Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease A degenerative disease of the brain that causes dementia and, eventually, death. It is believed to be caused by an unconventional microbe called a prion, rather than by bacteria or a virus. Abbreviated CJD. Symptoms of CJD include forgetfulness, nervousness, trembling hand movements, unsteady gait, muscle spasms, chronic dementia, balance disorder, and loss…
cretinism Congenital hypothyroidism (underactivity of the thyroid gland at birth), which results in growth retardation, developmental delay, and other abnormal features. Cretinism can be due to deficiency of iodine in the mother’s diet during pregnancy.
CREST syndrome A limited form of scleroderma, a disease of connective tissue that involves the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the skin and sometimes also in other organs of the body. “CREST” is an acronym for Calcinosis (the formation of tiny deposits of calcium in the skin), Raynaud’s phenomenon (spasm of the tiny artery…
crepitus A clinical sign in medicine that is characterized by a peculiar crackling, crinkly, or grating feeling or sound under the skin, around the lungs, or in the joints. Crepitus in soft tissues is often due to gas, most often air, that has penetrated and infiltrated an area where it should not normally be (for…
cream A water-soluble medicinal preparation applied to the skin. An ointment differs from a cream in that it has an oil base, as opposed to being water-soluble.
C-reactive protein An acute-phase plasma protein whose blood concentration reflects the presence and intensity of inflammation. Abbreviated CRP. Conditions that commonly lead to marked increases in CRP include infection, trauma, surgery, burns, inflammatory conditions, and advanced cancer. Moderate changes occur after strenuous exercise, heatstroke, and childbirth. Small changes occur after psychological stress and in several…
cranium The top portion of the skull, which protects the brain. The cranium includes the frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
craniotomy A surgical operation in which an opening is made in the skull.
craniosynostosis Premature fusion of the sutures between the growth plates in an infant’s skull that prevents normal skull expansion. Craniosynostosis can cause an abnormally shaped skull. Premature closure of all the sutures can cause microcephaly (an abnormally small head), which prevents the normal growth of the brain and results in mental retardation. Treatment usually involves…
craniosacral therapy An alternative therapy in which practitioners attempt to create positive effects by manipulating the bones of the skull and spine, as well as the fascia that underlies muscle tissue. There is little scientific evidence at this time for the value of craniosacral therapy.
craniopharyngioma A benign brain tumor that develops from embryonic tissue that forms part of the pituitary gland. Pressure on the pituitary gland by the tumor reduces the availability of the hormone vasopressin, raising the pressure within the cranium. A craniopharyngioma usually includes hard, calcified components within the tumor itself and affects the development of the…
craniofacial disorder A disorder that affects the structure of the skull and face.