Kids' Playground

Word Meanings Select a Term:BrainCAT Scan CerebellumCerebral CortexContagiousDepressionDiagnosisEEGEmotionsEpilepsyERMedicineMusclesNervesNervous SystemNeurologistSeizureSleepStress911 A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 911 | ALL   B Brain Your brain is the control center of your body. Besides thinking, it tells your body what to do. Everything from moving around to breathing and keeping your balance. Back To Top C CAT Scan People use the word CAT scan when they really mean CT scan. CT stands for computed tomography, so it´s a little easier just to say CAT. CT scans are like X-rays, except they give doctors pictures of what´s going on inside of your body. X-rays are used to look at your bones, but CT scans show a lot more. Cerebellum This is the part of the brain used for balance and coordination. Without it, you couldn´t stand up or walk across a room. Cerebral Cortex This is the outer layer of your brain. It´s involved with complicated functions, like language and processing information. Contagious When an illness is contagious, it means one person can catch it from another. Some contagious sicknesses that kids get are colds, the flu, and chicken pox. No matter what anyone tells you, epilepsy and seizures are NOT contagious! Back To Top D Depression Everybody feels sad sometimes, but if you´re down all the time and never feel happy, it´s called depression. Sometimes we know what causes it, but other times it´s hard to figure out. If you feel depressed, you need to talk to a trusted grown-up about it. Diagnosis This is a big word for what it is that a doctor thinks might be wrong with someone. They come up with a diagnosis by examining patients and giving them tests. Once they know what´s wrong, they can figure out how to make them better. Back To Top E EEG This is the abbreviation for an electroencephalogram (pronounced ee-lek-tro-en-sef-uh-lo-gram). An EEG is a special machine that doctors use to measure your brain waves. Some kids have a lot of extra electricity flowing inside their brain, which can cause seizures. This machine helps doctors understand what this electricity is doing. Emotions Emotions are usually called feelings. Being happy, sad, mad, or scared are all different types of emotions. Emotions are meant to be shared. So whatever you´re feeling, talk to somebody about it. Epilepsy Epilepsy (pronounced ep-uh-lep-see) is an illness that causes someone to have a sudden spasm attack that´s usually called a seizure. With epilepsy, you don´t feel sick like you do when you have a cold. In fact, you feel as normal as anyone else, but you might have seizures that affect you suddenly and then go away. ER This is the abbreviation for the emergency room. It´s the place in the hospital they bring people who need help right away. Back To Top M Medicine Medicine comes in lots of different forms such as tablets, syrups, and creams. No matter what it looks like, its purpose is to make you better when you´re sick. Muscles When you think of muscles, your arms and legs might come to mind. But did you know you have about 650 muscles in your body? Each one has different functions and some are way down deep in your body where you can´t see them. They all have a purpose, which can be anything from running or lifting a bag to making your heart beat or swallowing food. Back To Top N Nerves Nerves are the thin threads that carry messages from your brain throughout the body and back again. Let´s say you put your hand under hot water. The nerves in your hand send a message to your brain that the water is hot and then your brain sends a message back to the nerves in your hand that tell it to pull it away. Nervous System Your brain and all of the nerves in your body make up your nervous system. Neurologist A neurologist is a doctor who studies the nervous system and the diseases, like epilepsy, that have an effect on it. Back To Top S Seizure A seizure is a sudden spasm attack or convulsion that happens in a person with epilepsy. When this happens, parts of your body can shake on their own and things around you might look, sound, or feel strange. Sometimes you just stare for a little while. Other times you can even fall, get really stiff, and shake for a minute—making you move like you´re only half awake. After a minute or two, your brain goes back to working normally, but you may feel tired. Sleep Sleep is necessary for your body, but it´s also important for your brain. No one is exactly sure what the brain does when you´re asleep, but some doctors think that it´s the time when it gets everything in order and balanced so it can function at its best when you wake up. Stress Stress is the feeling you get when you´re nervous or worried about something. You might feel butterflies in your stomach, sweaty hands, or have trouble sleeping. Everyone has stress in their life, but it´s best to try to avoid it if you can. Back To Top 911 911 911 is the telephone number that will put you in touch with the fire department, the police, or an ambulance fast. Remember this number in case of an emergency. Never call 911 as a joke or just to see what might happen! If you call when you don´t have an emergency, the operator has to take the time to talk to you and might not be able to help someone who has a real emergency. Back To Top

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