Nervous System - Vocabulary

Question 1

acetylcholine (ACh)

Answer 1

Cholinergic neurotransmitter

Question 2

amnesia

Answer 2

condition of lack of memory

Question 3

amyotrophic lateral schlerosis (ALS)

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

anencephaly

Answer 4

congenital condition in which there is a lack of development in the brain

Question 5

aphagia

Answer 5

lack of ability to eat or swallow

Question 6

apraxia

Answer 6

lack of ability to use objects properly; inability to perform motor tasks or ADL’s

Question 7

asthenia

Answer 7

loss or lack of strength

Question 8

ataxia

Answer 8

lack of order; lack of coordination of muscle movement

Question 9

bradykinesia

Answer 9

abnormal slowness of motion

Question 10

cephalalgia

Answer 10

headache

Question 11

cerebral palsy (CP)

Answer 11

disorder of movement and posture

Question 12

concussion

Answer 12

head injury with a transient loss of brain function

Question 13

craniectomy

Answer 13

surgical excision of a portion of the skull

Question 14

dyslexia

Answer 14

condition in which an individual has difficulty in reading and comprehending written language

Question 15

encephalitis

Answer 15

inflammation of the brain

Question 16

endorphins

Answer 16

chemical substances produced in the brain that act as natural analgesics and provide feelings of pleasure

Question 17

hemiparesis

Answer 17

weakness on one side of the body

Question 18

hemiplegia

Answer 18

paralysis of one half of the body when its divided along the median sagittal plane

Question 19

quadriplegia

Answer 19

complete paralysis of the upper extremities and lower part of the body.

Question 20

paraplegia

Answer 20

paralysis of the lower part of the body

Question 21

hydrocephalus

Answer 21

condition in which there is an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain

Question 22

hypnosis

Answer 22

artificially induced trancelike state

Question 23

meningitis

Answer 23

inflammation of the meninges of the spinal cord or brain.

Question 24

narcolepsy

Answer 24

chronic condition with recurrent attacks of uncontrollable drowsiness and sleep

Question 25

neuralgia

Answer 25

pain in a nerve

Question 26

neurilemma

Answer 26

thin membranous sheath that envelops a nerve fiber; also called the sheath of Schwann or neurolemma

Question 27

neuroglia

Answer 27

supporting or connective tissue cells of the central nervous system

Question 28

neurotransmitter

Answer 28

chemical substances such as dopamine and acetylcholine transmitted across a synapse that transmits a signal between two neurons

Question 29

oligodendroglioma

Answer 29

malignant tumor derived and composed of oligodendroglioma

Question 30

Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 30

progressive neurological disorder caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls movement

Question 31

pheochromocytoma

Answer 31

chromaffin cell tumor of the adrenal medulla

Question 32

receptor

Answer 32

sensory nerve ending that receives and relays responses to stimuli

Question 33

stroke

Answer 33

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

Question 34

transient ischemic attack TIA

Answer 34

temporary interference in the blood supply to the brain; sometimes referred to as ministroke

Question 35

syncope

Answer 35

fainting

Question 36

tactile

Answer 36

p. to sense of touch

Question 37

vagotomy

Answer 37

surgical incision of the vagus nerve

Question 38

computed tomography CT

Answer 38

procedure used to study the structure of the brain

Question 39

lumbar puncture LP

Answer 39

insertion of a needle into the lumbar for removal of spinal fluid

Question 40

myelogram

Answer 40

x-ray of the spinal canal after the injection of a radiopaque dye

Question 41

positron emission tomography PET

Answer 41

nuclear imaging procedure that can produce three dimensional pictures of actual organ functioning