encephalogram

Thân thiện

A doctor reviews a patient's encephalogram in the clinic.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An X-ray image of the brain: This is created by replacing some of the cerebrospinal fluid with a gas (like oxygen) to enhance the contrast between different brain structures, making them more visible on the X-ray.
   • A graphical record of the brain's electrical activity: This is a chart or tracing produced by an electroencephalograph (EEG) machine, representing the electrical waves generated by brain cells.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor ordered an encephalogram to look for any structural abnormalities.
  • The sleep study included recording an encephalogram to monitor brain wave patterns.

Advanced Usage

• "Pneumoencephalogram": A specific, now largely historical, type of encephalogram involving the injection of air or gas. This term is more precise for the first definition.
  • Before modern CT scans, a pneumoencephalogram was a common but uncomfortable diagnostic procedure.

Variants and Related Words

• Electroencephalogram (EEG): The full technical term for the graphical record of brain electrical activity. This is the more common and specific term for the second definition.
  • The neurologist analyzed the patient's electroencephalogram for signs of seizure activity.
• Electroencephalograph: The machine that records the encephalogram (EEG).
• Encephalography: The process or technique of recording encephalograms.

Synonyms

• Brain scan: A broader term that can include encephalograms and other imaging techniques like MRI or CT.
• EEG: The standard abbreviation for an electroencephalogram.
• Brain wave recording: A descriptive synonym for the graphical record.

Related Phrases

• To have an EEG done: A common phrase describing the procedure of getting an electroencephalogram recorded.
  • The patient had to have an EEG done to diagnose the cause of the fainting spells.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an X ray of the brain made by replacing spinal fluid with a gas (usually oxygen) to improve contrast
2. a graphical record of electrical activity of the brain; produced by an electroencephalograph

Từ đồng nghĩa

• pneumoencephalogram
• electroencephalogram
• EEG