Chapter 10: Nervous System Flashcards
-algesia
sensitivity to pain
-algia
pain
-blast
embryonic; immature cell
-cele
hernia
-esthesia
feeling (nervous sensation)
-gram
record
-graphy
process of recording
-ine
substance
-itis
inflammation
-kinesia, -kinesis
movement
-lepsy
seizure
-oma
tumor; mass; fluid collection
-ose
full of; pertaining to; sugar
-paresis
weakness
-pathy
disease; emotion
-phagia
condition of eating; swallowing
-phasia
speech
-plegia
paralysis (loss or impairment of the ability to move parts of the body)
-praxia
action
(think act with a purpose or purousful action)
-ptosis
falling; drooping; prolapse
-sclerosis
hardening
-sthenia
strength
-tomy
process of cutting
-trophy
nourishment; development (condition of)
½P
hemiparesis
a-, an-
no; not; without
Form of seizure consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awareness of surroundings.
absence seizure
Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells.
acetylcholine
AD
Alzheimer disease
Carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerves). Afferent comes from af- (a form of ad-, meaning toward) and -ferent (meaning carrying).
afferent nerves
AFP
alpha-fetoprotein; elevated levels in amniotic fluid and maternal blood are associated with congenital malformations of the nervous system, such as anencephaly and spina bifida
Pertaining to loss or absence of voluntary movement.
akinetic
alges/o, -algesia
sensitivity to pain
ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—Lou Gehrig disease
Brain disorder marked by gradual and progressive mental deterioration (dementia), personality changes, and impairment of daily functioning.
Alzheimer disease (AD) (Alzheimer’s)
Type of Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants used to treat hyperkinesia in children.
Amphetamines
a protein in neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques, and blood vessels.
amyloid
Degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to progressive muscular paralysis; Lou Gehrig disease.
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Absence of sensitivity to pain.
(no - sensitivity to pain)
analgesia
Congenital condition of partial or complete absence of brain matter
(No brain)
anencephaly
Absence of nervous feeling or sensation. (e.g., absence of sense of touch or pain).
(no feeling; nervous sensation)
anesthesia
a physician who administers anesthesia.
anesthesiologist
agents (drugs) that reduce or eliminate sensation. General and local.
Anesthetics
Enlarged, weakened area in an arterial wall, which may rupture, leading to hemorrhage and cerebrovascular accidet (CVA = stroke).
aneurysm
angi/o
vessel (blood)
Difficulty with speech. Inability to speak; language function is impaired due to injury to the cerebral cortex.
aphasia
Movements and behavior are not purposeful. A patient with motor ____ cannot use an object or perform a task. Motor weakness is not the cause.
apraxia
Middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. The Greek arachne means spider.
arachnoid membrane
abnormal blood vessel masses
arteriovenous malformations
Type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries in the central nervous system.
(water and salt crystals look like stars, astronomy)
astrocyte
Malignant brain tumor of astrocytes (glial brain cells).
astrocytoma
Without coordination.
Condition of decreased coordination. Persistent unsteadiness on the feet.
(need to be coordinated to drive a taxi in NY)
ataxia
Peculiar symptom or sensation occurring before the onset (prodromal) of an attack of migraine or an epileptic seizure.
aura
Nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs.
autonomic nervous system
AVM
arteriovenous malformation; congenital tangle of arteries and veins in the cerebrum
Microscopic fiber that is part of a neuron and carries nervous impulse along a nerve cell.
axon
BBB
blood-brain barrier
Unilateral paralysis of the face caused by a disorder of the facial nerve.
Bell palsy (or Bell’s palsy)
Protective separation between the blood and brain cells. Blood vessels that let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out.
blood-brain barrier
Slow movement
bradykinesia
Abnormal growth of brain tissue and meninges; may be benign or malignant growth.
brain tumor
Posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
brainstem
Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord.
cauda equina
caus/o
burning
Intense burning pain, often resulting from injury to a peripheral nerve.
causalgia
Part of the nerve cell (neuron) that contains the nucleus.
cell body
Brain and spinal cord.
central nervous system (CNS)
cephal/o
head
Head pain; headache.
cephalgia
cerebell/o
cerebellum
Pertaining to the cerebellum.
cerebellar
Pertaining to the cerebellum and pons. The suffix -ine means pertaining to.
cerebellopontine
Posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.
cerebellum
cerebr/o
cerebrum
X-ray imaging of the arterial blood vessels in the brain after injection of contrast material.
cerebral angiography
Type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head.
cerebral concussion
Bruising of brain tissue resulting from direct trauma to the head.
cerebral contusion
Outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain.
cerebral cortex
Bursting of an artery in the brain.
cerebral hemorrhage
is the result of impaired oxygen supply to the brain. There are three types of strokes [thrombotic, embolic, hemorrhagic]
cerebral infarction (stroke)
Partial paralysis and lack of muscular coordination due to decreased oxygen to a fetus during pregnancy or to the infant shortly after birth.
Cerebral palsy
Clear, watery fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord.
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Samples of cerebrospinal fluid are examined for blood cells, protein, glucose, tumor cells, bacteria, and other substances.
cerebrospinal fluid analysis
Disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke.
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory.
cerebrum
CGRP
calcitonin gene-related peptide; protein that is related to migraine pain
CNS
central nervous system
State of unconsciousness from which a patient cannot be aroused.
coma
comat/o
deep sleep (coma)
Pertaining to a coma.
comatose
provide images that pinpoint the location of abnormal metabolic activity within the brain.
Combined PET-CT scanners
The most common type of seizure. Complex means impaired consciousness and partial indicates not generalized. Commonly these patients have seizures that cause them to pause in whatever they are doing, become confused, and have memory problems.
complex partial seizure
Computerized x-ray technique that generates multiple cross-sectional x-ray images of the brain and spinal cord with or without contrast material.
computed tomography (CT) of the brain
buildup of excessive CSF in the brain at birth.
Congenital hydrocephalus
pertaining to the cortex or outer area of an organ.
Cortical
crani/o
skull
Nerves that carry messages to and from the brain; there are 12 pairs of ____ nerves.
cranial nerves
cry/o
cold
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
CTE
chronic traumatic encephalopathy
CVA
cerebrovascular accident
a robotic device that uses stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to deliver a single high-energy photon beam directly to a target area in the brain.
CyberKnife system
Mental decline and deterioration.
dementia
Destruction of myelin on axons of nerve cells (as in multiple sclerosis). Loss of myelin insulation prevents the conduction of nerve impulses through the axon.
demyelination
Microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell (neuron) that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse.
dendrite
CNS neurotransmitter, deficient in patient with Parkinson disease.
dopamine
Method of focusing sound waves on blood vessels to measure blood flow using sound waves to detect the blood flow in the carotid and intracranial arteries.
Doppler ultrasound studies
dur/o
dura mater
Thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord. Latin for “hard mother.”
dura mater
dys-
abnormal, bad, difficult, painful
Condition marked by involuntary, spasmodic movements. Impairment of the ability to perform voluntary movements.
dyskinesia
This is a developmental reading disorder occurring when the brain does not properly recognize, process, and interpret language.
dyslexia
EEG
electroencephalography
Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve.
Efferent comes from ef- (meaning away from) and -ferent (meaning to carry).
efferent nerve
Recording of the electrical activity of the brain.
electroencephalography (EEG)
—an embolus (a dislodged thrombus) travels to cerebral arteries and occludes a vessel. This type of stroke occurs very suddenly.
Embolic stroke
Clot of material that travels through the bloodstream and suddenly blocks a vessel.
embolus
encephal/o
brain
Inflammation of the brain.
encephalitis
A progressive degenerative disease associated with repetitive brain trauma (concussion).
Chronic traumatic ____ (CTE)
encephalopathy
Glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid.
ependymal cell
a type of brain or spinal cord tumor that originates from ependymal cells, which line the fluid-filled spaces (ventricles) in the brain and central canal of the spinal cord.
ependymoma
epi-
above; upon; on
Collection of blood located above the dura mater.
epidural hematoma
Chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity.
epilepsy
esthesi/o, -esthesia
feeling, nervous sensation
GABA
gamma-aminobutyric acid (neurotransmitter)
Manner of walking.
gait
Using multiple high-energy radiation beams to treat deep and often inaccessible intracranial brain tumors and abnormal blood vessel masses (arteriovenous malformations) without surgical incision.
Gamma Knife
Collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.
ganglion (plural: ganglia)
gli/o
glial cells
Supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses. Examples are astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes. ____ cells can reproduce themselves, as opposed to neurons.
glial cell (neuroglial cell)
the most malignant form of astrocytoma
glioblastoma multiforme
Highly malignant brain tumor of immature glial cells.
glioblastoma
Brain tumors that arise from glial cells
glioma
Sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution.
gyrus (plural: gyri)
hemi-
half
Slight paralysis that effects either right or left side (half) of the body.
hemiparesis
Paralysis of the right or left half of the body. Results from a stroke or other brain injury.
hemiplegia
—a cerebral artery breaks and bleeding occurs. This type of stroke can be fatal and results from advancing age, atherosclerosis, or high blood pressure, all of which result in degeneration of cerebral blood vessels.
Hemorrhagic stroke
Viral infection affecting peripheral nerves; chicken pox virus or its reactivation (shingles).
herpes zoster (shingles)
Disease of the brain (dementia) caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
HIV encephalopathy
also known as Huntington’s disease. A progressive, inherited neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain.It is characterized by involuntary, jerky movements (chorea), as well as cognitive and behavioral changes.
Huntington chorea
Hereditary disorder marked by degenerative changes in the cerebrum, leading to abrupt involuntary movements and mental deterioration.
Huntington disease (Huntington’s)
hydr/o
water
Abnormal acumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain
hydrocephalus
Diminished sensation to pain.
*Notice that the o in hypo- is dropped.
*
Hyperalgesia is increased sensitivity to pain.
hypalgesia
hyper-
above; excessive
Excessive sensitivity or feeling, especially of the skin in response to touch or pain. Diminished sensitivity to pain is called hypesthesia.
hyperesthesia
Excessive movement.
hyperkinesis
hypo-
deficient; below; under; less than normal
Portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland.
hypothalamus
ICP
intracranial pressure
(normal pressure is 5 to 15 mm Hg)
Pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as with the convulsions of an epileptic seizure.
ictal event
intra-
within; into
Chemicals, such as chemotherapeutic drugs, can be delivered into the subarachnoid space.
intrathecal injection
Complete unresponsitivity, no spontaneous breathing or movement, and a flat electrocencephalogram (EEG). brain death
irreversible coma
kines/o, kinesi/o -kinesia, -kinesis, -kinetic
movement
lept/o
thin, slender
Pertaining to the pia and arachnoid membranes.
leptomeningeal
Inflammation of the two thinner membranes (arachnoid and pia mater) surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
leptomeningitis
lex/o
word, phrase
LP
lumbar puncture
CSF is withdrawn from between two lumbar vertebrae for analysis; spinal tap
lumbar puncture (LP)
MAC
monitored anesthetic care
produces images of blood vessels using magnetic resonance techniques.
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
Magnetic waves and radio waves produce images of organs and tissues in all three planes of the body.
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Lower part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here.
medulla oblongata
mening/o, meningi/o
membranes, meninges
Pertaining to the meninges.
meningeal
Three protective membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.
meninges
Slow-growning tumor (benign) of the meninges.
meningioma
Inflammation of the meninges.
meningitis
Hernia of the meninges through a defect or space between vertebrae; a form of spina bifida.
meningocele
(myelomeningocele)
MG
myasthenia gravis
micro-
small
Phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system.
baby glial cell with a big appatite
microglial cell
Uppermost portion of the brainstem.
midbrain
Severe headache, often unilateral, and sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
migraine
refers to damage or dysfunction of a single peripheral nerve, potentially causing pain, loss of movement, or numbness in the area served by that nerve.
mononeuropathies
(think one nerve disease)
____ ____is present when patients know what they want to say but cannot say it.
Motor aphasia
aka- Broca or expressive aphasia
Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; aka efferent nerve.
motor nerve
MRA
magnetic resonance angiography
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
MS
multiple sclerosis
Chronic neurologic disorder marked by destruction of the myelin sheath on axons in the CNS and is replaced by plaques of sclerotic (hard) tissue.
multiple sclerosis (MS)
my/o
muscle
Autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles. Muscles lose strength because of a failure in transmission of the nervous impulse from the nerve to the muscle cell.
myasthenia gravis (MG)
myel/o
spinal cord or bone marrow
Covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.
myelin sheath
Congenital hernia (protrusion) of the spinal cord and meninges through a defect (gap) in the vertebral column. This defect is associated with spina bifida. Neural tube defect where both the spinal cord and meninges protrude.
myelomeningocele
(meningomyelocele)
Disease of the spinal cord.
myelopathy
Pertaining to muscle and nerve.
myoneural
narc/o
numbness; stupor; sleep
Sudden, uncontrollable compulsion to sleep (narc/o = stupor, sleep). Amphetamines and stimulant drugs are prescribed to prevent attacks.
narcolepsy
Macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons) that carry electrical impulses.
nerve
neur/o
nerve
Nerve pain
neuralgia
Lack of strength in nerves; a feeling of weakness and exhaustion. Nervous exhaustion and fatigue, often following depression.
(nerve no strength)
neurasthenia
bundles of fibrils in the cytoplasm of a neuron in the cerebral cortex.
neurofibrillary tangles
Glial cells; supporting and connective cells of the nervous system.
neuroglial cells
Nerve cell. Necessary for impulses to be carried throughout the nervous system; parenchyma of the nervous system.
neuron
Disease of nerves; primarily in the peripheral nervous system.
neuropathy
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.
Ex… acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
neurotransmitter
another type of hydrocephalus, occurring primarily in older adults.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Blockage or obstruction
occlusion
olig/o
scanty
Glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. Also called oligodendrocyte.
oligodendroglial cell
A type of brain tumor that originates from glial cells called oligodendrocytes.These cells produce myelin, a protective sheath that insulates nerve fibers and facilitates nerve conduction.
oligodendroglioma
Relieving symptoms but not curing them.
palliative
Paralysis (partial or complete loss of motor function).
palsy
para-
near; beside; abnormal; apart from; along the side of
Originally, the term paraplegia meant a stroke (paralysis) on one side (para-). Now, however, the term means paralysis of both legs and the lower part of the body.
paraplegia
Involuntary autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.
parasympathetic nerves
Essential functioning cells of any organ. The ____ of the nervous system includes the neurons and nerves that carry nervous impulses.
parenchyma
Partial paralysis or weakness of muscles; Slight paralysis.
paresis
Abnormal nervous sensation occurring without apparent cause.
Ex…tingling, burning, numbness or prickling sensations (pins and needles).
Par- (from para-) means abnormal.
paresthesia
Degeneration of neurons in the basal ganglia, occurring in later life and leading to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement.
Parkinson disease (Parkinson’s)
PCA
patient-controlled analgesia
Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord: cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves.
peripheral nervous system
PET
positron emission tomography
also known as absence seizures, area type of generalized epilepsy characterized by brief, staring episodes.
petit mal seizures
Thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges.
pia mater
Large, interlacing network of nerves outside of the central nervous system.
Ex… lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial (brachi/o means arm) ____.
The term originated from the Indo-European plek, meaning to weave together.
plexus (plural: plexuses)
PNS
peripheral nervous system
polio-
gray matter
(of brain or spinal cord)
Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord.
poliomyelitis
poly-
many; much; increased
Inflammation of many nerves.
polyneuritis
Disorders affecting multiple peripheral nerves, causing a range of symptoms like numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness, often starting in the feet and hands.
Polyneuropathies
Part of the brainstem anterior to the cerebellum, between the medulla and the rest of the brain. The ____ connects the upper and lower portions of the brain. In Latin, ____ means bridge.
pons
pont/o
pons
(a part of the brain)
Radioactive glucose is injected and then detected in tissues of the body to image the metabolic activity of cells; PET scan.
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
After seizures, there may be neurologic symptoms, such as weakness, called-
postictal events
delivers a uniform dose of proton radiation to a target and spares surrounding normal tissue.
Proton stereotactic radiosurgery (PSRS)
PSRS
proton stereotactic radiosurgery
py/o
pus
pyel/o
renal pelvis of the kidney
quadri-
four
Paralysis of all four limbs; both arms and both legs. Quadri- means four. All four extremities are affected.
quadriplegia
radicul/o
nerve root (of spinal nerves)
Inflammation of a spinal nerve root. This condition often results in pain and loss of function.
radiculitis
Disease of a spinal nerve root.
radiculopathy
Organ that receives and transmits a stimulus to sensory nerves.
Ex.. The skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds are ____’s.
receptor
SBRT
stereotactic body radiation therapy
Nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot.
sciatic nerve
Pain or inflammation along the course of the sciatic nerve.
sciatica
is an unresponsiveness from which a patient can be aroused.
Semicomatose
result from degeneration of neurons
senile plaques
Patients have difficulty understanding language and may pronounce (articulate) words easily but use them inappropriately.
sensory aphasia
Carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve.
sensory nerve
Viral (herpes zoster) illness that affects peripheral nerves; produces blisters and pain on the skin overlying the path of peripheral nerves.
shingles
spin/o
spine (backbone)
Congenital defects in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts (neural tube defect)
spina bifida
a more sever form of spina bifida, with cyst-like protursions
Spina bifida cystica
the vertebral defect is covered over with skin and evident onluy on x-ray or other imaging examination.
spina bifida occulta
Pairs of nerves, arising one on each side of the spinal column. They transmit messages to and from the spinal cord.
spinal nerves
SRS
stereotactic radiotherapy
Single large dose of radiation delivered under stereotactic (highly precise) guidance to destroy a vascular abnormality or treat small brain tumors. Examples are Cyber Knife system and GammaKnife.
stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
Agent of change in the internal or external environment that evokes a response. It may be light, sound, touch, pressure, or pain.
stimulus (plural: stimuli)
Connective and supporting tissue of an organ.
Glial cells make up the stromal tissue of the brain.
stroma
sub-
under; below
Collection of blood in the space below the dura mater surrounding the brain.
subdural hematoma
Depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure.
sulcus (plural: sulci)
Autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress; heartbeat, respiration, and blood pressure are affected.
sympathetic nerves
Space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells.
synapse
syncop/o
to cut off, cut short
Pertaining to syncope (fainting).
syncopal
Fainting; temporary loss of consciousness.
syncope
Sz
seizure
chronic movement disorder that may develop in people who receive certain antipsychotic drugs for extended periods.
Tardive (occurring late) dyskinesia
tax/o
order, coordination
TBI
traumatic brain injury
seizures begin in the temporal lobe (on each side of the brain near the ears) of the brain.
temporal lobe epilepsy
TENS
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; technique using a battery-powered device to relieve acute and chronic pain
thalam/o
thalamus
Pertaining to the thalamus.
thalamic
Main relay center of the brain. Optic nerve fibers pass through the ____ on their way to the cerebral cortex.
thalamus
thec/o
sheath (refers to the meninges)
—blood clot (thrombus) in the arteries leading to the brain, resulting in occlusion (blocking) of the vessel.
Thrombotic stroke
Abnormal clot formation in a blood vessel; a blood clot.
thrombus
Removal of the thymus gland (a lymphocyte-producing gland in the chest); used as treatment for myasthenia gravis.
thymectomy
TIA
transient ischemic attack; temporary interference with the blood supply to the brain
Involuntary movement of a small group of muscles, as of the face; characteristic of Tourette syndrome.
tic
Thrombotic strokes are treated with antiplatelet or anticoagulant (clot-dissolving) therapy.
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)
TLE
temporal lobe epilepsy
are characterized by a sudden loss of consciousness, falling down, and then tonic contractions (stiffening of muscles) followed by clonic contractions (twitching and jerking movements of the limbs).
Tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal or ictal events)
Involuntary spasmodic, twitching movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words.
Tourette syndrome (Tourette’s)
tPA
tissue plasminogen activator; a clot-dissolving drug used as therapy for stroke
Fleeting episode of ischemia (holding back blood) in the brain; TIA. Short episodes of neurologic dysfunction by gradual occlusion of blood vessels.
transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
Flashes of stab-like pain along the trigeminal nerve (fifth cranial nerve). The ____ nerve has branches to the eye, upper jaw, and lower jaw.
Trigeminal neuralgia
troph/o
nourishment; development
vag/o
vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve)
Pertaining to the vagus nerve. This cranial nerve has branches to the head and neck, as well as to the chest.
vagal
Tenth cranial nerve with branches to the chest and abdominal organs.
vagus nerve
Canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid.
ventricles of the brain
