Nervous System Vocab

Question 1

The nervous system is made up of 3 systems

Answer 1

Cns: ) Central nervous system, brain and spinal cord

Pns: Peripheral nervous system, all nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord

Ans: controls involuntary muscles and functions that occur automatically

including heartbeat, BP, intestinal contractions and gland secretions

Question 2

3 Main parts of the brain

Answer 2

Cerebrum: largest part of the brain and the center of thought and intelligence

divided into two halves (hemispheres)

each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body

Cerebellum: regulates and coordinates smooth movement, balance and coordination

Brainstem: connects the cerebrum to the spinal cord
contains structures that control breathing
heart rate and swallowing

Question 3

The Spinal Cord

Answer 3

transmits messages to the brain for interpretation

sends messages back to the body from the brain for response

controls reflex movement

Question 4

Pns

Answer 4

Cranial Nerves: 12 pairs of cranial nerves

conduct impulses between the brain and the head, neck, chest, and abdomen

control impulses for the Sensory System (smell, vision, hearing, touch, taste) pain, temperature, pressure and voluntary and involuntary muscle control

Spinal Nerves: 31 pairs of spinal nerves

carry impulses from the skin, extremities and internal body structures not supplied by cranial nerves

Question 5

Ans

Answer 5

SNS (Sympathetic Nervous System):

speeds up functions (fight-or-flight)

PNS (Parasympathetic nervous system):

slows down functions

a balance between the sympathetic and sympathetic nervous system

Question 6

Nerves

Answer 6

bundles of fibers that connect the body with the CNS

Question 7

Sensory nerves

Answer 7

carry messages about the external world to the brain (temp / pain / senses)

Question 8

Motor nerves:

Answer 8

carry messages to the muscles from the brain to produce a response

if motor nerves are damaged, paralysis can occur
easily damaged and take a long time to heal

some nerve fibers have a protective, insulating covering called a myelin sheath

Question 9

myelin sheath

Answer 9

will conduct impulses faster than fibers without the covering

Question 10

Nerve tissue is composed of two types of cells:

Answer 10

Neuroglia Cells: nourish, protect and insulate neurons

Neurons: transmit information

Question 11

Parts of Neurons

Answer 11

Dendrites: have branches that get information from other neurons and pass it on to the cell body

Nucleus: keeps the cell alive

Axon: longer extension to carry information away from the cell down to the axon terminals

Synapse: Space between each neuron

Question 12

Function of the nerves

Answer 12

to control all activities of the body by sending messages through the nerves

to interpret signals received by the sensory receptors

to coordinate the responses of the body to these signals

Question 13

Protection of the nervous system

Answer 13

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): clear fluid that circulates in the cavities of the brain and spinal cord

acts as a shock absorber

constantly being produced and reabsorbed by the blood stream

Bones of the skull and spinal column,
cranium, vertebrae

Meninges: three layer membrane surrounding the brain

Question 14

Nervous system disorders

Answer 14

Physical Impairments: can include tasks such as moving, touching, hearing, controlling bowel and bladder function

Cognitive Impairments: include tasks controlled by the mind such as thinking, reasoning, understanding, remembering, learning, reading and problem-solving

Question 15

CVA

Answer 15

Cerebral vascular accident (stroke)

Question 16

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Answer 16

temporary interruption of the blood flow to the brain

Mild stroke

Question 17

Hemiplegia

Answer 17

paralysis of one side of the body (left side or right side)

Question 18

ABI

Answer 18

Acquired brain injury: damage to brain tissue by disease, injury, medical condition or violence

Question 19

Parkinson disease

Answer 19

cells in certain parts of the brain are gradually destroyed

progressive

no cure

generally >50yrs

Question 20

Huntington’s disease

Answer 20

inherited neurological disorder

destroys brain cells and causes uncontrolled movements, emotional disturbances and cognitive losses

often appears between ages 20 – 60

No cure

Question 21

Multiple sclerosis

Answer 21

progressive neurological disease in which nerve impulses are not sent to the brain in a normal manner so function is impaired or lost

No cure

Question 22

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Answer 22

Lou Gehrig’s Disease – progressive disease where nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are gradually destroyed

neurological disorder that leads to loss of all muscle control

does not affect intelligence

generally occurs between 40 – 70yrs

Question 23

Spinal cord injuries

Answer 23

interruption in the pathway that allows communication between the brain and the rest of the body

paralysis – complete or partial loss of ability to move a body part or muscle group

always occurs down, never up

Question 24

Moving Blood clot terminology (3)

Answer 24

Thrombus: Stationary blood clot

Embolus: Blood clot that moves through the vascular system

Embolism: Moving blood clot that sticks and does damage

Question 25

Aneurysm

Answer 25

Weak artery wall

Causes bulging in the wall that can erupt ( like a bike tube)