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Medical Terminology > Chapter 10: Vocabulary > Flashcards

Chapter 10: Vocabulary Flashcards

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USMLE® Step 1 flashcards
1
Q

acetylcholine

A

neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells

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2
Q

afferent nerve

A

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve).

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3
Q

arachnoid membrane

A

middle layer of the three membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

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4
Q

astrocyte

A

type of glial cell that transports water and salts from capillaries

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5
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

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

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6
Q

axon

A

microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell

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7
Q

blood-brain barrier

A

protective separation between the blood and brain cells. this makes it difficult for substances to penetrate capillary walls and enter the brain

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8
Q

brainstem

A

posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the pons and medulla oblongata

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9
Q

cauda equina

A

collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord

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10
Q

cell body

A

part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus

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11
Q

central nervous system

A

the brain and the spinal cord

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12
Q

cerebellum

A

posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance

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13
Q

cerebral cortex

A

outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

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14
Q

cerebrospinal fluid

A

circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord

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15
Q

cerebrum

A

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

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16
Q

cranial nerves

A

twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain with regard to the head and neck

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17
Q

dendrite

A

microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse

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18
Q

dura mater

A

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

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19
Q

efferent nerve

A

carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve

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20
Q

ependymal cell

A

glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid

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21
Q

ganglion

plural: ganglia

A

collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system

22
Q

glial cell

neuroglial cell

A

supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses
astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cell, oligodendrocytes
can reproduce themselves as opposed to neurons

23
Q

gyrus

plural: gyri

A

sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution

24
Q

hypothalamus

A

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

25
Q

medulla oblongata

A

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

26
Q

meninges

A

three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

27
Q

microglial cell

A

phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system

28
Q

motor nerve

A

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

29
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

30
Q

nerve

A

macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers that carry electrical impulses

31
Q

neuron

A

nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body; parenchyma of the nervous system

32
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
neurotransmitters are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin

33
Q

oligodendroglial cell

oligodendrocyte

A

glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons.

34
Q

parasympathetic nerves

A

involuntary, automatic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract

35
Q

parenchyma

A

essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system

36
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

nerves outside the brain and spinal cord: cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves

37
Q

pia mater

A

thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges

38
Q

plexus

plural: plexuses

A

large, interlacing netword of nerves.

lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial

39
Q

pons

A

part of the brain anterior to the cerebrum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain

40
Q

receptor

A

organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves
skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds are receptors

41
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

42
Q

sensory nerve

A

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve

43
Q

spinal nerves

A

Thirty-one pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord

44
Q

stimulus

plural: stimuli

A

agent of change (light, sound, touch) in the internal or external environment that evokes a response

45
Q

stroma

A

connective and supporting tissue of an organ. glial cells are the stromal tissue of the brain

46
Q

sulcus

plural: sulci

A

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

47
Q

sympathetic nerves

A

autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress

48
Q

synapse

A

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

49
Q

thalamus

A

main relay center of the brain.

50
Q

vagus nerve

A

tenth cranial nerve

51
Q

ventricles of the brain

A

canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid

Medical Terminology (65 decks)

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