Nervous system Flashcards
Process of thought—including reasoning, judgment, and perception
Cognition
Electrical signal transmitted along the nerve fiber in response to a stimulus
nerve impulse
Chemicals in the brain that transmit messages between nerve cells (neurons)
neurotransmitters
Pertaining to the outside, surface, or surrounding area of an organ or structure or occurring away from its center
peripheral
Caused by or pertaining to an injury
traumatic
Pertaining to or composed of blood vessels
vascular
vascul: vessel (usually blood or lymph)
-ar: pertaining to
is the branch of medicine concerned with diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
neurology
This system controls voluntary and involuntary movements as well as some organ and gland functioning. It also controls all processes of cognition, such as thinking, feeling, and remembering
Nervous system
This type of doctor detects, diagnoses, and treats symptoms and disorders that indicate impairment of any of these functions
neurologist
Name conditions a neurologist tends to
- vascular problems that affect the brain
- infections or inflammations of the brain or the spinal cord tissue,
- nervous tissue tumors,
- degenerative neuromuscular disorders
- traumatic brain injury
- spinal cord injury
branch of surgery involving the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord
neurosurgery
controls all critical body activities and reactions and is one of the most complex systems of the body
The nervous system
How do the nervous system and the endocrine system differ?
The endocrine system slowly releases hormones into the bloodstream, he nervous system is designed to act instantaneously by transmitting electrical impulses to specific body locations
Name functions of the nervous system
The nervous system:
* coordinates** voluntary **(conscious) activities, such as walking, talking, and eating
* controls involuntary (unconscious) functions, such as reflexes to pain, body changes related to stress, and processes related to thoughts and emotions.
The nervous system consists of two main divisions, what are they?
the central nervous system (CNS)
and
the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
What are the two main parts of the Central nervous system(CNS)?
the brain and spinal cord and is the control center of the body
Name the peripheral nerves of the PNS
- cranial nerves (emerging from the base of the skull)
- spinal nerves (emerging from the spinal cord)
What is the main function of the PNS
peripheral nervous system?
The PNS connects the CNS to remote body parts to relay and receive messages, and its autonomic nerves regulate involuntary functions of the internal organs
nervous system consists of only two principal types of cells they are
neurons and neuroglia
These are the basic structural and functional units of the nervous system that are grouped into bundles of nerves or nerve tracts that carry electrical messages throughout the body
neurons
assist in transmitting messages between neurons
neurotransmitters
perform such functions as perception of sensory stimuli, learning, memory, and control of muscles and glands.
Neurons
do not carry messages; they perform the functions of support and protection.
Neuroglia or Glial cells
- form a supporting network by twining around nerve cells or lining certain structures in the brain and the spinal cord
- Others bind nervous tissues to supporting structures and attach the neurons to their blood vessels.
- Certain small glial cells are phagocytic that protect the CNS from disease by engulfing the invading microbes, destroying them, and clearing away debris
- Neuroglia are of clinical interest because they are a common source of tumors (gliomas) of the nervous system.
neuroglial, or glial cells
cerebrum
cerebr/o
largest part of the brain containing the cerebral cortex, as well as several subcortical structures, including the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and olfactory bulb. In the human brain, the cerebrum is the uppermost region of the central nervous system. The cerebrum develops prenatally from the forebrain.
encephal/o
brain
Diencephalon
interbrain
consists of the thalamus, hypothalamus and pituatary gland
myel/o
spinal cord
medulla
medull/o
he part of your brainstem that connects your brain and spinal cord.
cerebellum
cerebell/o
lower-back part of the brain that controls most physical movements, balance, and coordination
pertaining to the brain and spine or spinal cord
cerebrospinal
cerebr/o
cerebrum
spin: spine
-al: pertaining to
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
tumor composed of neuroglial tissue which is the supportive tissue of the nervous system
gli/oma
gli/o
glue; neuroglial tissue
-oma: tumo
meningocele
herniation or saclike protrusion of the meninges through the skull or the vertibrea column
mening/o
meninges (membranes covering brain and spinal cord)
-cele: hernia, swelling
meningioma
-oma: tumor
tumor composed of meninges
myel/o
bone marrow; spinal cord
myel/algia
-algia: pain
pain of the spinal cord or its membranes
neurolysis
destruction of a nerve
neur/o: nerve
-lysis: separation; destruction; loosening
epi/lepsy
-lepsy: seizure
epi-: above, upon
seizure disorder
-phasia
speech
a/phasia
a-: without, not
without speech
dys-: bad, painful, difficult
dys/phasia
-phasia: speech
difficulty speaking or the impairment in the production of speech
paralysis of one **half **of the body, right or left
hemi/paresis
hemi-
one half
-paresis: partial paralysis
paralysis of lower both legs or lower part of the body
paraplegia
para-
near; beside; beyond
-plegia: paralysis
paralysis of all four extremities
quadri/plegia
quadri-four
-plegia: paralysis
Degenerative disorder that manifests in adulthood with symptoms of difficulty swallowing and talking, dyspnea, muscle weakness, and paralysis; also called Lou Gehrig disease
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Progressive, irreversible deterioration of mental function marked by memory impairment and, commonly, deficits in reasoning, judgment, abstract thought, comprehension, learning, task execution, and use of language
dementia
Chronic, organic brain syndrome characterized by death of neurons in the cerebral cortex and their replacement by microscopic “plaques,” resulting in dementia that progresses to complete loss of mental, emotional, and physical functioning and personality changes; also called cerebral degeneration
Alzheimer disease
Inherited, degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with symptoms developing in middle age as nerve cells in the brain waste away, resulting in uncontrolled bizarre movements, emotional disturbances, and mental deterioration; also called neurodegenerative genetic disorder
Huntington chorea
Excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricles of the brain that is most common in neonates, but can also occur in adults as a result of injury or disease; if left untreated, causes an enlarged head and cognitive decline
hydrocephalus
hydro: water
cephal: head
-us: condition, structure
Progressive degenerative disease of the CNS, which is characterized by inflammation, hardening, and loss of myelin throughout the spinal cord and brain and produces weakness and other muscular symptoms
multiple sclerosis (MS)
scler: hardening; sclera (white of eye)
-osis: abnormal condition; increase (used primarily with blood cells)
Malignant tumor composed mainly of cells resembling neuroblasts that occurs most commonly in infants and children
neuroblastoma
neur/o: nerve
blast: embryonic cell
-oma: tumor
Nonpsychotic mental illness that triggers feelings of distress and anxiety and impairs normal behavior
neurosis
neur/o: nerve
-osis: abnormal condition; increase (used primarily with blood cells)
Partial or complete loss of motor function; also called paralysis
palsy
Facial paralysis on one side of the face as a result of inflammation of a facial nerve; also called facial nerve palsy
Bells Palsy
Bilateral, symmetrical, nonprogressive motor dysfunction and partial paralysis, which is usually caused by damage to the cerebrum during gestation or birth trauma but can also be hereditary
cerebral palsy
cerebr: cerebrum
-al: pertaining to
Loss of muscle function, loss of sensation, or both as a result of spinal cord injury
paralysis
para-: near, beside; beyond
-lysis: separation; destruction; loosening
Progressive neurological disorder caused by neurotransmitter deficiency of dopamine that results in motor disturbances and other characteristics
Parkinson disease
Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord caused by a virus, commonly resulting in spinal and muscle deformity and paralysis
poliomyelitis
poli/o: gray; gray matter (of brain or spinal cord)
myel: bone marrow; spinal cord
-itis: inflammation
Mental disorder marked by loss of contact with reality; often with delusions and hallucinations
psychosis
psych/o: mind
-osis: abnormal condition; increase (used primarily with blood cells)
Severe pain in the leg along the course of the sciatic nerve, which travels from the hip to the foot
sciatica
Chronic viral disease in which painful blisters appear on the skin along the course of a peripheral nerve and is caused by inflammation secondary to herpes zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox; also called herpes zoster
shingles
Congenital neural tube defect characterized by incomplete closure of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord and meninges may or may not protrude
spina bifida
Most common and least severe form of spina bifida without protrusion of the spinal cord or meninges
spina bifida occulta
More severe type of spina bifida that involves protrusion of the meninges (meningocele), spinal cord (myelocele), or both (meningomyelocele)
spina bifida cystica
Inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to the brain caused by a clot or ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhage), allowing the brain tissue to die; it is a medical emergency; also called cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
stroke
Interruption in blood supply to the brain that does not cause permanent brain damage but may be an indication of a higher risk for a more serious and debilitating condition (stroke); also called ministroke
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
ischem: to hold back, block
-ic: pertaining to
