Lesson 7 Flashcards
afferent neuron
sensory neuron
arachnoid matter
weblike middle membrane of the meninges
axons
nerve sell structures that carries impulses away from cell bodies to dendrites
brain stem
portion of the brain other than cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum
brain tumor
a mass or growth or normal cells in the brain
cerebellum
structure of the brain behind the pons and below the cerebrum
cerebrum
the largest part of the brain
choroid plexus
the network of blood vessels of the pia mater
concussion
severe blow to the head; may cause temporary loss of consciousness
dementia
loss in at least two areas of complex
dendrites
nerve cell processes that carries nerve cell impulses toward the cell body
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
epilepsy
seizure disorder
fissures
the deep furrows within the brain matter
frontal lobe
in the cerebral cortex it controls the motor function
gyri
convulsions in the brain
hematoma
localized clotted mass of blood formed in an organ, tissue, or space
hypothalamus
part of the diencephalon; lies below the thalamus
memory
process by which humans store information they have learned
meninges
any of three linings enclosing the brain and spinal cord
meningitis
inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord
neuron
nerve cell including its processes
nystagmus
rapid involuntary movement of the eyeball
occipital lobe
part of the cerebrum that houses the visual area
parietal lobe
the division of the cerebrum that lies beneath the parietal bone
pia mater
innermost vascular covering of the brain and spinal cord
pons
part of the brain stem
spastic quadriplegia
spastic paralysis of all four limbs
sulci
fissures or grooves separating cerebral convulsions
synapse
space between adjacent neurons through which an impulse is transmitted
thalamus
part of the diencephalon; relays sensory stimuli to the cerebral cortex
West Nile Virus
a mosquito borne virus
Alzheimer’s disease
progressive disease with degeneration of nerve endings in the cortex of the brain that block the signals that pass between nerve cells
associative neuron
carries messages from sensory neuron to motor neuron; also called interneuron
autonomic nervous system
collection of nerves, ganglia, and plexuses through which visceral organs, heart, blood vessels, glands, and smooth muscle receive stimulation
blood-brain barrier
choroid plexus capillaries in the brain differ in their selective permeability, thus drugs carried in the blood stream are not able to penetrate the brain tissue
central nervous system
consists of the structures of the brain and spinal cord
cerebral aqueduct
a narrow canal connecting the third and fourth ventricles of the brain
cerebral cortex
a layer of gray matter covering the upper and lower surfaces of the cerebrum
cerebral palsy
a disturbance in voluntary muscle action due to brain damage
cerebral ventricles
four lined cavities within the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid; also called lateral ventricles
cerebrospinal fluid
a substance that forms within the four brain ventricles from the blood vessels of the choroid plexus; this serves as a shock absorber to protect the brain and spinal cord
diencephalon
posterior part of the brain; contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland
dura mater
fibrous membrane forming the outermost covering of the brain and spinal cord
essential tremor
a nerve disorder causing tremors to occur in a person who is moving or trying to move; not usually associated with Parkinson’s disease
fourth ventricle
a structure of the brain situated below the third ventricle, in front of the cerebellum and behind the pons and medulla oblongata
glial cell
nerve cell, sometimes referred to as nerve glue, also known as neuroglial cell
hydrocephalus
increase in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid within the cerebral ventricles; may occur in fetal development
interventricular foramen
the area that connects the third ventricle of the brain to the two lateral ventricles
limbic lobe
located in the center of the brain beneath the other four cerebral lobes; influences unconscious instinctive behavior
lumbar puncture
removal of cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic purposes by insertion of a needle between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae
medulla oblongata
part of the brain stem; contains the nuclei for vital functions
membrane excitability
ability of nerves to carry impulses by creating electric charges
motor neuron
carries messages from the brain and spinal chord to muscles and glands; also called efferent neuron
multiple sclerosis
chronic inflammatory disease in which the immune cells attack the myelin sheath of a nerve
myelin sheath
layers of cell membrane that wrap around nerve fibers, providing electrical insulation and increase in the velocity of the velocity of impulse transmission
neurolgia
a network of cells that insulate, support and protect the nerves of the central nervous system; also called glial cells
neurotransmitter
a chemical substance that makes it possible for messages to cross the synapse of a neuron to a target receptor
paraplegia
paralysis of the lower extremities caused by severe injury to the spinal cord i the thoracic or lumbar region, resulting in the loss of sensory or motor control below the area of injury
Parkinson’s disease
condition characterized by marked tremors; may be to to a decrease in the amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine
peripheral nervous system
made up of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves
poliomyelitis
disease of the nerve pathways of the spinal cord; rarely seen because of the polio vaccine
quadriplegia
follows severe trauma to the spinal cord below the C1-C4 vertebrae in which there is loss of movement in all four extremities with accompanying loss of bowel, bladder, and sexual function
sensory neuron
nerve that carries nerve impulses from the periphery to the central nervous system; also known as afferent neuron
spinal cord
part of the central nervous system within the spinal column; begins at the foramen magnum of occipital bone and continues to the second lumbar vertebrae
synaptic cleft
space between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another
temporal lobe
part of the cerebral hemisphere associated with the perception and interpretation of sound
third ventricle
a cavity within the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid; located behind and below the lateral ventricles
neurotransmitter
a chemical substance that makes it possible for messages to cross the synapse of a neuron to a target receptor
brain tumor
a mass or growth of abnormal cells in the brain