nonneurological

Nonneurological is an adjective used in medicine to describe conditions, symptoms, or processes that are not primarily related to the nervous system. The term helps clinicians distinguish disorders of the brain, spinal cord, or nerves from diseases affecting other organ systems. While some conditions have both neurological and nonneurological components, nonneurological emphasizes the non-nervous-system domain for assessment and management.

Scope and examples: Nonneurological diseases span cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, dermatologic, hematologic, musculoskeletal, infectious, and immune systems. Examples include coronary artery disease, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, sepsis, and systemic autoimmune disorders. Some illnesses have multi-system presentations; the nonneurological aspect may predominate in a given patient.

Clinical relevance: In diagnosis, distinguishing nonneurological from neurological etiologies guides tests and treatment. Interdisciplinary care and rehabilitation are common, especially for complex or systemic illnesses. Research often focuses on prevention, management of comorbidities, and improving quality of life.

Notes: The term is descriptive rather than a diagnosis and may obscure overlap with neurological conditions. Precise diagnoses should be used to avoid ambiguity.