1,240 articles
Calcitonin gene-related peptide
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a 37-amino-acid neuropeptide from the calcitonin gene (alpha and beta isoforms), is a potent vasodilator whose CLR/RAMP1 receptor is the target of migraine drugs (gepants, monoclonal antibodies).
Caloric reflex test
Caloric reflex test (caloric test, bithermal caloric testing): vestibular test irrigating the ear canal with warm and cool water or air to evoke nystagmus from each lateral semicircular canal separately; gold standard for unilateral vestibular hypofunction, introduced by Barany in 1906.
CaMKII in synaptic plasticity
CaMKII in synaptic plasticity: calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, main postsynaptic density kinase. Autophosphorylation at Thr286 sustains activity after calcium entry through NMDA receptors, making it necessary and sufficient for LTP induction and a candidate molecular memory switch.
Camptodactyly-tall stature-scoliosis-hearing loss syndrome
CATSHL syndrome (camptodactyly-tall stature-scoliosis-hearing loss syndrome, OMIM 610474) is a rare FGFR3 loss-of-function disorder causing finger contractures, overgrowth, scoliosis, and sensorineural hearing loss.
Cannabinoid receptor
Cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 are class A GPCRs mediating THC and endocannabinoid signaling; CB1 cloned 1990, CB2 1993, Gi/o-coupled, targets for pain, inflammation, and addiction drug development.
Carcinoma in situ of the conjunctiva
Carcinoma in situ of the conjunctiva (conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma in situ, CIN III/CIS, ICD-11 2E6A.0) is a preinvasive, full-thickness conjunctival epithelial dysplasia with intact basement membrane, treated by excision with cryotherapy or topical chemotherapy.
Carpal tunnel surgery
Carpal tunnel surgery (carpal tunnel release) divides the transverse carpal ligament to decompress the median nerve. Open, mini-open, and endoscopic techniques show similar long-term outcomes; endoscopic release returns patients to work about 7 to 9 days earlier.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve entrapment) is compression of the median nerve at the wrist causing thumb, index, and middle finger numbness; diagnosed with CTS-6, treated with splinting, steroid injection, or carpal tunnel release.
Cataract
Cataract: clouding of the eye's lens, mainly age-related; leading cause of curable blindness (94 million affected). Treated only by surgery, phacoemulsification or manual small incision cataract surgery, with comparable outcomes.
Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery removes the eye's clouded lens and implants an intraocular lens; standard technique is Kelman's 1967 phacoemulsification through sub-3 mm incisions, evolved from couching and Daviel's 1750 extraction.
Cauda equina
Cauda equina, "horse's tail" in Latin, is the bundle of lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal nerve roots descending from the conus medullaris (spinal cord ends L1-L2) to the coccyx; compression causes cauda equina syndrome, a surgical emergency.
Cauda equina syndrome
Cauda equina syndrome (CES): surgical emergency from compression of lumbosacral nerve roots, defined by bladder, bowel, or sexual dysfunction with back and leg pain; diagnosed by urgent MRI, treated by decompression, ideally within 48 hours.
Cauliflower ear
Cauliflower ear, also known as wrestler's ear, is a lumpy, shriveled deformity of the external ear caused by blunt trauma that cuts off the cartilage's blood supply.
Causes of autism
Causes of autism: ASD arises from combined genetic and environmental factors; heritability about 80-86%, rare de novo variants plus common-variant load, prenatal risks, and no vaccine link per WHO.
Celiac plexus
Celiac plexus (solar plexus), the largest autonomic nerve plexus, lies anterior to the aorta around the celiac trunk at T12–L2, innervating upper abdominal organs and serving as the target of neurolytic blocks for pancreatic and upper abdominal cancer pain.
Central cord syndrome
Central cord syndrome, also called central cervical cord syndrome, is the most common form of incomplete spinal cord injury, marked by arm weakness, bladder dysfunction, and sacral sparing.
Central nervous system disease
Central nervous system disease covers disorders of the brain and spinal cord, also called CNS disease or neurological disorders. Over 600 types exist; neurological conditions affect over 3 billion people and cause 11 million deaths yearly, led by stroke, migraine, and dementia.
Central neurocytoma
Central neurocytoma (CN), a rare WHO grade II benign intraventricular brain tumor of young adults, first described 1982; treated by resection, radiotherapy, or radiosurgery with ~90% survival.
Central pattern generator
A central pattern generator (CPG) is a neural circuit that generates rhythmic motor patterns such as walking, breathing, and swimming without sensory timing cues, in vertebrates and invertebrates alike.
Central perforation of tympanic membrane
Central perforation of tympanic membrane (ICD-11 AB13.0, pars tensa central perforation): a hole in the central eardrum, the most common perforation type, usually healing spontaneously but causing conductive hearing loss.
Cerebellar ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia is loss of coordination from cerebellar damage, spanning hereditary SCAs, Friedreich ataxia, sporadic SLOCA, MSA-C, and acquired causes; diagnosed by MRI, genetics, and SARA scale.
Cerebellar Golgi cell
The cerebellar Golgi cell is a large GABAergic inhibitory interneuron of the cerebellar granular layer, first described by Camillo Golgi in 1873, that regulates granule cells.
Cerebellar hypoplasia (non-human)
Cerebellar hypoplasia, known in cats as Wobbly Kitten Syndrome, is a congenital, nonprogressive condition where the cerebellum fails to develop before birth, causing tremors and ataxia; in kittens it usually follows in utero feline panleukopenia infection.
Cerebellar neuron
Cerebellar neuron: the neuron types of the cerebellum (Purkinje, granule, Golgi, stellate, basket, Lugaro, unipolar brush, deep nuclei neurons), split into glutamatergic and GABAergic classes from rhombic lip and ventricular zone lineages.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum, behind the brainstem under the occipital lobes, coordinates movement, balance, and motor learning; it holds about 80% of brain neurons and also supports cognition and affect.
Cerebral atrophy
Cerebral atrophy is loss of cerebrum tissue (brain shrinkage), seen on MRI. Normal aging loses under 0.2% volume yearly, up to 0.5% after 70; Alzheimer's about 1%. Distinguished from disease by symmetric versus lobar patterns; hydration and time of day confound measurement.
Cerebral contusion
Cerebral contusion, a traumatic brain bruise from impact against the inner skull, differs from concussion by being structurally visible on CT and MRI; it affects frontal and temporal lobes, progresses in 40-50% of cases, and carries 30-40% mortality in severe TBI.
Cerebral cortex
Cerebral cortex: the outermost, folded gray-matter sheet of the brain (neocortex, 2–5 mm, six layers), about 80% of human brain volume, carrying cognition, language, and sensory-motor areas mapped by Brodmann.
Cerebral Cortex (journal)
Cerebral Cortex is a monthly peer-reviewed neuroscience journal published by Oxford University Press since 1991, dedicated to research on the development, organization, plasticity, and function of the cerebral cortex.
Cerebral edema
Cerebral edema, also called brain swelling, is abnormal water accumulation in brain cells or interstitium, raising intracranial pressure. Subtypes include vasogenic, cytotoxic, osmotic, and interstitial edema; treated with osmotherapy, drainage, or decompressive craniectomy.