphrenia

slowing of thought processes that can occur in Parkinson disease or as a side effect of antipsychotic medications

Brainstem

Medulla

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP)

Series of waves that reflect sequential activation of neural structures along the auditory pathways following a brief click or tone transmitted via an earphone or headphone and measured by surface electrodes placed at the vertex of the scalp and ear lobes; provides information regarding auditory function and hearing sensitivity and used to screen for retrocochlear pathology.

Broca's aphasia

See aphasia

Brodmann's areas

Distinct regions of the cerebral cortex recognized by variations in cell size

Brown Sequard syndrome

Spinal cord injury syndrome associated with damage to one lateral half of the spinal cord (spinal hemisection) resulting in ipsilateral weakness and loss of vibration proprioception and contralateral loss of pain sensation

Brace

A body support aimed at keeping the trunk straight

Brain scan

Computerised imaging technique used to create pictures of the brain: using X-rays (CT scan) or magnetic fields and radio waves (MRI scan)

Brainstem

The stem-like part of the brain

Brainstem stroke

A stroke in the brainstem

Breath control

Technique of controlling the breath used for relaxation and in meditation.

Brudzinski's sign

Involuntary flexion of the hips in response to passive flexion of the neck; indicative of meningeal irritation

Brunnstrom therpay

Type of rehabilitation that assesses muscle tone and voluntary control of movement patterns in a stroke patient. Results indicate the patient's progress through stages of recovery.

Buxism

Grinding one's teeth while asleep

Bobath therapy

Physical therapy which aims to improve posture and movement

Botulinum toxin

A drug which can reduce spasticity [tightness] in muscles

Bulbar

Pertaining to the lower cranial nerve nuclei

Burst fracture

Compression fracture of vertebral body with expansion in sagittal and coronal planes due to axial loading; unstable and often associated with spinal cord injury