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Medical Terminology > Nervous System > Flashcards

Nervous System Flashcards

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USMLE® Step 1 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
Q

medulla oblongata

A

Part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; verve fibers cross over here.

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26
Q

Meninges

A

Three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

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27
Q

microglial cells

A

phagocytic glial cells that remove waste products from the CNS

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28
Q

motor nerve

A

Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs

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29
Q

Myelin sheath

A

Covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cells. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.

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30
Q

Nerve

A

macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons and dendrites) that carry electrical impulses.

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31
Q

neuron

A

Nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body; parenchyma of the nervous system.

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32
Q

neurotransmitter

A

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

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33
Q

oligodendroglial cell

A

Glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. Also called oligodentrocyte

34
Q

parasympathetic nerves

A

involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such a heart rate, breathing, and smooth muscles.

35
Q

parenchyma

A

Essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system. (neurons, nephrons, hepatocytes, ect)

36
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord: cranial, spinal and autonomic nerves.

37
Q

pia mater

A

Thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges.

38
Q

plexus

A

Large, interlacing network of nerves. (lumbosacral, cervical, brachial)

39
Q

pons

A

part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum. A bridge connecting different parts of the brain.

40
Q

receptor

A

Organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves. The skin, ears, and taste buds are receptors.

41
Q

sciatic nerve

A

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
Q

Sensory nerve

A

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve

43
Q

spinal nerves

A

31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord

44
Q

stimulus

A

Agent of change in the internal or external environment that evokes a response.

45
Q

Stroma

A

Connective and supporting tissue of an organ. Glial cells are the stromal tissue of the brain

46
Q

sulcus

A

Depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex. fissure

47
Q

sympathetic nerves

A

Autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntary in times of stress.

48
Q

synapse

A

Space through which nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between muscle or nerve and gland cells. (point of contact)

49
Q

thalamus

A

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
Q

vagus nerve

A

10th cranial nerve ; branches reach the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach.

51
Q

ventricles of the brain

A

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
Q

dur/o

A

dura mater

53
Q

lept/o

A

thin, slender

54
Q

myel/o

A

spinal cord

55
Q

neur/o

A

nerve

56
Q

pont/o

A

pons

57
Q

radicul/o

A

nerve root

58
Q

thalam/o

A

thalamus

59
Q

thec/o

A

sheath

60
Q

alges/o, algesia

A

excessive sensitivity to pain

61
Q

-algia

A

pain

62
Q

caus/o

A

burning

63
Q

comat/o

A

deep sleep (coma)

64
Q

esthesi/o, -esthesia

A

feeling, nervous sensation

65
Q

kines/o

A

movement

66
Q

-lepsy

A

seizure

67
Q

lex/o

A

word, phrase

68
Q

paresis

A

weakness

69
Q

-phasia

A

speech

70
Q

-plegia

A

paralysis

71
Q

-praxia

A

action

72
Q

-sthenia

A

strength

73
Q

syncop/o

A

to cut off, cut short

74
Q

tax/o

A

order, coordination

75
Q

hydrocephalus

A

abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain

76
Q

spina bifida

A

congenital defects int he lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts (neural tube defect)

77
Q

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

A

Degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem

78
Q

myasthenia gravis

A

autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles.

79
Q

palsy

A

paralysis

80
Q

herpes zoster (shingles)

A

viral infection affecting peripheral nerves

81
Q

meningitits

A

inflammation of the meninges

Medical Terminology (14 decks)

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