Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Cancer of the central information processing center of the body. Tumors in the brain can be malignant or benign, and can occur at any age. Only malignant tumors are cancerous. Primary brain tumors cancer initially forms in the brain tissue. Secondary brain tumors cancers are cancers that have spread to the brain tissue (metastasized) from elsewhere in the body. Secondary brain cancer is named for the…

A biopsy is a surgical procedure in which a small tissue sample is removed and sent to a pathologist for examination under a microscope. In a brain biopsy, a small sample of brain tissue is removed to help diagnose certain conditions such as brain tumors or lesions on the brain. One way a brain biopsy  may be done…

Anthrax infection of the central nervous system (the spinal cord and brain) and meninges (the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. These microscopic findings come from a fatal case of anthrax that occurred in California in 1976. The details of this case have been described in a medical journal called Human Pathology (Volume 9,…

An aneurysm of a blood vessel in the brain, usually due to a defect in the vessel at birth or from high blood pressure. Rupture of the aneurysm causes a sudden severe headache, often with nausea, vomiting, decreased consciousness, and can be life threatening.

The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It functions as a primary receiver, organizer, and distributor of information for the body. It has a right half and a left half, each of which is called a hemisphere.

A system of raised-dot writing devised by Louis Braille (1809-1852) for the blind in which each letter is represented as a raised pattern that can be read by touching with the fingers. The System: Each braille character or “cell” is made up of 6 dot positions that are arranged in a rectangle comprising 2 columns…

Abnormally slow breathing. A respiratory rate that is too slow. The normal rate of respirations (breaths per minute) depends on a number of factors, including the age of the individual and the degree of exertion.

A slow thought process. Bradyphrenia can be a side effect of certain psychiatric medications.

Pertaining to slowed ability to start and continue movements, and impaired ability to adjust the body’s position. Bradykinesia can be a symptom of neurological disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease, or a side effect of medications. The word bradykinetic is logically derived from two Greek roots: bradys, slow + kinesis, movement = slow movement, slow motion, slow moving.

Slow movement. Bradykinesia is often associated with an impaired ability to adjust the body’s position. Bradykinesia can be a symptom of nervous system disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease, or a side effect of medications.