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Human structure and function

2,701 articles

Cell Survival

Cell survival, also called cell viability, is a cell's capacity for metabolism, growth, reproduction, and responsiveness. Measured by dye exclusion, metabolic, ATP, flow cytometry, and clonogenic assays, with assay choice strongly affecting results.

Cell-mediated immunity

Cell-mediated immunity (cellular immunity): adaptive immune response carried out by T lymphocytes rather than antibodies, defending against intracellular microbes via cytotoxic CD8+ and helper CD4+ T cells.

Central conducting lymphatic anomaly

Central conducting lymphatic anomaly (CCLA), also known as channel-type lymphatic malformation, is a rare disorder in which the central lymphatic system malfunctions, causing lymph to reflux into the lungs and abdomen.

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.

Central venous catheter

Central venous catheter (CVC): flexible tube with tip in the superior vena cava for fluids, drugs, chemotherapy, dialysis, and monitoring. Types include non-tunneled lines, PICCs, Hickman/Broviac, and implanted ports; up to 27 million inserted yearly worldwide.

Central venous pressure

Central venous pressure (CVP) is the pressure in the vena cava near the right atrium, normally 8 to 12 mmHg, measured with a central venous catheter.

Cephalic presentation

Cephalic presentation, also called vertex or head-first presentation, is the most common fetal presentation in labor, subdivided into vertex, sinciput, brow, face, and chin; about 95% of fetuses at 36 weeks, with occiput anterior the ideal position.

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 angiography

Cerebral angiography, also called digital subtraction angiography or catheter angiography, images brain blood vessels by injecting X-ray-opaque contrast via a catheter. Introduced by Egas Moniz in 1927; remains the gold standard for cerebrovascular diagnosis.

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 autoregulation

Cerebral autoregulation is the ability of the brain's blood vessels to keep blood flow nearly constant despite changes in blood pressure, classically between 50 and 150 mmHg perfusion pressure.

Cerebral cavernous malformation

Cavernous hemangioma, also called cavernous malformation or cavernoma, is a cluster of dilated thin-walled CNS blood vessels prone to bleeding; 0.5% prevalence, 85% sporadic, familial forms from CCM1/2/3 mutations.

Cerebral circulation

Cerebral circulation: the arterial, capillary, and venous system supplying the brain, including the circle of Willis, autoregulation (~50 mL/100 g/min, CPP 60-160 mmHg), CO2 reactivity, neurovascular coupling, and the blood-brain barrier.

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.

Cerebral hemisphere

Cerebral hemisphere: one of the two halves of the cerebrum, separated by the longitudinal fissure and joined by the corpus callosum. Divided into frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital lobes, and insula; lateralized for language (left) and spatial/face processing (right).

Cerebral hypoxia

Cerebral hypoxia (hypoxic/anoxic encephalopathy) is insufficient oxygen delivery to the brain, causing cell death within minutes; causes include cardiac arrest, drowning, and carbon monoxide poisoning, treated with oxygen, ventilation, and cooling.

Cerebral perfusion pressure

Cerebral perfusion pressure is the net pressure gradient driving blood to the brain, equal to mean arterial pressure minus intracranial pressure, normally 60 to 80 mm Hg.

Cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes

Cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes, best known as reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), cause severe thunderclap headaches with narrowing of cerebral arteries that reverses within 3 months.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, CVT) is a rare stroke type caused by clot in the dural venous sinuses or cerebral veins, affecting young adults and newborns, treated with heparin anticoagulation.