Chapter-5 The Nervous System (Neurology and Psychiatry) Flashcards
What is one of the unique abilities as humans?
The ability to think. Aristotle says that we are “rational animals. “ Rene Descartes remarked, “ I think, therefore I am”
The nervous system is made up of what 2 parts?
- The central nervous system
2. The peripheral nervous system
Describe the functions of the peripheral nervous system?
The peripheral nervous system collects data. It receives information such as temperature, pain, light, and pressure from its surroundings.
As quickly as it receives input, it transmits it to an analytic center via special conduits known as nerves.
What makes up the central nervous system?
The unified collection of cells in the brain and spine are collectively known as the central nervous system.
Describe the functions of the central nervous system.
The central nervous system processes the details and formulates a response. Commands are directed back to the appropriate body parts via nerves.
This constant progression of receiving, reasoning, and reacting repeats itself continuously as we go about our daily lives.m
The nervous system handles what 2 actions of the body?
The nervous system handles both
- voluntary and
- involuntary action of the body.
What division of the nervous system handles voluntary command of the body’s actions?
The somatic nervous system.
What are involuntary actions of the body?
Things that our body does without our conscious choice or awareness.
What is the background control in which the body handles involuntary actions?
It is called the autonomic nervous system and it encompasses everything from the beating of our heart, to sweating, to digesting food.
What function does the skull serve for the brain?
The skull serve as a dense external layer to protect the brain from common inlury.
What does cerebrospinal fluid provide?
The cerebrospinal fluid is also produced by the body. It surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a shock absorber cushioning them from injury.
The brain consumes what percentage of the body’s oxygen?
The brain consumes 20 to 25 percent of the body’s oxygen.
This huge need for oxygen necessitates a rich blood supply. Nearly 20 percent of the blood pumped from the heart is sent to the brain. This demand is met through an extensive network of blood vessels.
How is the brain more than the neurological controller of the human body’s physical processes?
The brain don’t just move and react. We behave. We are more than just digestion, heartbeats, and breathing. We have emotions, opinions, and beliefs. We have more than brains. we have minds we call psyche (Greek for “mind”).
These more complex functions of emotions, opinions, beliefs, and psyche (mind) fit under the umbrella of what medical science discipline?
They fall under the umbrella of psychiatry and psychology, both of whose roots come from the Greek word psyche, which means “mind” or “soul.” These fields deal with problems in our perceptions, emotions, and behavior.
What is the function of the sensory system?
The sensory system- specifically the eyes, ears, nose, and skin- collects data from your surroundings and sends the information to your brain (encephalo) by wires known as nerves (neuro).
The brain make sense of the data and determines the appropriate action. Then it sends out the action plan to the rest of the body via a web of nerves.
What makes up the peripheral nervous system?
the nerves that send and receive signals from the brain are collectively known as the peripheral nervous system.
What is the largest portion of the brain called?
The cerebrum
Where is the cerebellum located and what does it do?
The cerebellum is under the cerebrum, it controls things like coordination of movements.
Is the central nervous system fragile?
It is fragile and needs a protective membrane (meninges). The tough outer layer is known as the dura.
cerebr/o
roots
Def: brain
Ex. cerebropathy, cerebrospinal
encephal/o
roots
Def: brain
Ex. cerebropathy, cerebrospinal
Notes: The encephalo root comes from en (inside) and cephalus (head) and literally means “stuff inside your head.”
cerebell/o
roots
Def: cerebellum
Ex. cerebellar, cerebellitis
Notes: This word is just the word cerebrum (brain) plus a diminutive suffix. It means the “little brain.” It refers to the region of the brain that controls voluntary movements and looks somewhat like a little version of the whole brain.
lob/o
roots
Def: lobe
Ex. lobotomy, lobectomy
Notes:
cephal/o
roots
Def: head
Ex. microcephaly, macrocephaly
Notes: the scientific term for octopus, squid, and other sea creatures that are made up of a head and tentacles is cephalopod -literally head (cephalo) + feet (pod).
crani/o
roots
Def: head, skull
Ex: craniometer, craniomalacia
Notes: the term migraine comes from the word hemicranias, meaning “half the head.” It reflects the fact most migraines are localized on the half the patient’s head.
mening/o
roots
Def: meninges (membrane surrouding the brain and spinal cord)
Ex: meningopathy
Skull-> meninges ( Dura mater -> arachnoid mater (web-like) -> pia mater) -> brain ( grey matter -> white matter).
meningi/o
roots
Def: meninges (membrane surrouding the brain and spinal cord)
Ex: meningitis
Skull-> meninges ( Dura mater -> arachnoid mater (web-like) -> pia mater) -> brain ( grey matter -> white matter).
dur/o
roots
Def: dura (tough membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord)
Ex: epidural, subdural hematoma
Notes: This root literally means “hard.” The full name of the mebrane it refers to is dura mater cerebri, which translates to “the tough mother of the brain.” Words like endurance and durable come form the same word.
neur/o
roots
Def: nerve
Ex neuralgia, neruopathy
Notes: Neuron comes from a Greek word meaning “tendon” or “string.” In ancient times, when people first began examining brains, they thought neurons looked like string.
gangli/o *
roots
Def: nerve bundle
Ex: ganglion, gangliitis
Notes: According to Galen, a doctor in ancient Rome, the term ganglion means “knot” and could refer to anything gathered up into a ball, which is what Galen thought then nerve tissue coming out of the brain looked like.
myel/o *
roots
Def: spinal cord, bone marrow
Ex: myelitis, myelodysplasia
Notes: this root comes from a Greek word meaning “the innermost part” and is used in medicine to refer to two different things- bone marrow and the spinal cord. But if you think about it, it makes sense, as both are in the innermost part of something else. Bone marrow is in the center of bones, The spinal cord is in the center of the spine.
What does neurology vs psyche focuses on?
Neurology focuses on actions. The more complex functions often fit under the umbrella of what we call psyche (from Greek, for “mind”). We don’t just move and react. We behave. This is the realm of psychiatry and psychology. These fields of study deal with problems in human perceptions, emotions, and behavior.
esthesi/o
roots
Def: feeling, sensation
Ex: anesthesia, hyperesthesia
Notes: Esthetics (also sometimes spelled aesthetics).
phas/o
roots
Def: speech
Ex: aphasia
Notes: If a firend is talking too fast, perhaps he or she is stricken with the disease tachyphasia.
phren/o *
roots
Def: mind
Ex: phrenetic
psych/o *
roots
Def: mind
Ex: psychology
somn/o
roots
Def: sleep
Ex: somnography
Notes: Someone who walks while sleeping is experiencing somnambulation, which comes from the words somno (sleep) + ambulo (walk).
somn/i
roots
Def: sleep
Ex: insomnia
Notes: Someone who walks while sleeping is experiencing somnambulation, which comes from the words somno (sleep) + ambulo (walk).
hypn/o
roots
Def: sleep
Ex: hypnosis
Notes: Someone who walks while sleeping is experiencing somnambulation, which comes from the words somno (sleep) + ambulo (walk).
gnosi/o *
roots
Def: know
Ex: agnosia, diagnosis, prognosis
Notes: Frequently, people who have had a limb amputated report feeling or sensing the missing limb. Such an experience is called autosomatognosis, from auto (self) + somato (body) + gnosis (know).
-mania
suffix
Def: excessive desire
Ex: pyromania, kelptomania
-phobia
suffix
Def: excessive fear or sensitivity
Ex: photophobia, hydrophobia
-paresis
suffix
Def: slight or partial paralysis
Ex: hemiparesis
Notes: Paresis comes from Greek, for “to let go” or “to slacken”; it is used in health care to refer not to complete loss of sensation or control but instead to a partial or isolated form of paralysis.
ton/o
roots
Def: muscle tone, tension, pressure
Ex: dystonia, tonograph
tax/o
roots
Def: arrangement, order, coordination
Ex: ataxia, hypotaxia
-plegia
suffix
Def: paralysis
Ex: quadriplegia
-asthenia
suffix
Def: weakness
Ex: myasthenia, phonasthenia
aphasia
impairments
Def: inability to speak
Pron: ah-FAY-zhah
Word Analysis
a/ phas/ ia
not/ speaking/ condition
ataxia
impairments
Def: lack of coordination
Pron: ah-TAK-see-ah
Word Analysis
a/ taxia
no/ coordination/ condition
catatonia *
impairments
Def: condition characterized by reduced muscle tone
Pron: KAT-ah-TOH-nee-ah
Word Analysis
cata/ ton/ ia
down/ muscle tone/ condition
delirium
impairments
Def: brief loss of mental function
Pron: deh-LEER-ee-um
From Latin, for “to plow outside the furrow”; perhaps translates to “go off the tracks”
dementia
impairments
Def: loss/ decline in mental function
Pron: da-MEN-chah
Word Analysis
de/ ment/ ia
down/ mind/ condition
dyskinesia *
impairments
Def: difficulty moving
Pron: dis-kih-NEE-zhah
Word Analysis
dys/ kinesia
bad/ movement
dyslexia
impairments
Def: difficulty reading
Pron: dis-LEK-see-ah
Word Analysis
dys/ lex/ ia
bad/ reading/ condition
dysphasia
impairments
Def: difficulty speaking
Pron: dis-FAY-zhah
Word Analysis
dys/ phas/ ia
bad/ speaking/ condition
dystonia *
impairments
Def: condition characterized by involuntary muscle movements
Pron: dis-TOH-nee-ah
Word Analysis
dys/ ton/ ia
bad/ muscle tone/ condition
insomnia
impairments
Def: inability to sleep
Pron: in-SOM-nee-ah
Word Analysis
in/ somn/ ia
not/ sleeping/ condition
myoclonus *
impairments
Def: muscle twitching
Pron: mai-AWK-loh-nus
Word Analysis
myo/ clonus
muscle/ turmoil
myospasm
impairments
Def: involuntary muscle contraction
Pron: MAI-oh-spazm
Word Analysis
myo/ spasm
muscle/ involuntary contraction
neurasthenia
impairments
Def: nerve weakness
Pron: NUR-as-THEN-ee-ah
Word Analysis
neur/ asthenia
nerve/ weakness
somnambulism
impairments
Def: sleep walking
Pron: sawm-NAM-byoo-liz-um
Word Analysis
somn/ ambul/ ism
sleep/ walk/ condition
syncope
impairments
Def: fainting; losing consciousness due to temporary loss of blood flow to brain
Pron: SIN-koh-pee
From Greek, for “contraction” or “cut off”
cephalalgia
pain
Def: head pain
Pron: SEH-ful-AL-jah
Word Analysis
cephal/ algia
head/ pain
cephalodynia
pain
Def: head pain
Pron: SEH-fah-loh-DAI-nee-ah
Word Analysis
cephalo/ dynia
head/ pain
encephalalgia
pain
Def: brain pain
Pron: in-SE-ful-AL-jah
Word Analysis
encephal/ algia
brain/ pain
neuralgia
pain
Def: nerve pain
Pron: nur-AL-jah
Word Analysis
neur/ algia
nerve/ pain
neurodynia
pain
Def: nerve pain
Pron: NUR-oh-DAI-nee-ah
Word Analysis
neuro/ dynia
nerve/ pain
hemiparesis
paralysis
Def: partial paralysis on half the body
Pron: HEH-mee-puh-REE-sis
Word Analysis
hemi/ paresis
half/ paratial paralysis
hemiplegia
paralysis
Def: paralysis on half the body
Pron: HEH-mee-PLEE-jah
Word Analysis
hemi/ plegia
half/ paralysis
monoparesis
paralysis
Def: partial paralysis of one limb
Pron: MAW-noh-puh-REE-sis
Word Analysis
mono/ paresis
one/ partial paralysis
monoplegia
paralysis
Def: paralysis of one limb
Pron: MAW-noh-PLEE-jah
Word Analysis
mono/ plegia
one/ paralysis
paralysis
paralysis
Def: complete loss of sensation and motor function
Pron: puh-RAH-lu-sis
Word Analysis
from Greek, for “to disable”
paresis
paralysis
Def: partial paralysis characterized by varying degrees of sensation and motor function
Pron: puh-REE-sis
from Greek, for “ to let go”
causalgia
sensation/ feeling
Def: painful sensation of burning
Pron: kaw-ZAL-jah
Word Analysis
caus/ algia
burn/ pain
dysesthesia *
sensation/ feeling
Def: bad feeling
Pron: DIS-es-THEE-zhah
Word Analysis
dys/ esthesia
bad/ sensation
hyperesthesia
sensation/ feeling
Def: increased sensation
Pron: HAI-per-es-THEE-zhah
Word Analysis
hyper/ esthesia
over/ sensation
paresthesia *
sensation/ feeling
Def: abnormal sensation (usually numbness or tingling in the skin)
Pron: PAR-es-THEE-zhah
Word Analysis
par/ esthesia
beside/ sensation
pseudesthesia
sensation/ feeling
Def: false sensation
Pron: SOO-des-THEE-zhah
Word Analysis
pseud/ esthesia
false/ sensation
synesthesia *
sensation/ feeling
Def: condition where one sensation is experienced as another
Pron: SIN-es-THEE-zhah
Word Analysis
syn/ esthesia
together/ sensation
acrophobia *
phobia/ mania
Def: fear of heights
Pron: AK-roh-FOH-bee-ah
Word Analysis
acro/ phobia
heights/ excessive fear
agoraphobia *
phobia/ mania
Def: fear of outdoor spaces
Note: agora is Greek for “marketplace”; similar to the Roman forum
Pron: ah-GOR-ah-FOH-bee-ah
Word Analysis
agora/ phobia
marketplace/ excessive fear
hydrophobia
phobia/ mania
Def: fear of water
Pron: HAI-druh-FOH-bee-ah
Word Analysis
hydro/ phobia
water/ excessive fear
kleptomania *
phobia/ mania
Def: desire to steal
Pron: KLEP-toh-MAY-nee-ah
Word Analysis
klepto/ mania
theft/ excessive desire
photophobia
phobia/ mania
Def: excessive sensitivity to light
Note: This is an example of phobia meaning not just “fear of” but also “sensitivity to” something. Someone with photophobia isn’t afraid of light, but rather is extremely sensitive to light.
Pron: FOH-toh-FOH-bee-ah
Word Analysis
photo/ phobia
light/ excessive sensitivity
pyromania
phobia/ mania
Def: desire to set fire
Pron: PAI-roh-MAY-nee-ah
Word Analysis
pyro/ mania
fire/ excessive desire
What is a reflex?
A reflex is a muscle contraction that bypasses the brain.
When certain tendons are tapped, an impulse flows directly to the spinal cord, which sends a quick command to the nearby muscle to contract.
What does checking sensation involve?
Checking sensation involves studying afferent nerve paths, which are the paths that lead from the peripheral to the central nervous system.
What does checking strength and coordination involve?
Strength and coordination check efferent pathways, the pathways that lead from the brain to the peripheral nerves.
Is psychiatric evaluation very involved?
Psychiatric evaluation is very involved, because it depends on extensive questions and history to help discover the root of the patient’s problem.
echoencephalography
diagnostic procedures
objective
Def: procedures used to examine the brain using sound waves
Pron: EH-koh-in-SEH-fah-LAW-grah-fee
Word Analysis
echo/ encephalo/ graphy
echo/ brain/ writing procedure
electroencephalography (EEG)
diagnostic procedures
objective
Def: procedure used to examine the electrical activity of the brain
Pron: eh-LEK-troh-in-SEH-fah-LAW-grah-fee
Word Analysis
electro/ encephalo/ graphy
electricity/ brain/ writing procedure
lumbar puncture (LP)
diagnostic procedures
objective
Def: inserting a needle into lumbar region of the spine in order to collect spinal fluid, commonly called a spinal tap
Pron: LUM-bar PUNK-chir
Word Analysis
lumb/ ar puncture
lower back/ pertaining to
cerebral angiography *
radiology
objective
Def: procedure used to examine blood vessels in the brain
Pron: seh-REE-bral AN-gee-AW-grah-fee
Word Analysis
cerebr/ al angio/graphy
brain/ pertaining to vessel/ writing procedure
magnetic resonance *angiography (MRA)
radiology
objective
Def: procedure used to examine blood vessels
Pron: mag-NET-ik REH-zawn-ants AN-gee-AW-grah-fee
Word Analysis
angio/ graphy
vessel/ writing procedure
myelogram *
radiology
objective
Def: image of the spinal cord, usually done using x-ray
Pron: MAI-el-oh-gram
Word Analysis
myelo/ gram
spinal cord/ record
positron emission tomography (PET) scan *
radiology
objective
Def: an imaging procedure that uses radiation (positrons) to produce cross sections of the brain
Pron: PAWZ-ih-trawn ee-MISH-un taw-MAW-gra-fee
Word Analysis
e/ mission tomo/ graphy
out/ send cut/ writing procedure