Temporal Health Dictionary

In?ammation of the TEMPORAL ARTERY. Also known as giant cell arteritis, it often affects other arteries too, mainly in the head. It predominantly affects the elderly. The artery becomes tender with reddening of the overlying skin; headache and blindness may also occur. The diagnosis is con?rmed by temporal artery BIOPSY, and treatment is with steroids (see STEROID).... temporal arteritis

A branch of the external carotid artery that is the main vessel supplying blood to the temple and scalp.... temporal artery

Part of the cerebral cortex in each hemisphere of the BRAIN. Areas of the temporal lobe are involved in the understanding of sound and spoken language.... temporal lobe

More accurately called complex partial seizures, this is a type of EPILEPSY in which the abnormal cerebral activity originates in the temporal lobe of the BRAIN. It is characterised by hallucinations of smell and sometimes of taste, hearing, or sight. There may be disturbances of memory, including déjà vu phenomena. AUTOMATISM may occur, but consciousness is seldom lost.... temporal lobe epilepsy

See “secular trend”.... temporal trend

either of a pair of bones of the cranium. The squamous portion forms part of the side of the cranium. The petrous part contributes to the base of the skull and contains the middle and inner ears. Below it are the *mastoid process, *styloid process, and zygomatic process (see zygomatic arch). See also skull.... temporal bone

n. a fan-shaped muscle situated at the side of the head, extending from the temporal fossa to the mandible. This muscle lifts the lower jaw, thus closing the mouth.... temporalis