Nervous System & Mental Health Flashcards
cerebr/o encephal/o
brain
coordinates all body activities by receiving and transmitting message throughout the body
myel/o
spinal cord
transmits nerve impulses between the brain, arms and legs, and lower part of the body
neur/i neur/o
nerves
receive and transmit messages to and from all parts of the body
sensory organs and receptors
receive external stimulation and transmit these stimuli to the sensory neurons
cas/o
burning or burn
cerebr/o
cerebrum or brain
concuss/o
shaken together, violently agitated
contus/o
bruise
encephal/o
brain
-esthesia
sensation, feeling
esthet/o
feeling, nervous sensation, sense of perception
-graphy
the process of producing a picture or record
mening/o
membranes, meninges
myel/o
spinal cord or bone marrow
neur/i, neur/o
nerve or nerve tissue
phobia
abnormal fear
psych/o
mind
radicul/o
root or nerve root
-tropic
having an affinity for
acrophobia
an excessive fear of heights
Alzheimer’s disease
a group of disorders involving the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. It’s the leading cause of dementia and is marked by progressive deterioration that affects memory and reasoning capabilities
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
a rapidly progressive neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles, resulting in complete paralysis and death; also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease
anesthetic
medication used to induce anesthesia
anesthetist
a medical professional who specializes in administering anesthesia but is not a physician
anorexia nervosa
a false perception of body appearance which leads to an intense of gaining weight and inability to maintain a healthy body weight
anxiety disorders
mental conditions characterized by excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations or fear that is out of proportion to the real danger in a situation
autism
a subgroup of autistic spectrum disorders. Children with autism have significant developmental delays, including speech and language, with most having very minimal verbal skills and lacking normal social relationships
Bell’s palsy
temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve that causes paralysis only on the affected side of the face
carotid ultrasonography
an ultrasound study of the carotid artery to detect plaque buildup in the artery to predict or diagnose an ischemic stroke
causalgia
persistent, severe burning pain that usually follows an injury to a sensory nerve
cerebral contusion
bruising of brain tissue as a result of a head injury that causes the brain to bounce against the rigid bone of the skull
cerebral palsy
a condition characterized by poor muscle control, spasticity, speech defects, and other neurologic deficiencies
cerebrovascular accident
damage to the brain that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted; also known as a stroke
cervical radiculopathy
nerve pain caused by pressure on the spinal nerve roots in the neck region
claustrophobia
an abnormal fear of being in small or enclosed spaces
cognition
the mental activities associated with thinking, learning and memory
coma
a deep state of unconsciousness marked by the absence of spontaneous eye movement, no response to painful stimuli, and the lack of speech
concussion
a violent shaking up or jarring of the brain that may result in a temporary loss of awareness and function
cranial hematoma
a collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain
delirium
an acute condition of confusion, disorientation, disordered thinking and memory, agitation, and hallucinations
delirium tremens
a disorder involving sudden and severe mental changes or seizures caused by abruptly stopping the use of alcohol
delusion
a false personal belief that is maintained despite obvious proof or evidence to the contrary
dementia
a slowly progressive decline in mental abilities–including memory, thinking, and judgement–that is often accompanied by personality changes
dura mater
the tick, tough, outermost membrane of the meninges
dyslexia
a learning disability characterized by substandard reading achievement due to the inability of the brain to process symbols; also known as a developmental reading disorder
echoencephalography
the use of ultrasound imaging to create a detailed visual image of the brain for diagnostic purposes
electroencephalography
the process of recording the electrical activity of the brain through the use of electrodes attached to the scalp
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
epidural anesthesia
regional anesthesia produced by injecting a local anesthetic into the epidural space of the lumbar or sacral region of the spine
epilepsy
a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent episodes of seizures of varying severities
factitious disorder
a condition in which a person acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when he or she is not really sick
Guillain-Barré syndrome
inflammation of the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves, characterized by rapidly worsening muscle weakness that may lead to temporary paralysis; also known as infectious polyneuritis
hallucination
a sensory perception (sight, touch, sound smell, or taste) experienced in the absence of an external stimulation
hemorrhagic stroke
occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures; also known as a bleed
hydrocephalus
a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain
hyperesthesia
a condition of abnormal and excessive sensitivity to touch, pain or other sensory stimuli
ischemic stroke
a type of stroke that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked by the narrowing or blockage of a carotid artery
lethargy
a lowered level of consciousness marked by listlessness, drowsiness, and apathy
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges of the brain or spinal cord
meningocele
the congenital herniation of the meninges that surround the brain or spinal cord through a defect in the skull or spinal column
migraine headache
a headache that is characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head and is sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound
multiple sclerosis
a progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation that causes demyelination of the myelin sheath, resulting in scarring of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves
myelitis
inflammation of the spinal cord; also inflammation of bone marrow
myelography
a radiographic study of the spinal cord after the injection of a contrast medium through a lumbar puncture
narcolepsy
a sleep disorder consisting of sudden and uncontrollable brief episodes of falling asleep during the day
neurotransmitters
chemical substances that make it possible for messages to cross from the synapse of a neuron to the target receptor
obsessive-compulsive disorder
an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent thoughts or impulses that are repetitive, intrusive, and distressing
panic attack
an unexpected, sudden experience of fear in the absence of danger, accompanied by physical symptoms, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, sweating, nausea, feelings of unreality, and/or choking sensations
paresthesia
a burning or prickling sensation that is usually felt in the hands, arms, legs, or feet, but can also occur in other parts of the body
Parkinson’s disease
a chronic, degenerative central nervous system disorder characterized by fine muscle tremors, rigidity, and a slow or shuffling gait caused by inadequate levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain
peripheral neuropathy
a disorder of the peripheral nerve that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord, producing pain, the loss of sensation, and the inability to control muscles
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
a disorder that may develop after an event involving actual or threatened death or injury to the individual or someone else, during which the person felt intense ear, helplessness, or horror with symptoms including emotional numbing, hyperarousal, anxiety, sleep disorders, and persistent reliving of the event.
Reye’s syndrome
a potentially serious or deadly disorder in children that is characterized by vomiting and confusion; sometimes follows a viral illness in which the child was treated with aspirin
schizophrenia
a psychotic disorder usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patters of thinking, delusions and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances
sciatica
inflammation of the sciatic nerve
seizure
a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain that affects how a person feels or acts for a short time
shaken baby syndrome
the results when a child has been violently shaken by someone; can cause brain injury, blindness, fractures, seizures, paralysis and death
syncope
the brief loss of consciousness caused by the decreased flow of blood to the brain; also known as fainting
trigeminal neuralgia
a condition characterized by severe lightning-like pain due to an inflammation of the fifth cranial nerve; affects the cheek, lips, and gums on the side of the face innervated by the affected nerve
functions of the nervous system
the nervous system, with the brain as its center, coordinates and controls all bodily activities. When the brain ceases functioning, the body is no longer able to live on its own
structures of the nervous system
the major structures of the nervous system are the nerves, brain, spinal cord, and sensory organs. The sensory organs, which are the eyes, ears, nose, skin and tongue, are discussed in other chapters.
Divisions of the nervous system
central and peripheral nervous systems
central nervous system (CNS)
includes the brain and spinal cord. The functions of the central nervous system are to receive and process information and to regulate all bodily activity
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
includes the 12 pairs of cranial nerves extending from the brain and the 31 pairs of peripheral spinal nerves extending outward from the spinal cord. The function of the peripheral nervous system is to transmit nerve signals to and from the central nervous system
nerve
is one or more bundles of neurons that connect the brain and spinal cord with other parts of the body
tract
is a bundle or group of nerve fibers located within the brain or spinal cord
ascending nerve tracts
carry nerve impulses toward the brain
descending nerve tracts
carry nerve impulses away from the brain
ganglion
is a nerve center made up of a cluster of nerve cell bodies outside the central nervous system (plural, ganglia or ganglions) also describes benign, tumor-like cyst
innervation
means the supply of nerves to a specific body part
plexus
is a network of intersecting spinal nerves (plural, plexuses). The term also describes a network of intersecting blood or lymphatic vessels
receptors
are sites in the sensory organs (eyes, ears, skin, nose, and taste buds) that receive external stimulation. The receptors send the stimulus through the sensory neurons to the brain for interpretation
stimulus
is anything that excites (activates) a nerve and causes an impulse (plural, stimuli)
impulse
is a wave of excitation transmitted through nerve fibers and neurons
reflex
is an automatic, involuntary response to some change, either inside or outside of the body
examples of reflex actions include:
-changes in the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure
-coughing and sneezing
-responses to painful stimuli
-deep tendon reflexes
neurons
are the basic cells of the nervous system that allow different parts of the body to communicate with each other
brain waves
the body has billions of neurons carrying nerve impulses throughout the body via an electrochemical process. In the brain, this process creates patterns of neuron electrical activity known as brain waves. Different types of brain waves are produced during periods of intense activity, rest, and sleep
three types of neurons
A-C-E will help remember names
S-A-M will help remember their functions
Afferent neurons
also known as sensory neurons, these neurons emerge from sensory organs and the skin to carry the impulses from the sensory organs toward the brain and spinal cord
afferent
means toward
connecting neurons
also known as associative neurons, these neurons link afferent and efferent neurons
efferent neurons
also known as motor neurons, these neurons carry impulses away from the brain and spinal cord and toward muscles and glands
neuron parts
each neuron consists of a cell body, several dendrites, a single axon, and terminal end fibers
dendrites
are the root-like processes that receive impulses and conduct them to the cell body. A process is a structure that extends out from the cell body
axon
is a process that conducts impulses away from the nerve cell. An axon can be more than 3 feet long. Many, but not all, axons are protected by a myelin sheath, which is a white fatty tissue covering
terminal end fibers
are the branching fibers at the end of the axon that lead the nerve impulse from the axon to the synapse
synapse
is the space between two neurons or between a neuron and a receptor organ. A single neuron can have a few or several hundred synapses
neurotransmitter
are chemical substances that make it possible for messages to cross from the synapse of a neuron to the target receptor. There are between 200 and 300 known neurotransmitters, and each has a specialized function.
neurotransmitters and their roles
-acetylcholine
-dopamine
-endorphines
-norepinephrine
-serotonin
acetylcholine
is released at some synapses in the spinal cord and at neuromuscular junctions; it influences muscle action
dopamine
is released within the brain. An excess of dopamine is associated with schizophrenia, mood and thought disorders and in abnormal movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease
Endorphins
are naturally occurring substances that are produced by the brain to help relieve pain
norepinephrine
affects alertness and arousal, increasing blood pressure and heart rate, and releasing stores of glucose in response to stress. It is also a hormone released by the adrenal gland as part of the body’s fight-or-flight response
serotonin
which is released in the brain, has roles in sleep, hunger, and pleasure recognition. It is also sometimes linked to mood disorders
Glial cells
provide support and protection for neurons, and their four main functions are:
1. to surround neurons and hold them in place
2. to supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons
3. to insulate one neuron from another
4. to destroy and remove dead neurons
myelin sheath
is the protective covering made up of glial cells. This white sheath forms the white matter of the brain and covers some parts of the spinal cord and the axon of most peripheral nerves
white matter
the portion of the nerve fibers that are myelinated are known as white matter
myelinated
means having a myelin sheath. It is the color of this covering that makes these fibers white
gray matter
the portions of the nerve fibers that are unmyelinated are known as gray matter.
unmyelinated
means lacking a myelin sheath. The lack of the myelin sheath reveals the brownish-gray color of the cortex of the cerebrum and cerebellum, and the core of the spinal cord
central nervous system
is made up of the brain and spinal cord. These structures are protected externally by the bones of the cranium and the vertebrae of the spinal column. Within these bony structures, the brain and spinal cord are furthering protected by the meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid
meninges
are the system of membranes that enclose the brain and spinal cord (singular, meninx). The meninges consist of three layers of connective tissue. These are the dura mater, the arachnoid membrane, and the pia mater
dura mater
is the thick, tough, outermost membrane of the meninges. Dura means hard, and mater means mother
-the inner surface of the cranium is lined with the dura mater
-the inner surface of the vertebral column is known as the epidural space. This space, which is located between the walls of the vertebral column and the dura mater of the meninges, contains fat and supportive connective tissues to cushion the dura mater
-In both the skull and vertebral column, the subdural space is located between the dura mater and the arachnoid membrane
arachnoid membrane
which resembles a spider web, is the second layer of the meninges and is located between the dura mater and the pia mater. Arachnoid means having to do with spiders
-the arachnoid membrane is loosely attached to the other meninges to allow space for fluid to flow between the layers
-the subarachnoid space, which is located below the arachnoid membrane and above the pia mater, contains cerebrospinal fluid
pia mater
which is the third layer of the meninges, is located nearest to the brain and spinal cord. It consists of delicate connective tissue that contains a rich supply of blood vessels
pia
means tender or delicate
mater
means mother
cerebrospinal fluid
also known as spinal fluid, is produced by special capillaries within the four ventricles located in the middle region of the cerebrum. Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear, colorless, watery fluid that flows throughout the brain and around the spinal cord. The functions of this fluid are to:
-cool and cushion these organs from shock or injury
-nourish the brain and spinal cord by transporting nutrients and chemical messengers to these tissues
cerebrum
the largest and uppermost part of the brain, consists of four lobes
-controls the highest level of thought, including judgment, memory, association, and critical thinking. It also processes sensations and controls all voluntary muscle activity
thalamus
is located below the cerebrum
-relays sensory stimuli from the spinal cord and midbrain to the cerebral cortex. The thalamus suppresses some stimuli and magnifies other
hypothalamus
is located below the thalamus
-controls vital bodily functions
celebellum
is located in the lower back of the cranium below the cerebrum
-coordinates muscular activity and balance for smooth and steady movements
brainstem
is located in the base of the brain and forms the connection between the brain and spinal cord. It consists of the:
mainbrain
pons
medulla oblongata
controls the functions necessary for survival (breathing, digestion, heart hate, and blood pressure) and for the arousal (being awake and alert)
cerebrum
is the largest and uppermost portion of the brain. It is responsible for all thought, judgment, memory, and emotion, as well as for controlling and integrating motor and sensory functions. Note that cerebrum and cerebellum are similar words but refer to very different parts of the brain.
cerebral
means pertaining to the cerebrum or to the brain
cerebr
brain
cerebral cortex
which is made up of gray matter, is the outer layer of the cerebrum and is made up of elevated folds and deep fissures
gyri
are the elevated folds of gray matter in the cerebral cortex (singular, gyrus)
sulci
are the fissures of the cerebral cortex (singular, sulcus). As used here, a fissure is a normally occurring deep groove. Skin fissures, which are crack-like sores
cerebral hemisphers
the cerebrum is divided to create two cerebral hemispheres that are connected at the lower midpoint by the corpus callosum
left cerebral hemisphere
controls the majority of functions on the right side of the body. An injury to the let hemisphere produces sensory and motor deficits on the right side of the body
right cerebral hemisphere
controls most of the functions on the left side of the body. An injury to the right hemisphere produces sensory and motor deficits on the left side of the body
-the crossing of nerve fibers that makes this arrangement possible occurs in the brainstem
cerebral lobes
each cerebral hemisphere is subdivided to create pairs of cerebral lobes. Each lobe is named for the bone of the cranium that it covers
frontal lobe
controls skilled motor functions, memory, and behavior
parietal lobe
receives and interprets nerve impulses from sensory receptors in the tongue, skin, and muscles
occipital lobe
controls eyesight
temporal lobe
controls the senses of hearing and smell, and the ability to create, store, and access new information
hypothalamus
is located below the thalamus. The seven major regulatory functions of the hypothalamus
regulatory functions of the hypothalamus
- regulates and integrates the autonomic nervous system, including controlling heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and digestive tract activity
- regulates emotional responses, including fear and pleasure
- regulates body temperature
- regulates food intake by controlling hunger sensations
- regulates water balance by controlling thirst sensations
- regulates sleep-wakefulness cycles
- regulates the pituitary gland and endocrine system activity
cerebellum
is the second-largest part of the brain. It is located at the back of the head below the posterior portion of the cerebrum.
-the cerebellum receives incoming messages regarding movement within joints, muscle tone, and positions of the body. From here, messages are relayed to the different parts of the brain that control the motions of skeletal muscles
-general functions of the cerebellum are to produce smooth and coordinated movements, to maintain equilibrium, and to sustain normal postures
brainstem
is the stalk-like portion of the brain that connects the cerebral hemispheres with the spinal cord. It is made up of three parts: the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata
midbrain and pons
provide conduction pathways to and from the higher and lower centers in the brain. They also control reflexes for movements of the eyes and head in response to visual and auditory stimuli. Pons is the Latin word for bridge
medulla oblongata
which is located at the lowest part of the brainstem, is connected to the spinal cord. It controls basic survival functions, including the muscles that make possible respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure, as well as reflexes for coughing, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting
spinal cord
is a long, fragile, tube-like structure that begins at the end of the brainstem and continues down almost to the bottom of the spinal column
-the spinal cord contains all of the nerves that affect the limbs and lower part of the body, and serves as the pathway for impulses traveling to and from the brain
-the spinal cord is surrounded and protected by cerebrospinal fluid and the meninges
peripheral nervous system
consists of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves that extend from the brain, plus 31 pairs of spinal nerves that extend from the spinal cord.
Peripheral
means pertaining to the body parts that are away from the center of the body
three types of specialized peripheral nerves transmit signals to and from the central nervous system.
These are autonomic, sensory, and somatic nerve fibers.
autonomic nerve fibers
carry instructions to the organs and glands from the autonomic nervous system
sensory nerve fibers
receive external stimuli, such as how something feels, and transmit this information to the brain where it is interpreted
somatic nerve fibers
which are also known as motor nerve fibers, convey information that controls the body’s voluntary muscular movements
cranial nerve s
the 12 pairs of cranial nerves originate from the under-surface of the brain. The two nerves of a pair are identical in function and structure, and each nerve of a pair of the body. These cranial nerves are identified by Roman numerals and are named for the area or function they serve
peripheral spinal nerves
the 31 pairs of peripheral spinal nerves are grouped together and named based on the region of the body they innervate
-within each region, the nerves are referred to by number. The cervical nerves are C1-C8, the thoracic nerves are T1-T12, the lumbar nerves are L1-L5, and the sacral nerves are S1-S5
-spinal nerves sometimes join with others to form a plexus to innervate a certain area. The lumbar plexus, is made up of the first four lumbar nerves (L1-L4) and serves the lower back
autonomic nervous system
is organized into two divisions, one comprising sympathetic nerves and the other or parasympathetic nerves. The autonomic nervous system controls the involuntary actions of the body such as the functioning of internal organs. To maintain homeostasis within the body, each division balances the activity of the other division.
Hemeostasis
is the process of maintaining the constant internal environment of the body.
sympathetic nerves
prepare the body for emergencies and stress by increasing the respiratory rate, heart rate and blood flow to muscles. These nerves become aroused as part of the fight or flight response, which is the body’s natural reaction to real or imaginary danger
parasympathetic nerves
return the body to normal after a response to stress. They also maintain normal body functions during ordinary circumstances that are not emotionally or physically stressful
anesthesiologist
is a physician who specializes in administering anesthetic agents before and during surgery
an-
means withou
esthesi
means feeling