neurasthenia /nū-rəs-thēˈni-ə/ noun

(Gr astheneia weakness) nervous debility

neurasthēˈniac noun

A neurasthenic

neurasthenic /-thenˈik or -thēnˈik/ adjective and noun

(a person) suffering from neurasthenia

neurāˈtion noun

Nervation

neurecˈtomy noun

The surgical excision of part of a nerve

neurilemmˈa or neurolemmˈa noun

(Gr eilēma covering) the external sheath of a nerve fibre

neurilˈity noun

The essential character of nerve

neurˈine /-ēn, -in or -īn/ noun

A very poisonous ptomaine formed in putrefying flesh

neurˈism noun

A supposed ‘nerve-force’ acting in evolution (cf bathmism)

neurˈite noun

An axon or dendrite

neuroanatomˈical adjective

neuroanatˈomist noun

neuroanatˈomy noun

1. The study of the structure of the nervous system
2. The nerve structure of an organism

neurobiologˈical adjective

neurobiolˈogist noun

neurobiolˈogy noun

The branch of biology dealing with the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system

neurˈoblast noun

An embryonic nerve cell

neuroblastōˈma noun (pl neuroblastōˈmas or neuroblastōˈmata /-mə-tə/)

A malignant tumour composed of primitive nerve cells, arising in the adrenal gland or in connection with the sympathetic nervous system, and most commonly affecting children

neurocanalˈ noun (embryology)

A cavity in the embryonic nervous system which develops into the central canal of the spinal cord and ventricles in the brain

neurˈochip noun

A microchip used in neural networks

neurˈocomputer noun

A computer that uses neural networks to mimic the action of the human brain (also neural computer)

neurocomputˈing noun

neurodegenerāˈtion noun

Degeneration of nerve cells

neurodegenˈerative adjective

neuroenˈdocrine adjective

Relating to the nervous and endocrine systems, and to their interaction

neuroendocrinolˈogy noun

The study of the interaction of the nervous and endocrine systems

neuroetholˈogy noun

The description of features of animal behaviour in terms of the mechanisms of the nervous system

neurofibril /-fīˈbril/ noun

One of a large number of fine fibres present in the cytoplasm of a nerve cell

neurofibˈrillar or neurofibrillˈary adjective

neurofibrōˈma noun (pl neurofibrōˈmas or neurofibrōˈmata /-mə-tə/)

A fibroma of the peripheral nerves

neurofibromatōˈsis noun

A condition characterized by the formation of neurofibromas and areas of dark pigmentation on the skin

neurogenˈesis noun

The development and growth of nerves

neurogenˈic adjective

Caused or stimulated by the nervous system, opp to myogenic

neurogˈlia noun

(Gr gliā glue) the supporting tissue of the brain and spinal cord, etc

neurˈogram noun same as engram

neurohorˈmone noun

A hormone formed in the nervous system

neurohypnolˈogy or neurypnolˈogy noun

Old names for the science of hypnotism

neurohypophyˈsis noun (pl neurohypophyˈses /-sēz/)

The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland (cf adenohypophysis under aden-)

neurolemma see neurilemma above

neuroleptanalgēˈsia noun

The administration of a tranquillizer and an analgesic at the same time to induce a sleeplike state, eg for minor surgery

neuroleptanalgēˈsic adjective

neurolepˈtic noun and adjective

(a drug) able to reduce nervous tension

neurˈolinguist noun

neurolinguisˈtic adjective

neurolinguistic programming noun

A system of alternative therapy that aims to programme the brain to improve self-awareness and the ability to formulate and pursue goals

neurolinguisˈtics singular noun

The branch of linguistics which deals with the processing and storage of language in the brain

neurologˈical adjective

neurologˈically adverb

neurolˈogist noun

neurolˈogy noun

1. Orig the study of the nervous system
2. That branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system

neurolˈysis noun

Breaking down of nerve tissue, or exhaustion of a nerve

neurōˈma noun (pl neurōˈmas or neurōˈmata)

A tumour consisting of nerve tissue

neuromusˈcular adjective

Relating to both nerves and muscles

neurˈopath noun

(Gr pathos suffering) someone whose nervous system is diseased or in disorder

neuropathˈic or neuropathˈical adjective

neuropathist /nūr-opˈə-thist/ noun

A specialist in nervous diseases

neuropathogenˈesis noun

(the cause or origin of) the development of a disease or disorder of the nervous system

neuropathologˈical adjective

neuropatholˈogist noun

neuropatholˈogy noun

The pathology of the nervous system

neuropˈathy noun

Nervous disease generally

neuropepˈtide noun

Any of several peptides found in brain tissue, classified as neurotransmitters and, in some cases, hormones

neuropharmacolˈogist noun

neuropharmacolˈogy noun

The scientific study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system

neurophysiologˈical adjective

neurophysiolˈogist noun

neurophysiolˈogy noun

The physiology of the nervous system

neurˈopil noun (Gr pilos hair; zoology)

(in vertebrates) a network of axons, dendrites and synapses within the central nervous system

neurˈoplasm noun

The protoplasm of a nerve cell

neuropsychiatˈric adjective

neuropsychiˈatrist noun

neuropsychiˈatry noun

The branch of medicine dealing with diseases involving the mind and nervous system

neuropsycholˈogist noun

neuropsycholˈogy noun

The study of the relationship between the brain and nervous system and behaviour

neuroradiolˈogy noun

The branch of radiology dealing with the diagnosis of diseases of the nervous system

neurˈoscience noun

Any or all of the scientific disciplines studying the nervous system and/or the mind and mental behaviour

neurosciˈentist noun

neurosurˈgeon noun

neurosurˈgery noun

Surgery performed on the brain, spinal cord or other parts of the nervous system

neurosurˈgical adjective

neurotˈomist noun

neurotomy /-otˈə-mi/ noun

The surgical cutting of a nerve

neurotoxˈic adjective

neurotoxicˈity noun

1. The degree to which a substance is poisonous to nerve tissue
2. The state caused by exposure to a neurotoxin

neurotoxˈin noun

A substance poisonous to nerve tissue

neurotransmittˈer noun

A chemical released from a nerve fibre by means of which an impulse passes to a muscle or another nerve

neurotrophˈic adjective

Of or relating to the nutrition of the nervous system, or to nutritional changes influenced by the nervous system

neurotrophˈin noun

Any of a group of proteins that are important in the survival or growth of certain classes of embryonic neurons

neurotˈrophy noun

1. Nutrition of the nervous system
2. The influence of the nervous system on nutrition

neurotropˈic adjective

Having a special affinity for or growing in nerve cells

neurovasˈcular adjective

Relating to or affecting both nerves and blood vessels

neurypnology noun see neurohypnology above