nervous system Flashcards
1
Q
a-, an-
A
absence of, without, not
2
Q
ambi-
A
both
3
Q
astro-
A
star-shaped
4
Q
bi-, bin-
A
two, twice, double
5
Q
brady-
A
slow
6
Q
dys-
A
difficult, painful, bad
7
Q
electro-
A
electric, electrical activity
8
Q
endo-
A
in, within
9
Q
epi-
A
on, upon, above
10
Q
hemi-
A
half
11
Q
hyper-
A
above, excessive
12
Q
hypo-
A
below, deficient, under
13
Q
inter-
A
between
14
Q
intra-
A
in, within
15
Q
iso-
A
same, equal
16
Q
micro-
A
small
17
Q
mono-
A
one
18
Q
pan-
A
all
19
Q
para-
A
near, beside, beyond
20
Q
poly-
A
many, much
21
Q
post-
A
after
22
Q
pre-
A
before
23
Q
quadri-
A
four
24
Q
sub-
A
below, under
25
syn-
together, joined
26
tachy-
fast, rapid
27
uni-
one
28
-al, -ar, -ic, -eal
pertaining to
29
-algia
pain
30
-asthenia
weakness
31
-cele
hernia, swelling
32
-cyte
cell
33
-ectomy
excision, surgical removal
34
-esthesia
feeling
35
-genic
creating, producing, causing
36
-gram
a record, radiographic image
37
-graph
a record, instrument used to record
38
-graphy
process of recording
39
-ia
condition, abnormal state
40
-iatry
specialty, treatment
41
-ist
specialist
42
-itis
inflammation
43
-ion
the act of
44
-kinesia
movement
45
-lemma
sheath, husk, membrane covering
46
-lepsy
seizure
47
-logist
specialist in the study of
48
-logy
study of
49
-lysis
destruction, separation, dissolution, loosening
50
-malacia
softening
51
-oma
tumor, mass
52
-osis
abnormal condition
53
-paresis
partial paralysis
54
-pathy
disease
55
-phasia
speech
56
-plasty
surgical repair
57
-plegia
paralysis
58
-rrhaphy
suture, repair
59
-sclerosis
hardening
60
-tomy
incision
61
cephal/o
head
62
cerebell/o
cerebellum
63
cerebr/o
cerebrum
64
concuss/o
shaken violently
65
crani/o
cranium (skull)
66
cry/o
cold
67
dur/o
dura mater, hard
68
encephal/o
brain
69
esthes/o
feeling
70
gangli/o, ganglion/o
ganglion
71
gli/o
glue, neuroglial tissue
72
hypn/o
sleep
73
iatr/o
physician, treatment
74
kinesi/o
movement
75
later/o
side, to one side
76
mening/o, meningi/o
meninges
77
ment/o, psych/o
mind
78
myel/o
bone marrow, spinal cord
79
narc/o
stupor, numbness, sleep
80
neur/o
nerve
81
poli/o
gray matter
82
presby/o
old age
83
radicul/o, rhiz/o
nerve root
84
spondyl/o
vertebra
85
thec/o
sheath, meninges
86
thromb/o
thrombus, clot
87
ventricul/o
ventricle
88
AD
Alzheimer's disease
89
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
90
ADHD
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
91
MS
multiple sclerosis (degenerative disease associated with hardening and loss of the myelin sheath)
92
ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
93
OCD
obsessive compulsive disorder
94
CNS
central nervous system
95
PD
parkinson's disease
96
CP
cerebral palsy
97
PET
positron emission tomography
98
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid; fluid found in the spaces of the brain and spinal cord
99
PHACO
phacoemulsification
100
CTE
chronic traumatic encephalopathy
101
PNS
peripheral nervous system
102
CVA
cerebrovascular accident; stroke
103
PTSD
post traumatic stress disorder
104
EEG
electroencephalogram (recording of electrical activity in the brain)
105
SAH
subarachnoid hemorrhage
106
EP studies
evoked potential studies
107
TIA
transient ischemic attack; stroke that resolves within 24 hours
108
LP
lumbar puncture
109
afferent nerves
nerves that carry sensory signals (nerve impulses) toward the CNS from the periphery
110
aphasia
loss of language function
111
arachnoid mater
middle layer of the meninges named for the spider-web-like trabeculae that extend between it and the pia mater
112
astrocyte
glial cell type of the CNS that provides support for neurons and maintains the blood-brain barrier
113
ataxia
inability to coordinate movements of the body resulting in poor balance and awkward movements
114
autonomic nervous system
functional division of the nervous system that is responsible for homeostatic reflexes that coordinate control of cardiac and smooth muscle, as well as glandular tissue
115
axon
single process of the neuron that caries an electrical signal (action potential) away from the cell body toward a target cell
116
axon hillock
tapering of the neuron cell body that gives rise to the axon
117
axon segment
single stretch of the axon insulated by myelin and bounded by nodes of Ranvier at either end
118
axon terminal
end of the axon, where there are usually several branches extending toward the target cell
119
axoplasm
cytoplasm of an axon, which is different in composition than the cytoplasm of the neuronal cell body
120
Babinksi sign
dorsiflexion of the foot with extension and splaying of the toes in response to the plantar reflex, normally suppressed by corticospinal input
121
bipolar
shape of a neuron with two processes extending from the neuron cell body -- the axon and one dendrite
122
blood-brain barrier
physiological barrier between the circulatory system and the central nervous system that establishes a privileged blood supply, restricting the flow of substances into the CNS
123
brain
large organ of the central nervous system, composed of white and gray matter, contained within the cranium and continuous with the spinal cord
124
brain stem
region of the adult brain that includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata and develops from the mesencephalon, metencephalon, and myelencephalon of the embryonic brain
125
Broca's area
region of the frontal lobe associated with the motor commands necessary for speech production and located only in the cerebral hemisphere responsible for language production, which is the left side in ~95% of the population.
126
Brodmann's areas
mapping of regions of the cerebral cortex based on microscopic anatomy that relates specific areas to functional differences, as described by the Brodmann in early 1900s
127
cauda equina
bundle of spinal nerve roots that descend from the lower spinal cord below the first lumbar vertebra and lie within the vertebral cavity; has the appearance of a horse's tail
128
caudate
nucleus deep in the cerebrum is part of the basal nuclei; along with the putamen, it is part of the striatum
129
central nervous system
anatomical division of the nervous system located within the cranial and vertebral cavities, namely the brain and spinal cord
130
central sulcus
surface landmark of the cerebral cortex that marks the boundary between the frontal and parietal lobes
131
cerebellum
region of the adult brain connected primarily to the pons that developed from the metencephalon (along with the pons) and is largely responsible for comparing information from the cerebrum with sensory feedback from the periphery through the spinal cord
132
cerebral cortex
outer gray matter covering the forebrain, marked by wrinkles and folds known as gyri and sulci
133
cerebral hemisphere
one half of the bilaterally symmetrical cerebrum
134
cerebrospinal fluid
circulatory medium within the CNS that is produced by ependymal cells in the choroid plexus filtering the blood
135
cerebrum
region of the adult brain that develops from the telencephalon and is responsible for higher neurological functions such as memory, emotion, and consciousness.
136
choroid plexus
specialized structure containing ependymal cells that line blood capillaries and filter blood to produce CSF in the four ventricles of the brain
137
corpus callosum
large white matter structure that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres
138
dendrite
one of many branchlike processes that extends from the neuron cell body and functions as a contact for incoming signals (synapses) from other neurons or sensory cells.
139
descending tract
central nervous system fibers carrying motor commands from the brain to the spinal cord or periphery
140
diencephalon
region of the adult brain that retains its name from embryonic development and includes the thalamus and hypothalamus
141
direct pathway
connections within the basal nuclei from the striatum to the globus pallidus internal segment and substantia nigra pars reticulata that disinhibit the thalamus to increase cortical control of movement
142
dorsal nerve root
axons entering the posterior horn of the spinal cord
143
dyspraxia
difficulty or inability to execute motor actions to plan movements when the muscles are not paralyzed
144
dura mater
tough, fibrous, outer layer of the meninges that is attached to the inner surface of the cranium and vertebral column and surrounds the entire CNS
145
efferent nerves
nerve tissue that carries impulses away from the CNS towards the peripheral that result in motor response (movement).
146
embolus
obstruction in a blood vessel such as a blood clot, fatty mass, air bubble, or other foreign matter that interrupts the flow of blood to an organ or some part of the body
147
enteric nervous system
neural tissue associated with the digestive system that is responsible for nervous control through autonomic connections
148
ependymal cell
glial cell type in the CNS responsible for producing cerebrospinal fluid
149
epithalamus
region of the diencephalon containing the pineal gland
150
fissures
a groove, natural division or elongated cleft, furrow, or tear; naturally occurring in the brain, they are also known as sulcus/sulci.
151
foramen magnum
large opening in the occipital bone of the skull through which the spinal cord emerges and the vertebral arteries enter the cranium
152
frontal lobe
region of the cerebral cortex directly beneath the frontal bone of the cranium
153
ganglion
localized collection of neuron cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
154
glial cell
one of the various types of neural tissue cells responsible for maintenance of the tissue, and largely responsible for supporting neurons.
155
gray matter
regions of the nervous system containing cell bodies of neurons with few or no myelinated axons
156
gyrus/gyri
ridge formed by convolutions on the surface of the cerebrum or cerebellum
157
hemorrhagic stroke
disruption of blood flow to the brain caused by bleeding within the cranial vault
158
hydrocephalus
an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain
159
hypothalamus
major region of the diencephalon that is responsible for coordinating autonomic and endocrine control of homeostasis
160
initial segment
first part of the axon as it emerges from the axon hillock, where the electrical signals known as action potentials are generated
161
integration
nervous system function that combines sensory perceptions and higher cognitive functions (memories, learning, emotion, etc.) to produce a response
162
ischemic stroke
disruption of blood flow to the brain because blood cannot flow through blood vessels as a result of a blockage or narrowing of the vessel.
163
kinesthesia
a person's sensation of body position, weight, and movement in space; body movement
164
lumbar puncture
procedure used to withdraw CSF from the lower lumbar region of the vertebral column that avoids the risk of damaging CNS tissue because the spinal cord ends at the upper lumbar vertebrae
165
mechanoreceptor
a sensory neuron that responds to mechanical pressure
166
medulla oblongata
the continuation of the spinal cord within the skull, forming the lowest part of the brainstem, contains the control centers for heart and lung nerve function
167
meninges
protective outer covering of the CNS composed of connective tissue
168
microglia
glial cell type in the CNS that serves as the resident component of the immune system
169
midbrain
a portion of the brainstem, positioned above the pons, also called mesencephalon, assists in motor reflexes associated with visual and auditory stimuli
170
motor nerves
peripheral, efferent, myelinated nerve tissue that stimulates muscle contraction
171
multipolar
shape of a neuron that has multiple processes-- the axon and 2+ dendrites
172
myelin
lipid-rich insulating substance surrounding the axons of many neurons, allowing for faster transmission of electrical signals
173
myelin sheath
lipid-rich layer of insulation that surrounds an axon, formed by oligodendrocytes in the CNS and Schwann cells in the PNS, facilitates the transmission of electrical signals
174
nerve
cord-like bundle of axons located in the peripheral nervous system that transmits sensory input and response output to and from the central nervous system
175
neuroglia
supportive tissue of the nervous system, including the network of branched cells in the central nervous system (astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes) and the supporting cells of the peripheral nervous system (Schwann cells and satellite cells), also called glia.
176
neuron
neural tissue cell that is primarily responsible for generating and propagating electrical signals into, within, and out of the nervous system
177
neurotransmitter
chemical that is released from a nerve cell, transmits an impulse from a nerve cell to another nerve, muscle, organ, or other tissue.
178
nociceptors
sensory neurons that respond to pain
179
node of Ranvier
gap between two myelinated regions of an axon, allowing for strengthening of the electrical signal as it propagates down the axon
180
nucleus
in the nervous system, a localized collection of neuron cell bodies that are functionally related; a "center" of neural function
181
occipital lobe
region of the cerebral cortex directly beneath the occipital bone of the cranium
182
oligodendrocyte
glial cell type in the CNS that provides the myelin insulation for axons in tracts
183
paresis
partial, incomplete paralysis (partial loss of muscle control)
184
parietal lobe
region of the cerebral cortex directly beneath the parietal bone of the cranium
185
peripheral nervous system
anatomical division of the nervous system that is largely outside the cranial and vertebral cavities, namely all parts except the brain and spinal cord.
186
pia mater
Thin, innermost membrane of the meninges that directly covers the surface of the CNS.
187
pons
Latin word meaning bridge, essential part of the brain located above the medulla, action in regulation and controls of vital functions primarily sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder control, hearing, balance (equilibrium), taste, ocular movement, facial expression and sensation.
188
process
In cells, an extension of a cell body; in the case of neurons, this includes the axon and dendrites.
189
proprioception
The sensory awareness of posture, movement, and changes in balance. Perceptual capability knowing position, weight, and resistance of objects in relation to the body.
190
response
Nervous system function that causes a target tissue (muscle or gland) to produce an event as a consequence to stimuli.
191
satellite cell
Glial cell type in the PNS that provides support for neurons in the ganglia.
192
Schwann cell
Glial cell type in the PNS that provides the myelin insulation for axons in nerves.
193
sensation
Nervous system function that receives information from the environment and translates it into the electrical signals of nervous tissue.
194
soma
In neurons, that portion of the cell that contains the nucleus; the cell body, as opposed to the cell processes (axons and dendrites).
195
somatic nervous system
Functional division of the nervous system that is concerned with conscious perception, voluntary movement, and skeletal muscle reflexes.
196
spinal cord
Organ of the central nervous system found within the vertebral cavity and connected with the periphery through spinal nerves; mediates reflex behaviors.
197
stimulus
An event in the external or internal environment that registers as activity in a sensory neuron.
198
stroke
Loss of neurological function caused by an interruption of blood flow to a region of the central nervous system.
199
subarachnoid space
Space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater that contains CSF and the fibrous connections of the arachnoid trabeculae.
200
sulcus/sulci
Groove formed by convolutions in the surface of the cerebral cortex; see fissure.
201
sympathetic nervous system
Part of the nervous system that serves to accelerate heart rate, constrict blood vessels and raise blood pressure in response to stress.
202
synapse
Narrow junction across which a chemical signal passes from neuron to the next, initiating a new electrical signal in the target cell.
203
synaptic end bulb
Swelling at the end of an axon where neurotransmitter molecules are released onto a target cell across a synapse.
204
syncope
fainting, passing out
205
temporal lobe
Region of the cerebral cortex directly beneath the temporal bone of the cranium.
206
thalamus
Major region of the diencephalon that is responsible for relaying information between the cerebrum and the hindbrain, spinal cord, and periphery.
207
thermoreceptors
Specialized neurons that respond to changes in temperature.
208
tract
Bundle of axons in the central nervous system having the same function and point of origin.
209
transient ischemic attack
Temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain in which symptoms occur rapidly but last only a short time.
210
unipolar
Shape of a neuron which has only one process that includes both the axon and dendrite.
211
ventricle
Central cavity within the brain where CSF is produced and circulates
212
visceral
pertaining to internal organs
213
Wernicke's area
Region at the posterior end of the lateral sulcus in which speech comprehension is localized.
214
white matter
Regions of the nervous system contain mostly myelinated axons, making the tissue appear white because of the high lipid content of myelin.
