Health Terms Glossary Letter N
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narcissistic personality disorder – persons with this disorder present severely overly-inflated feelings of self-worth, grandiosity, and superiority over
others. Persons with narcissistic personality disorder often exploit others who fail to admire them, and are overly sensitive to criticism, judgment, and defeat.
nasal – relating to the nose.
National Cancer Institute – The US Government agency for cancer research and information.
nausea – a feeling or sensation leading to the urge to vomit.
near point of accommodation – the closest point in front of the eyes that an object may be clearly focused.
near point of convergence – the maximum extent the two eyes can be turned inward.
necrosis – pertaining to the death of tissue.
needle aspiration (of the breast) – a procedure that uses a thin needle and syringe to collect tissue or drain a lump after using a local anesthetic.
needle biopsy – use of a needle to extract tissue, cells, or fluid for microscopic examination.
neoadjuvant therapy – treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy which is given before the primary treatment.
neoplasm – any abnormal growth of new tissue; a proliferation of cells no longer under normal physiologic control. These may be benign (non-cancerous) or
malignant (cancerous).
nephrectomy – surgical removal of the kidney.
nephritis – inflammation of the kidneys.
nephrology – the medical specialty concerned with diseases of the kidneys.
nephropathy – diabetic kidney disease.
nephrotic syndrome – a condition characterized by high levels of protein in the urine, low levels of protein in the blood, tissue swelling, and high
cholesterol.
nerve conduction tests – procedure to determine nerve impulse generation.
nerve sparing technique – a surgical technique during a radial prostatectomy in which one or both of the neurovascular bundles controlling erections are
spared.
neural plasticity – ability of the brain and/or certain parts of the nervous system to change in order to adapt to new conditions, such as an injury.
neural prostheses – devices that substitute for an injured or diseased part of the nervous system to enhance the function.
neural stimulation – to activate or energize a nerve through an external source.
neural tube defect – type of birth defect, such as spina bifida, that results from failure of the spinal cord or brain to develop normally in a fetus.
neuralgia – pain in distribution of nerve or nerves.
neuritis – inflammation of a nerve or nerves.
neurofibromatosis – a group of inherited disorders in which non-cancerous tumors grow along several nerves; can affect the development of other tissues,
including bones and skin, possibly leading to developmental abnormalities.
neurogenic – of nerve origin.
neurogenic bladder (Also called neuropathic bladder.) – a bladder disorder that can be caused by a tumor or other condition of the nervous system.
neurogenic communication disorder – inability to exchange information with others because of hearing, speech, and/or language problems caused by
impairment of the nervous system.
neurological – pertaining to the nervous system.
neuron – a cell specialized to conduct and generate electrical impulses and to carry information from one part of the brain to another.
neuropathology – the pathology of the nervous system.
neuropathy – diabetic nerve damage.
neurosonography – a procedure that uses ultra high-frequency sound waves that enable the physician to analyze blood flow in cases of possible stroke.
neurotransmitters – chemical substances that carry impulses from one nerve cell to another; found in the space (synapse) that separates the transmitting
neuron’s terminal (axon) from the receiving neuron’s terminal (dendrite).
nigral – of or referring to the substantia nigra.
nitroglycerin – a medication used to relax or dilate arteries.
nodule (Also called papule.) – a solid, raised bump.
noise-induced hearing loss – hearing loss that is caused either by a one-time or repeated exposure to very loud sound or sounds at various loudness
levels over an extended period of time.
non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a type of lymphoma, a cancer in the lymphatic system; causes the cells in the lymphatic system to abnormally reproduce,
eventually causing tumors to grow. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cells can also spread to other organs.
noninvasive procedures – a diagnostic effort or treatment that does not require entering the body or puncturing the skin.
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – medication that produces fever reducing, analgesic (pain relieving), and anti-inflammatory effects.
nonsyndromic hereditary hearing impairment – hearing loss or deafness that is inherited and is not associated with other inherited clinical
characteristics.
nonulcer dyspepsia – constant pain or discomfort in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
norepinephrine – a neurotransmitter found mainly in areas of the brain that are involved in governing autonomic nervous system activity, especially blood
pressure and heart rate.
nuclear medicine – a specialized area of radiology that uses very small amounts of radioactive substances to examine organ function and structure.
Nutcracker syndrome – Abnormal muscle tightening in the esophagus.
nutrients – proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals provided by food and necessary for growth and the maintenance of life.
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