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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 towards the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve)
  • afferent: af- (a form of ad- meaning toward)and -ferent (meaning carrying)
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3
Q

arachnoid membrane

A
  • middle layer of the 3 membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord
  • the Greek arachne means spider
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4
Q

astrocyte

A

type of glial (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 (BBB)

A
  • protective separation between the blood and brain cells

- makes it difficult for substances (ie. anticancer drugs) to penetrate capillary walls and 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 a nerve cell that contains the nucleus

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11
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

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12
Q

cerebellum

A
  • posterior part of the brain

- coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance

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13
Q

cerebral cortex

A
  • outer region of the cerebrum
  • contains sheets of nerve cells
  • grey matter of the brain
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14
Q

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

A

circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord

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15
Q

cerebrum

A
  • largest part of the brain

- responsible for VOLUNTARY MUSCULAR ACTIVITY, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory

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16
Q

cranial nerves

A

12 pairs of nerves

- carry messages to and from the brain with regards to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve)

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17
Q

dendrite

A
  • microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell

- first part to receive the nervous impulse

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18
Q

dura mater

A
  • thick, outermost layer of the meninges
    surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord
  • Latin for “hard mother”
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19
Q

efferent nerve

A
  • carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord
  • motor nerve
  • ef- (meaning away from) and -ferent (meaning to carry)
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20
Q

ependymal cell

A
  • glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord
  • helps form cerebrospinal fluid
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21
Q

sg. ganglion

pl. ganglia

A

collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system

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22
Q

glial cell (neuroglial cell)

A
  • supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses
  • ex) astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes
  • glial cells can reproduce themselves, as oppused to neurons
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23
Q

sg. gyrus

pl. gyri

A
  • sheet of nerve cells that produces 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 temperature, 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
  • nerve fibers cross over here
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26
Q

meninges

A

3 protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

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27
Q

microglial cell

A
  • phagocytic glial cell

- removes waste products from the CNS

28
Q

motor nerve

A
  • efferent nerve

- carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs

29
Q

myelin sheath

A
  • covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell
  • myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons
30
Q

nerve

A

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

31
Q

neuron

A
  • nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body

- parenchyma of the nervous system

32
Q

neurotransmitter

A
  • chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell
  • stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell
  • Ex) acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin
33
Q

oligodendroglial cell

A
  • glial cells that forms the myelin sheath covering axons

- also called oligodendrocyte

34
Q

parasympathetic nerves

A

INVOLUNTARY, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract

35
Q

parenchyma

A
  • essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system
  • includes the neurons and nerves that carry nervous impulses
  • hepatocytes = parenchymal cells of the liver
  • nephrons = some of the parenchymal tissue of the kidneys
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

sg. plexus

pl. plexuses

A
  • large, interlacing networks of nerves
  • Ex) lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial plexuses
  • from Indo-European plek meaning to weave together
39
Q

pons

A
  • part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain
  • Latin pons means bridge
  • bridge connecting various parts of the brain
40
Q

receptor

A
  • organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves
  • Ex) skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds
41
Q

sciatic nerve

A
  • extends from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot
  • sciatica is pain or inflammation along the course of the nerve
42
Q

sensory nerve

A
  • afferent nerve

- carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor

43
Q

spinal nerves

A

31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord

44
Q

sg. stimulus

pl. stimuli

A

agent of change (light, sound, touch) 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

sg. sulcus

pl. sulci

A
  • depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex

- fissure

47
Q

sympathetic nerves

A

autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions INVOLUNTARILY in times of stress

48
Q

synapse

A
  • space through which nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells
  • from the Greek synapsis, a point of contact
49
Q

thalamus

A
  • main relay centre of the brain
  • conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum
  • incoming sensory messages are relayed through the thalamus to appropriate centres in the cerebrum
  • Latin thalamus means room. Romans, who named this structure, thought this part of the brain was hallow, like a room.
50
Q

vagus nerve

A
  • 10th cranial nerve (cranial nerve X)
  • its branches reach to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach
  • Latin vagus means wandering
  • unlike other cranial nerves, it leaves the head and “wanders” into the abdominal and thoracic cavities
51
Q

ventricles of the brain

A
  • canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid

- ventricles are also found in the heart (2 lower chambers of the heart)

52
Q

absence seizure

A

form of seizure consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awareness of surroundsing

53
Q

aneurysm

A

enlarged, weakened area in an arterial wall, which may rupture, leading to hemorrhage and CVA (stroke)

54
Q

astrocytoma

A

malignant tumor of astrocytes (glial brain cells)

55
Q

aura

A

peculiar symptom or sensation occurring before the onset (prodromal) of an attack of migraine or an epileptic seizure

56
Q

dementia

A

mental decline and deterioration

57
Q

demyelination

A

destruction of myelin on axons of neurons (as in multiple sclerosis)

58
Q

dopamine

A

CNS neurotransmitter, deficient in patient with Parkinson disease

59
Q

embolus

A

clot of material that travels through the bloodstream and suddenly blocks a vessel

60
Q

gait

A

manner of walking

61
Q

ictal event

A

pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as with the convulstions of an epileptic seizure

62
Q

occlusion

A

blockage

63
Q

palliative

A

relieving symptoms but not curing them

64
Q

thymectomy

A
  • removal of the thymus gland (a lymphocyte-producing gland in the chest)
  • used as treatment for myasthenia gravis
65
Q

TIA

A

transient ischemic attack

66
Q

tic

A
  • involuntary movement of a small group of muscles, as of the face
  • characteristic of Tourette syndrome
67
Q

tonic-clonic seizure

A

major (grand mal) convulsive seizure marked by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching and jerking movements

Medical Terminology (17 decks)

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