Chapter 10: Nervous System: Exercises Flashcards
Microscopic fiber leading from the cell body that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell.
axon
Large interlacing network of nerves.
plexus
Three (3) protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
meninges
Microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse.
dendrite
Outer region of the largest part of the brain; composed of gray matter.
cerebral cortex
Glial cell that transports water and salts between capillaries and nerve cells.
astrocyte
Glial cell that produces myelin.
oligodendroglial cell
A nerve cell that transmits a nerve impulse.
neuron
Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord at the level of the second lumbar.
cauda equina
Fatty tissue that surrounds the axon of a nerve cell.
myelin sheath
Innermost meningeal membrane.
pia mater
Carry messages away from (efferent) the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands.
motor nerves
Carry messages toward (afferent) the brain and spinal cord from receptors.
sensory nerves
Grooves in the cerebral cortex.
sulci
Contains cerebrospinal fluid.
subarachnoid space
Elevations in the cerebral cortex.
gyri
Chemical that is released at the end of a nerve cell and stimulates or inhibits another cell.
Example: acetylcholine
neurotransmitter
Essential cell of the nervous system; a neuron.
parenchymal cell
Connective and supportive (stromal) tissue.
glial cell
Disease of the brain.
encephalopathy
Part of the brain that controls muscular coordination and balance.
cerebellum
Collection of blood above the dura mater.
epidural hematoma
Inflammation of the pia and arachnoid membranes.
leptomeningitis
Condition of absence of a brain.
anencephaly
Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord.
poliomyelitis
Pertaining to the membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
meningeal
Disease of nerve roots (of spinal nerves).
radiculopathy
Hernia of the spinal cord and meninges.
myelomeningocele
Pertaining to the tenth (10th) cranial nerve.
vagal
Reading disorder.
dyslexia
Condition of decreased coordination.
ataxia
Condition of slow movement.
bradykinesia
Condition of increased sensation.
hyperesthesia
Seizure of sleep; uncontrollable compulsion to sleep.
narcolepsy
Difficulty with speech.
aphasia
Inability to perform a task.
motorapraxia
Weakness in the right or left half of the body.
hemiparesis
Severe burning pain due to nerve injury.
causalgia
Paralysis in the lower part of the body.
paraplegia
Fainting.
Syncope
Nervous exhaustion (lack of strength) and fatigue.
neurasthenia
dura mater
Outermost meningeal layer surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
central nervous system
Brain and the spinal cord.
peripheral nervous system
Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves.
arachnoid membrane
Middle meningeal membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
hypothalamus
Part of the brain below the thalamus.
Controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and sections from the pituitary gland.
synapse
Space through which a nervous impulse is transmitted from a nerve cell to another nerve cell or to a muscle or gland cell.
sympathetic nerves
Autonomic nerves that influence body functions involuntarily in times of stress.
medulla oblongata
Part of the brain just above the spinal cord.
Controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels.
pons
Part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the upper parts of the brain.
cerebellum
Posterior part of the brain that coordinates voluntary muscle movements.
thalamus
Part of the brain below the cerebrum.
Relay centre that conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum.
ventricles of the brain
Canals in the interior of the brain that are filled with CSF.
brainstem
Lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord.
cerebrum
Largest part of the brain.
Controls voluntary muscle movement, vision, speech, hearing, thought, and memory.
ganglion
Collection of nerve cell bodies outside the brain and spinal cord.
cerebral cortex
Outer region of the cerebrum. Contains gray matter.
intrathecal
Pertaining to within a sheath through the meninges and into the subarachnoid space.
polyneuritis
Inflammation of many nerves.
thalamic
Pertaining to the thalamus.
myelopathy
Disease of the spinal cord.
meningioma
Tumor of the meninges.
glioma
Tumor of neurologlial cells (a brain tumor).
subdural hematoma
Mass of blood below the dura mater.
analgesia
Lack of sensitivity to pain.
motor aphasia
Difficulty in speaking.
Patient cannot articulate words but can understand speech and knows what she or he wants to say.
paresis
Weakness and partial loss of movement.
quadriplegia
Paralysis in all four (4) extremities. Damage is to the cervical part of the spinal cord.
asthenia
No strength; weakness.
comatose
Pertaining to coma.
paresthesia
Condition of abnormal sensations (prickling, tingling, burning).
hyperkinesis
Excessive movement.
anesthesia
Condition of no sensation or nervous feeling.
causalgia
Severe burning pain from injury to peripheral nerves.
akinetic
Pertaining to without movement.
hypalgesia
Diminished sensation to pain.
dyskinesia
Impairment of the ability to perform voluntary movements.
migraine
Recurrent vascular headache with severe pain of unilateral onset and photophobia (sensitivity to light).
Destruction of myelin sheath (demyelination) and its replacement by hard plaques.
multiple sclerosis
Sudden, transient disturbances of brain function cause seizures.
epilepsy
The spinal column is imperfectly joined (a split in a vertebra occurs), and part of the meninges and spinal cord can herniate out of the spinal cavity.
myelomeningocele
Atrophy of muscles and paralysis caused by damage to motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem.
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Patient displays bizarre, abrupt, involuntary, dance-like movements, as well as decline in mental functions.
Huntington disease
Cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the head (in the ventricles of the brain).
hydrocephalus
Loss of muscle strength due to the inability of a neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) to transmit impulses from nerve cells to muscle cells.
myasthenia gravis
Degeneration of nerves in the basal ganglia occurring in later life, leading to tremors, shuffling gait, and muscle stiffness; dopamine is deficient in the brain.
Parkinson disease
Deterioration of mental capacity (dementia); autopsy shows cerebral cortex atrophy, widening of cerebral sulci, and microscopic neurofibrillary tangles.
Alzheimer disease
Unilateral facial paralysis
Bell palsy
astrocytoma
Tumor of neuroglial brain cells (astrocytes).
pyogenic meningitis
Inflammation of the meninges. Bacterial infection with pus formation.
Tourette syndrome
Involuntary spasmodic, twitching movements (tics), uncontrollable vocal sounds, and inappropriate words.
cerebral contusion
Bruising of brain tissue as a result of direct trauma to the head.
cerebrovascular accident
Disruption of the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke or cerebral infarction.
cerebral concussion
Traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head.
herpes zoster
Neurologic condition caused by infection with herpes zoster virus; blisters form along the course of peripheral nerves.
Virus that causes chickenpox and shingles.
cerebral embolus
Blockage of a blood vessel in the cerebrum caused by material from another part of the body that suddenly occludes the vessel.
cerebral thrombosis
Blockage of a blood vessel in the cerebrum caused by the formation of a clot within the vessel.
cerebral hemorrhage
Collection of blood on the brain (can cause a stroke).
cerebral aneurysm
Widening of a blood vessel (artery) in the cerebrum; the aneurysm can burst and lead to a CVA.
HIV encephalopathy
Brain disease (dementia and encephalitis) caused by infection with AIDS virus.
ataxia
Uncontrollable gait
aura
Peculiar sensation experienced by patient before onset of seizure.
transient ischemic attack
Blood flow to the brain stops for a brief period of time.
tonic-clonic seizure
Major epileptic seizure; ictal event
palliative
Relieving but not curing
dopamine
Neurotransmitter
occlusion
Blockage
absence seizure
Minor epileptic seizure
glioblastoma multiforme
Malignant brain tumor of immature glial cells
Lack of nerve strength
neurasthenia
Inability to speak
aphasia
Inability to perform purposeful actions
apraxia
Condition of insensitivity to pain
analgesia
Condition of loss of sensation
anesthesia
Sensations of tingling, numbness, or “pins and needles”
paresthesia
Lack of coordination
ataxia
Excessive movement
hyperkinesis
Abnormal, involuntary, spasmodic movements
dyskinesia
Developmental reading disorder
dyslexia
Partial paralysis
paresis
Part of the brain that controls sleep, appetite, temperature, and secretions of the pituitary gland.
hypothalamus
Pertaining to fainting
syncopal
Abnormal tingling sensations
paresthesias
Slight paralysis
paresis
Inflammation of a spinal nerve root
radiculitis
Inability to speak correctly
aphasia
Movements and behaviour that are not purposeful
apraxia
Lack of muscular coordination
ataxia
Paralysis in one half (right or left) of the body
hemiplegia
Paralysis in the lower half of the body
paraplegia
Paralysis in all four (4) limbs
quadriplegia
Nervous exhaustion and fatigue
neurasthenia
