nervous system Flashcards
Afferent Nerve
carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord
Arachnoid Membrane
middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord
Astrocyte
type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries in the nervous system
Blood-Brain Barrier
protective separation between the blood and brain cells. Makes it difficult for substances to enter the brain
Cauda Equina
collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord
Cerebellum
posterior part of brain that coordinates muscle movements and balance
Cerebrum
largest part of brain; responsible for voluntary muscle movement, taste, smell, hearing, thought, memory, speech, vision
Cranial Nerves
nerves carry messages to and from brain to parts of head and neck and other body parts;12 pairs
Dura Mater
thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting brain and spinal cord
Efferent Nerve
carrie’s messages away from the brain and spinal cord (motor nerve)
Ependymal cell
Glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form CSF
Ganglion (ganglia)
collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
Glial cell (neuroglial cell)
supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses. can reproduce themselves: astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, oligodendrocytes
Gyrus
sheet of nerve cells that produces rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution
Medulla Oblongata
controls breathing, heart rate, and size of blood vessels; nerve fibres cross here
Hypothalamus
beneath thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temp, and pituitary secretions
Meninges
three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
Microglial cell
phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the CNS
Midbrain
uppermost portion of brain stem
Oligodendroglial cell (oligodendrocyte)
glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons
Parenchyma
essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system
Pia Mater
thin, delicate inner membrane of meninges
Plexus
large, interlacing network of nerves
Pons
bridge connecting various parts of the brain
Sciatic nerve
nerve extending from the base of the spine down to the thigh, lower leg, and foot.
Stroma
connective and supportive tissue of an organ (made of glial cells when in the brain)
Sulcus (sulci)
depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure
Thalamus
main relay centre of brain, conducts nerve impulses between spinal cord and brain
Vagus Nerve
tenth cranial nerve, branches to larynx,trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, stomach
cerebell/o
cerebellum
cerebr/o
cerebrum
dur/o
dura mater
encephal/o
brain
gli/o
glial cells
lept/o
thin, slender
mening/o
meningi/o
membranes,
meninges
my/o
muscle
myel/o
spinal cord ( or bone marrow in other context)
neur/o
nerve
pont/o
pons
radicul/o
nerve root (of spinal nerves)
thalam/o
thalamus
thec/o
sheath (refers to meninges)
vag/o
vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve)
alges/o
-algesia
sensitivity to pain
-algia
pain
caus/o
burning
comat/o
deep sleep (coma)
esthesi/o
-esthesia
feeling, nervous sensation
kines/o kinesi/o -kinesia -kinesis -kinetic
movement
-lepsy
seizure
lex/o
word, phrase
-paresis
weakness
-phasia
speech
-plegia
paralysis, impaired movement
-praxia
action
-sthenia
strength
syncop/o
to cut off, cut short
tax/o
order, coordination
Hydrocephalus
abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain
Spina Bifida
congenital defects in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts (neural tube defect)
Alzheimer’s Disease
Brain disorder marked by gradual and progressive mental deterioration (dementia), personality changes, and impairment of daily functioning
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ALS
degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain stem
Epilepsy
chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity
Huntington disease
hereditary disorder marked by degenerative changes in the cerebrum leading to abrupt involuntary movements and mental deterioration
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the CNS and it’s replacement by plaques of sclerotic (hard) tissue
Myasthenia gravis (MG)
autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles
Palsy
paralysis (partial or complete loss of motor function)
Parkinson’s disease
degeneration of neurons in the basil ganglia, occurring in later life and leading to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement
Tourette syndrome
involuntary spasmodic, twitching movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words
Herpes Zoster (shingles)
viral infection affecting peripheral nerves
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges; leptomeningitis
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) encephalopathy
Brain disease and dementia occurring with AIDS
Cerebral concussion
type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head
Cerebral contusion
bruising of brain tissue resulting from direct trauma to the head
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke
- thrombotic-blood clot in artery
- embolic- dislodged thrombus
- hemorrhagic- artery ruptures
cerebral angiography
x-ray imaging of the arterial blood vessels in the brain after injection of contrast material
computed tomography (CT) of the brain
computerized x-ray technique that generates multiple images of the brain and spinal cord
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy create images of the brain and spinal cord
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
radioactive glucose is injected and then detected in the brain to image the metabolic activity of cells
Doppler ultrasound studies
sound waves detect blood flow in the carotid and intracranial arteries
electroenchephalography (EEG)
recording of the electrical activity of the brain
lumbar puncture (LP)
CSF is withdrawn from between two lumbar vertebrae for analysis
stereotactic radiosurgery
use of specialized instrument to locate and treat targets in the brain
Absence seizure
form of seizure consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awareness of surroundings
Aneurysm
enlarged, weakened area in the arterial wall, which may rupture, leading to hemorrhage and CVA (stroke)
Astrosytoma
malignant brain tumour of astrocytes
aura
peculiar symptom or sensation occurring before the onset (prodromal) of an attack of migraine or an epileptic seizure
dementia
mental decline and deterioration
demyelination
destruction of myelin on axons of neurons (as in MS)
Embolus
clot of material that travels through the bloodstream and suddenly blocks a vessel
Gait
manner of walking
ictal event
pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as with the convulsions of an epileptic seizure
Occlusion
blockage
Palliative
relieving but not curing symptoms
thymectomy
removal of thymus gland
TIA
transient ischemic attack. occurs with strokes and characterized by limited course of neurological deficits
tonic-clonic seizure
major (grand mal) convulsive seizure marked by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching and jerking movements
