Lesson 8 Flashcards
analgesics
drugs that reduce pain
neuritis
inflammation of a nerve
plexus
a network of spinal nerves
reflex
involuntary action, automatic response
sciatica
neuritis of the sciatic nerve
stimulus
any change in the environment
Bell’s palsy
disorder that effects the facial nerve
biofeedback
a measurement of physiological responses that yields information about the relationship between the mind and the body and helps people manipulate those responses through mental activity
carpal tunnel syndrome
a condition that effects the median nerve and the flexor tendons that attach to the bones of the wrist
cranial nerves
twelve pairs of nerves that begin in the brain and transmit messages to various parts of the face and head to stimulate various functions
effectors
the responding organs to a stimulus, which may be in the form of movement
electromyography (EMG)
device used to measure electrical muscle activity
femoral nerve
found in the lumbar plexus; it stimulates the hip and leg
ganglia
a mass of nerve cell bodies outside the central nervous system
mixed nerve
nerve composed of both afferent (sesnory) fibers and efferent (motor) fibers
motor/efferent nerve
nerve fiber that carries impulses from the brain or spinal cord to muscles, organs, or glands
neuralgia
severe stabbing pain along the pathway of a nerve
parasympathetic system
division of the autonomic nervous system that inhibits or opposes the effects of the sympathetic nervous system
paresthesia
sensation of tingling, crawling, or burning of the skin
peripheral neuropathy
term used to describe damage to the peripheral nerve
phrenic nerve
nerve that controls the diaphragm and intercostal muscles
radial nerve
nerve found in the brachial plexus that stimulates the wrist and hand
receptors
sensory nerves that receive a stimulus and transmit it to the central nervous system
sciatic nerve
largest nerve in the body; originates in the sacral plexus and runs through the pelvis and down the leg
sensory/afferent nerve
nerve fibers that carry messages from the sense organs to the brain and spinal cord
somatic nervous system
a division of the peripheral nervous system; it conducts impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the skeletal muscles thereby causing responses to changes in our external environment
spinal nerves
31 pairs; they originate in the spinal cord
sympathetic system
division of autonomic nervous system
trigeminal neuralgia
painful condition affecting the fifth cranial nerve; also known as tic douloureaux
