Clinical Diagnosis · Nervous System · Medium
Encephalopathy
Meaning: A general term for diffuse brain dysfunction causing altered consciousness or behaviour, from causes such as toxins or metabolic upset.
In practice: The confused patient with liver failure was diagnosed with a metabolic encephalopathy.
Word parts
- encephal- means brain
- -pathy means disease or disorder
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related clinical diagnosis words.
Which word means: An abnormally low blood level of a mineral needed for nerve and muscle function, which can cause tremor and arrhythmias.
Answer: Hypomagnesaemia
Which word means: Swelling of the kidney due to a build-up of urine caused by blockage of urine flow.
Answer: Hydronephrosis
Words like encephalopathy come up in the daily game
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