Glossary

Arteriovenous.  Of, relating to or connecting arteries to veins.

Bevacizumab-a monoclonal antibody that blocks angiogenesis by inhibits the responsible vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).

Ateriovenous Malformation – a vascular anomaly consisting of an artery or arteries abnormally connecting to a vein or veins.

Non-radiating low back pain. The most common type of back pain. It is typically non-specific and self-limited.

Blood brain barrier – this refers to the separation of circulating blood and its contents from the central nervous system’s cells and extracellular space. It is the result of tight junctions between the cells making up the walls of the blood system’s capillaries so that the only route available for substances seeking to move from the circulatory system to the central nervous system is through the endothelial cells that make up the capillary walls of the brain and spinal cord’s blood vessels. These cells of the barrier actively transport materials across this barrier into the central nervous system in a selective fashion. The net effect is that only certain substances, drugs, etc. can move from the blood stream int the brain and spinal cord.

Carmustine, a nitrosourea, alkylating chemotherapeutic drug used to treat brain tumors.  It is lipid soluble, crossing the blood-brain barrier.

bis-chloroethylnitrosourea or Carmustine – a nitrosourea compound related to mustard gases used as a chemotherapeutic agent. It mechanism of action is as an alkylating agent that forms interstrand crosslinks in DNA preventing replication and transcription.

Bulbocavernosis Reflex.  A polysynaptic reflex that can be tested to evaluate the spinal cord’s functional status (i.e., to determine if the spinal cord is in a state of shock).  It is performed by stimulating afferent, sensory fibers of the penis or clitoris (e.g., as happens when the penis or clitoris is squeezed or electrically stimulated) while observing or otherwise monitoring the anal sphincters for reflexive contraction.

The Medial Tentorial Artery.  This 2 cm long artery commonly arises from the cavernous sinus portion of the internal carotid artery.  At times it may be an important collateral source for the posterior arterial circulation. Also known as the Italian artery.

Avastin-a monoclonal antibody that blocks angiogenesis by inhibits the responsible vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).