Nervous System - Vocabulary Flashcards
acetylcholine (ACh)
Cholinergic neurotransmitter
amnesia
condition of lack of memory
amyotrophic lateral schlerosis (ALS)
muscular weakness, atrophy, with spasticity caused by degeneration of motor neurons of the spinal cord, medulla, and cortex; also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
anencephaly
congenital condition in which there is a lack of development in the brain
aphagia
lack of ability to eat or swallow
apraxia
lack of ability to use objects properly; inability to perform motor tasks or ADL’s
asthenia
loss or lack of strength
ataxia
lack of order; lack of coordination of muscle movement
bradykinesia
abnormal slowness of motion
cephalalgia
headache
cerebral palsy (CP)
disorder of movement and posture
concussion
head injury with a transient loss of brain function
craniectomy
surgical excision of a portion of the skull
dyslexia
condition in which an individual has difficulty in reading and comprehending written language
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
endorphins
chemical substances produced in the brain that act as natural analgesics and provide feelings of pleasure
hemiparesis
weakness on one side of the body
hemiplegia
paralysis of one half of the body when its divided along the median sagittal plane
quadriplegia
complete paralysis of the upper extremities and lower part of the body.
paraplegia
paralysis of the lower part of the body
hydrocephalus
condition in which there is an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain
hypnosis
artificially induced trancelike state
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges of the spinal cord or brain.
narcolepsy
chronic condition with recurrent attacks of uncontrollable drowsiness and sleep
neuralgia
pain in a nerve
neurilemma
thin membranous sheath that envelops a nerve fiber; also called the sheath of Schwann or neurolemma
neuroglia
supporting or connective tissue cells of the central nervous system
neurotransmitter
chemical substances such as dopamine and acetylcholine transmitted across a synapse that transmits a signal between two neurons
oligodendroglioma
malignant tumor derived and composed of oligodendroglioma
Parkinson’s Disease
progressive neurological disorder caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls movement
pheochromocytoma
chromaffin cell tumor of the adrenal medulla
receptor
sensory nerve ending that receives and relays responses to stimuli
stroke
death of focal brain tissue that occurs when the brain does not get sufficient blood and oxygen; also called CVA cerebrovascular accident or brain attack
transient ischemic attack TIA
temporary interference in the blood supply to the brain; sometimes referred to as ministroke
syncope
fainting
tactile
p. to sense of touch
vagotomy
surgical incision of the vagus nerve
computed tomography CT
procedure used to study the structure of the brain
lumbar puncture LP
insertion of a needle into the lumbar for removal of spinal fluid
myelogram
x-ray of the spinal canal after the injection of a radiopaque dye
positron emission tomography PET
nuclear imaging procedure that can produce three dimensional pictures of actual organ functioning
