Nerves · Nervous System · Medium
Neuralgia
Meaning: Intense, stabbing pain along the course of a nerve.
In practice: Trigeminal neuralgia causes electric-shock facial pain triggered by light touch.
Word parts
- neur- means nerve
- -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.
Quick check
Two questions on related nerves words.
Which word means: The longest nerve in the body, running from the lower back to the foot.
Answer: Sciatic
Which word means: The 3rd cranial nerve controlling most eye movements.
Answer: Oculomotor
Words like neuralgia come up in the daily game
One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.