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Medical Terminology > 10. Nervous System > Flashcards

10. Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

Brain disorder marked by deterioration of mental capacity.

A

Alzheimer’s disease

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2
Q

Damage to the blood vessels of the cerebrum, leading to loss of blood supply to brain tissue; a stroke

A

Cerebrovascular accident

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3
Q

Blunt injury to the brain severe enough to cause loss of consciousness

A

Concussion

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4
Q

Chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity

A

Epilepsy

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5
Q

Malignant brain tumour arising from glial cells.

A

Glioblastoma

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6
Q

Paralysis that affects the right or left half of the body

A

Hemiplasia

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7
Q

Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord

A

Meningitis

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8
Q

Destruction of the myelin sheat on the nerve cells in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), with replacement by plaques of sclerotic (hard) tissue

A

Multiple Sclerosis

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9
Q

Paralysis that affects the lower portion of the body

A

Paraplegia

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10
Q

Fainting; sudden and temporary loss of consciousness as a result of inadequate flow of blood to the brain

A

Syncope

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11
Q

Pressure of CSF is measured and contrast may be injected for imaging after removal of CSF from a space between the lumbar vertebrae. This also provides a sample of CSF for analysis.

A

Lumbar Puncture

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12
Q

Chemical tests (for Na, Cl, Protein and glucose), cell counts, cultures and bacterial smears on CSF samples to detect diseases of the brain or meninges.

A

Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis

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13
Q

Cerebral Angiography

A

X-ray imaging of the blood vessels in the brain after injection of contrast material in an artery

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14
Q

PET scan

A

Positron emission tomography.

Radioactive material into the brain shows how the brain uses glucose and gives information about brain function

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15
Q

AD

A

Alzheimer disease

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16
Q

CNS

A

Central nervous system

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17
Q

CVA

A

Cerebrovascular accident

stroke

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18
Q

CSF

A

Cerebrospinal fluid

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19
Q

EEG

A

Elecroencephalography

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20
Q

LP

A

Lumbar puncture

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21
Q

MS

A

Multiple Sclerosis

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22
Q

TIA

A

Transient Ischemic Attack (temporary interference with blood supply to the brain)

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23
Q

Two major divisions of the nervous system

A

Central nervous system

Peripheral nervous system

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24
Q

Two components of the CNS

A

brain

spinal cord

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25
Q

the components of the PNS

A

cranial nerves, spinal nerves, plexuses and the peripheral nerves throughout the body

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26
Q

Vagus nerve

A

Tenth cranial nerve that carries messages to and from the neck, chest and abdomen.

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27
Q

Plexus

A

A large network of nerves in the peripheral nervous system.

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28
Q

Sensory (afferent) nerves

A

Carry messages toward the spinal cord and brain

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29
Q

Motor (efferent) nerves

A

travel from the spinal cord and brain to the muscles of the body, telling them how to respond.

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30
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

Nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands and internal organs.

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31
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells.

32
Q

arachnoid membrane

A

Middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord.

33
Q

Astrocyte

A

Type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from the capillaries in the nervous system

34
Q

Axon

A

Microscopic fibre that is part of a neuron and carries nervous impulses along a nerve cell

35
Q

Blood-brain barrier

A

Protective separation between the blood and brain cells. This makes it difficult for substances (such as anticancer drugs) to penetrate capillary walls and enter the brain

36
Q

Brainstem

A

Posterior portion of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance

37
Q

Cauda euqina

A

Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord

38
Q

Cell body

A

part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus

39
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

Brain and spinal cord

40
Q

Cerebellum

A

Posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balancew

41
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

Outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells: gray matter of the brain.

42
Q

Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)

A

Circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord

43
Q

Cerebrum

A

Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought and memory.

44
Q

Cranial nerves

A

Nerves carry messages to and from the brain to all parts of head and neck and also (in the case of the vagus nerve) to other parts of the body. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.

45
Q

Dendrite

A

Microscopic branching fibre of a nerve cell (neuron) that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse.

46
Q

Dura mater

A

Thick, outermost layer of the meninges, surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord.

47
Q

Efferent nerves

A

Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerves.

48
Q

Ependymal cell

A

Glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form CSF

49
Q

Ganglion

A

Collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.

50
Q

Glial cell

A

Supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses.
Examples are astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells and oligodendrocytes. Glial cells can reproduce by themselves, as opposed to neurons.

51
Q

Gyrus

A

Sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolutions.

52
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland.

53
Q

Medulla oblongata

A

Part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibres cross over here.

54
Q

Meninges

A

Three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

55
Q

Microglial cell

A

Phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the nervous system

56
Q

Midbrain

A

Uppermost portion of the brainstem

57
Q

Motor nerve

A

Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve

58
Q

Myelin sheath

A

Covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons

59
Q

Nerve

A

Macroscopic cord-like collection of fibres (axons) that carry electrical impulses

60
Q

Neuron

A

Nerve cell that is necessary for impulses to be carried throughout the nervous system; parenchyma of the nervous system

61
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell.
Examples are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine and seritonin.

62
Q

Oligodendroglial cell

A

Glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. Also called oligodendrocytes.

63
Q

Parasympathetic nerves

A

Involuntary autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.

64
Q

Parenchyma

A

Essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system. The parenchyma of the nervous system includes the neurons and nerves that carry nervous impulses. Parenchymal cells of the liver are hepatocytes, and ones of the kidney include nephrons, where urine is formed.

65
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal and autonomic nerves.

66
Q

Pia mater

A

Thin delicate inner membrane of the meninges.

67
Q

Pons

A

Part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain. It is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain.

68
Q

Receptor

A

Organ that receives and transmits a stimulus to sensory nerves. The skin, ears, eyes and taste buds are receptors.

69
Q

Sciatic nerve

A

Nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg and foot. Sciatica is pain or inflammation along the course of the nerve.

70
Q

Stimulus

A

Agent of change in the internal or external environment that evokes a response. It may be light, sound, touch, pressure or pain.

71
Q

Stroma

A

Connective and supporting tissue of an organ. Glial cells make up the stromal tissue of the brain

72
Q

Sulcus

A

Depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure

73
Q

Sympathetic nerves

A

Autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress.

74
Q

Synapses

A

Space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells.

75
Q

Thalamus

A

Main relay centre of the brain. It conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum; incoming sensory messages are relayed through the thalamus to appropriate centres in the cerebrum.

76
Q

Ventricles of the brain

A

Canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid. Ventricles are also found in the heart–they are the two lower chambers in the heart.

Medical Terminology (19 decks)

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