What does neurological mean?
“Neurological” is an adjective meaning related to the nervous system or to neurology, the medical study of that system. It commonly appears in clinical and scientific language, as in “neurological examination,” “neurological disorder,” and “neurological damage.” The term can refer to the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, including the diagnosis or treatment of conditions that affect them. It is more precise than “mental” when an issue involves the physical structure or functioning of the nervous system, and it is often associated with medicine, neuroscience, and psychology. In everyday speech, people may use it broadly to describe headaches, numbness, weakness, memory problems, or other symptoms suspected of having a nervous-system basis. “Neurologic” is a common American variant, while “neurological” is especially characteristic of British usage and remains standard in both varieties.
adjectiveRelating to the nervous system or to the branch of medicine concerned with the nervous system. It is also used to describe disorders, symptoms, examinations, or conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
- Relating to the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
- Relating to the medical study, diagnosis, or treatment of nervous-system conditions.
"The scan revealed neurological damage caused by the injury."
"Her neurological examination showed no sign of lasting nerve damage."
"The researchers published a neurological study of patients recovering from surgery."
“Neurological” links language to the Greek word for nerve, making it a precise label for anything involving the body’s intricate electrical signaling network.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does neurological come from?
The word comes from the Greek neuron, meaning “nerve,” combined with the combining form -logical, related to Greek logos, meaning “study” or “reasoning.” It developed through “neurology,” the study of the nervous system, and became an adjective through the suffix -al. Its related forms include “neuron,” “neural,” and “neurologist,” all of which reflect the same Greek root for nerve.
Related word forms
How neurological is actually used
This is a formal, technical term used especially in medicine, neuroscience, and psychology. In American English, “neurologic” is also common; in British English, “neurological” is the usual form.
Easily confused with neurological
“Neurologic” is chiefly used in American English as a variant of “neurological,” while “neurological” is standard in British English and is widely used in both varieties.
“Neurological” is an adjective describing something related to the nervous system, whereas “neurology” is the noun for the medical study and treatment of the nervous system.