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Medical Terminology > Nervous System > Flashcards

Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

acetylcholine

A

neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells

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2
Q

afferent nerve

A

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerves). Afferent-towards,

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3
Q

arachnoid membrane

A

middle layer or the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord

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4
Q

astrocyte

A

type of glial cell (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries

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5
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands and internal organs

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6
Q

axon

A

microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell

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7
Q

blood-brain barrier

A

protective separation between blood and brain cells. This makes it difficult such a anticancer drugs to enter brain

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8
Q

brainstem

A

posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the pons and medulla oblongata

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9
Q

cauda equina

A

collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord

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10
Q

cell body

A

part of the nerve cell that contains the nucleus

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11
Q

CNS

A

brain and spinal cord

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12
Q

cerebellum

A

posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.

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13
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

Outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

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14
Q

CSF

A

Cerebrospinal fluid–circulates through the brain and spinal cord

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15
Q

cerebrum

A

largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscle activity, vision, taste, hearing, thought, and memory

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16
Q

cranial nerves

A

Twelve paths of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain with regard to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve)

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17
Q

dendrite

A

Microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part of receive the nervous impulse.

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18
Q

dura mater

A

Thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord. “hard mother”

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19
Q

efferent nerve

A

carries messages AWAY from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve. Efferent-meaning carry AWAY

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20
Q

ependymal cell

A

Glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid.

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21
Q

ganglion

A

collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.

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22
Q

glial cell

A

Supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses. Astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, oligodendrocytes. Glial cells can reproduce themselves, as opposed to neurons

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23
Q

gyrus

A

sheet of nerve cells that produce a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution

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24
Q

hypothalamus

A

Portion of the brain beneath the thalamus. Controls sleep, appetite, body temp, and secretions from the pituitary gland

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25
medulla oblongata
Part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; verve fibers cross over here.
26
Meninges
Three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
27
microglial cells
phagocytic glial cells that remove waste products from the CNS
28
motor nerve
Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs
29
Myelin sheath
Covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cells. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.
30
Nerve
macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons and dendrites) that carry electrical impulses.
31
neuron
Nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body; parenchyma of the nervous system.
32
neurotransmitter
chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates of inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell. Examples: Acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin
33
oligodendroglial cell
Glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. Also called oligodentrocyte
34
parasympathetic nerves
involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such a heart rate, breathing, and smooth muscles.
35
parenchyma
Essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system. (neurons, nephrons, hepatocytes, ect)
36
peripheral nervous system
Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord: cranial, spinal and autonomic nerves.
37
pia mater
Thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges.
38
plexus
Large, interlacing network of nerves. (lumbosacral, cervical, brachial)
39
pons
part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum. A bridge connecting different parts of the brain.
40
receptor
Organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves. The skin, ears, and taste buds are receptors.
41
sciatic nerve
Nerve extending from the base of the spring down the thigh, lower leg, and foot. Sciatica is pain or inflammation along the course of a nerve.
42
Sensory nerve
carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve
43
spinal nerves
31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord
44
stimulus
Agent of change in the internal or external environment that evokes a response.
45
Stroma
Connective and supporting tissue of an organ. Glial cells are the stromal tissue of the brain
46
sulcus
Depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex. fissure
47
sympathetic nerves
Autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntary in times of stress.
48
synapse
Space through which nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between muscle or nerve and gland cells. (point of contact)
49
thalamus
main relay center of the brain. It conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum; incoming sensory messages are relayed through the thalamus to appropriate centers in the cerebrum.
50
vagus nerve
10th cranial nerve ; branches reach the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach.
51
ventricles of the brain
canals int he brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid. Ventricles are also found in the heart. They are the two lower chambers of the heart
52
dur/o
dura mater
53
lept/o
thin, slender
54
myel/o
spinal cord
55
neur/o
nerve
56
pont/o
pons
57
radicul/o
nerve root
58
thalam/o
thalamus
59
thec/o
sheath
60
alges/o, algesia
excessive sensitivity to pain
61
-algia
pain
62
caus/o
burning
63
comat/o
deep sleep (coma)
64
esthesi/o, -esthesia
feeling, nervous sensation
65
kines/o
movement
66
-lepsy
seizure
67
lex/o
word, phrase
68
paresis
weakness
69
-phasia
speech
70
-plegia
paralysis
71
-praxia
action
72
-sthenia
strength
73
syncop/o
to cut off, cut short
74
tax/o
order, coordination
75
hydrocephalus
abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain
76
spina bifida
congenital defects int he lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts (neural tube defect)
77
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem
78
myasthenia gravis
autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles.
79
palsy
paralysis
80
herpes zoster (shingles)
viral infection affecting peripheral nerves
81
meningitits
inflammation of the meninges

Medical Terminology (14 decks)

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