chapter 10 nervous system Flashcards
acetylcholine
neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells.
afferent nerve
carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve).
arachnoid membrane
middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord.
astrocyte
type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries.
autonomic nervous system
nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs.
axon
microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell.
blood-brain barrier
blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out.
brainstem
lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the pons and medulla oblongata.
cauda equina
collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord.
cell body
part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus.
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and the spinal cord.
cerebellum
posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.
cerebral cortex
outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain.
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord.
cerebrum
largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory.
cranial nerves
twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain with regard to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve).
dendrite
microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse.
dura mater
thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord.
efferent nerve
carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve.
ependymal cell
glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid.
ganglion
collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.
glial cell (neuroglial cell)
supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses. examples are astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes.
gyrus
sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution.
hypothalamus
portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland.
medulla oblongata
part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here.
meninges
three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
microglial cell
phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system.
motor nerve
carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve
myelin sheath
covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.
nerve
macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers that carry electrical impulses.
neuron
nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body.
neurotransmitter
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 of neurotransmitters are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
oligodendroglial cell
glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons.
parasympathetic nerves
involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the GI tract.
parenchyma
essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system. The parenchyma of the nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and neurons. Parenchymal cells of the liver are hepatocytes, and parenchymal tissue of the kidney includes the nephrons, where urine is formed.
peripheral nervous system
nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves.
pia mater
thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges
plexus
large, interlacing network of nerves. examples are lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial.
pons
part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain.
receptor
organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves. The skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds are receptors.
sciatic nerve
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.
sensory nerve
carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve.
spinal nerves
thirty-one pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord.
stimulus
agent of change (light, sound, touch) in the internal or external environment that evokes a response.
stroma
connective and supporting tissue of an organ. Glial cells are the stromal tissue of the brain.
sulcus
depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure.
sympathetic nerves
autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress.
synapse
space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells.
thalamus
main relay center of the brain. It conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum; incoming sensory messages are relayed through the thalamus to appropriate centers in the cerebrum.
vagus nerve
tenth cranial nerve; it’s branches reach to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach.
ventricles of the brain
canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid.
cerebell/o
cerebellum
cerebr/o
cerebrum
dur/o
dura mmater
encephal/o
brain
gli/o
glial cells
lept/o
thin, slender
mening/o, meningi/o
membranes, meninges
my/o
muscle
myel/o
spinal cord
neur/o
nerve
pont/o
pons
radicul/o
nerve root
thalam/o
thalamus
thec/o
sheath (refers to the meninges)
vag/o
vagus nerve
alges/o, -algesia
excessive sensitivity to pain
-algia
pain
caus/o
burning
comat/o
deep sleep (coma)
esthesi/o, -esthesia
feeling, nervous sensation
kines/o
movement
-lepsy
seizure
lex/o
word, phrase
-paresis
weakness
-phasia
speech
-plegia
paralysis
-praxia
action
-sthenia
strength
syncop/o
to cut off, cut short
tax/o
order, coordination
hydrocephalus
abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain.
spina bifida
congenital defects in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts (neural tube defect).
Alzheimer disease (AD)
Brain disorder marked by gradual and progressive mental deterioration (dementia), personality changes, and impairment of daily functioning.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. Lou Gehrig disease.
epilepsy
chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity.
Huntington disease
Hereditary disorder marked by degenerative changes in the cerebrum leading to abrupt involuntary movements and mental deterioration.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the CNS and its replacement by plaques of sclerotic (hard) tissue.
myasthenia gravis (MG)
autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles.
palsy
paralysis (partial or complete loss of motor function).
Bell palsy
paralysis on one side of the face, caused by viral infection, therapy is directed against the virus.
Parkinson disease
degeneration of neurons in the basal ganglia, occurring in later life and leading to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement.
Tourette syndrome
involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words.
herpes zoster (shingles)
viral infection affecting peripheral nerves
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges; leptomeningitis.
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalopathy
brain disease and dementia occurring with AIDS.
brain tumor
abnormal growth of brain tissue and meninges.
cerebral concussion
temporary brain dysfunction (brief loss of consciousness) after injury, usually clearing within 24 hours.
cerebral contusion
bruising of brain tissue as a result of direct trauma to the head; neurologic deficits persist longer than 24 hours.
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke.
migraine
severe, recurring, unilateral, vascular headache.
absence seizure
minor (petit mal) form of seizure, consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awareness of surroundings.
aneurysm
enlarged, weakened area in an arterial wall, which may rupture, leading to hemorrhage and CVA (stroke).
astrocytoma
malignant tumor of astrocytes (glial brain cells).
aura
peculiar symptom or sensation occurring before the onset (prodromal) of an attack of migraine or an epileptic seizure.
dementia
mental decline and deterioration
demyelination
destruction of myelin on axons of neurons (as in multiple sclerosis).
dopamine
CNS neurotransmitter, deficient in patient with Parkinson disease.
embolus
clot of material that travels through the bloodstream and suddenly blocks a vessel.
gait
manner of walking
ictal event
pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as with the convulsions of an epileptic seizure.
occlusion
blockage
palliative
relieving symptoms but not curing them.
thymectomy
removal of the thymus gland (a lymphocyte-producing gland in the chest); used as treatment for myasthenia gravis.
TIA
transient ischemic attack
tic
involuntary movement of a small group of muscles, as of the face; characteristic of tourette syndrome.
tonic-clonic seizure
major (grand mal) convulsive seizure marked by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching and jerking movements.
cerebrospinal fluid analysis
samples of CSF are examined
cerebral angiography
x-ray imaging of the arterial blood vessel in the brain after injection of contrast material.
computed tomography (CT) of the brain
x-ray technique that generates computerized multiple images of the brain and spinal cord.
myelography
x-ray imaging of the spinal canal after injection of contrast medium into the subarachnoid space.
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
magnetic field and pulses of radiowave energy create images of the brain and spinal cord.
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
radioactive glucose is injected and then detected in the brain to image the metabolic activity of cells.
doppler ultrasound studies
sound waves detect blood flow in the carotid and intracranial arteries.
electroencephalography (EEG)
recording of the electrical activity of the brain.
lumbar puncture (LP)
CSF is withdrawn from between two lumbar vertebrae for analysis
stereotactic radiosurgery
use of a specialized instrument to locate and treat targets in the brain.
