Glossary

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging – refers to MRI identification by subtle changes in the blood flow in metabolically active regions of the brain participating in a function in question. An example would be image changes seen in the motor hand area of an individual being imaged while he or she repeatedly moves their hand.

as in Furstenberg sign – The swelling and pulsation of a mass when the ipselateral jugular vein is compressed. An example is a nasal mass that pulsates or expands in response to compression of the jugular vein. This is due to mass’s connection with the intracranial CSF space that allows changes in intracranial pressure to be reflected in the mass under observation. Similar changes will be seen with coughing or straining that change intracranial pressure.

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor – a glycoprotein that stimulates the bone marrow to produce granulocytes and stem cells and release them into the bloodstream. It can also act as a neurotrophic factor in the central nervous system. Therapeutically it can be used to stimulate recovery from neutropenia after treatment with a chemotherapy.

Gap or growth phase – The non-replication phases of the cell cycle when DNA is not being duplicated. There are three: G-0 is the quiescent, non-proliferation phase in the cell cycle that follows in mature cells just after G-1. G-1 is the first of the interphase portions of the cell cycle that occurs just after cell mitosis. During this phase the enzymes required for S-phase are produced. G-2 is the phase between the completion of S-phase when all chromosomal material has been replicated and mitosis. During htis phase the chromosomal material is checked for completion and correctness of replication.

Gastrointestinal tube – a type of feeding tube inserted through the abdominal wall into the stomach for use in delivery of food and medications that are usually given by mouth.

As in Gallie/Brooks-type fusion.  Sublaminar wires are placed at the first two levels of the spine (C1-C2) then a piece of bone graft laid over the lamina of the two levels.  The wire are then twisted over the bone graft to hold it in place.  Once the wires are tightened, movement between the two levels is prevented, allowing the bone graft to grow into the lamina resulting in completion of the fusion of the two levels of the spine.

GABA Transporter 1 – a protein that is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter. It functions to remove GABA, a neural transmitter, from the nerve junction.

Glioblastoma multiforme or Glioblastoma for short.

Glascow Coma Scale – A 15 point scale that assesses eye opening, verbal ability and movement that is used to describe and follow a patient’s level of consciousness. Originally developed to evaluate head injury patients in the field, it is now used widely for inpatient and outpatient assessment.

Germ Cell Tumor – Tumor comprised of germ cells or cells ordinarily residing inside of the gonads (ovary and testes). GCT arising outside of the gonads are felt to represent a developmental anomaly.