Nerves · Nervous System · Hard

Meralgia

Meaning: Burning pain or numbness of the outer thigh from compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.

In practice: Tight belts, obesity and pregnancy predispose; strength and reflexes are preserved because the nerve is purely sensory.

Word parts

  • -algia means pain

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

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Which word means: Relating to the neck vertebrae or cervical nerve roots (C1–C8).

Which word means: The 12th cranial nerve controlling tongue movement.

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