Nervous: Vocabulary Flashcards
cerebrum
largest part of the brain
Functions: thinking (thought), speech, sensations (vision, taste, hearing), movements (muscle activity), memory
thalamus
main relay center of the brain that conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum
Function(s): triage center for incoming sensory impulses to the cerebrum; controls awareness and consciousness
hypothalamus
portion of the brain beneath the thalalmus
Function(s): controls body temp, sleep, appetite, sexual desire, emotions; controls pituitary gland
cerebellum
Function(s) coordination of voluntary movements and balance
pons and midbrain
Function(s): connection of nerve and nerve fiber pathways including those to the eyes and face
medulla oblongata
part of the brain just above the spinal cord
Function(s): nerve fibers cross over, left to right and right to left; contains centers to regulate heart , blood vessels (vasomotor), and respiratory system
acetylcholine
neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells
afferent nerve
carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve)
arachnoid membrane
middle layer of the 3 membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord
astrocyte
type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
nerves that control involuntary body functions of the muscles, glands and internal organs
axon
microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell
blood-brain barrier
protective separation between the blood and brain cells
brainstem
posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata
cauda equina
collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord
cell body
part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
cerebellum
posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance
cerebral cortex
outer region of the cerebrum containing sheets of nerve cells; gray mater of the brain
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord
cranial nerves
12 pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain with regard to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve)
dendrite
microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse
dura mater
thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord
efferent nerve
carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve.
ependymal cell
glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid
ganglion (plural: ganglia)
collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
glial cell (neuroglial cell)
supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses and can reproduce themselves
gyrus (plural: gyri)
sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex
meninges
3 protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
microglial cell
phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system
midbrain
uppermost portion of the brainstem
motor nerve
carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve
myelin sheath
covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell and speeds impulse conduction along axons
nerve
macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons and dendrites) that carry electrical impulses
neuron
nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body; parenchyma of the nervous system
neurotransmitter
chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell that can stimulate or inhibit another nerve, muscle or gland cell
oligodendroglial cell
glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons; oligondendrocyte
parasympathetic nerves
involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the GI tract
parenchyma
essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system
peripheral nervous system
nerves outside the brain and spinal cord including cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves
pia mater
thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges
plexus (plural: plexuses)
large, interlacing network of nerves; examples lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial
pons
part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the brain that acts as a bridge connecting various parts of the brain
receptor
organ that receives nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves; examples skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds
sciatic nerve
nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot.
sciatica
pain or inflammation along the course of the sciatic nerve
sensory nerve
carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve
spinal nerves
31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord
stimulus (plural: stimuli)
agent of change (light, sound, touch, pressure and pain) in the internal or external environment that evokes a response
stroma
connective and supporting tissue of an organ
sulcus (plural: sulci)
depression or groove in the survace of the cerebral cortex; fissure
sympathetic nerves
autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress
synapse
space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells
vagus nerve
10th cranial nerve that branches out to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach
ventricles of the brain
canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid
hydrocephalus
abnormal accumulation of CSF in the brain
spina bifida
congenital defects in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts
alzheimer’s
brain disorder marked by gradual and progressive mental deterioration, personality changes, and impairment of daily functioning
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem; lou gehrig’s
epilepsy
chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity
tonic-clonic seizures
sudden loss of consciousness, falling down, and then tonic contractions (muscle stiffening) followed by clonic contractions (twitching and jerking limb movements); grand mal, ictal events
aura
peculiar sensation such as dizziness, numbness, visual, or olfactory disturbances
absence seizures
momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awareness of the person’s surroundings; petit mal seizures in kids
temporal lob epilepsy
seizures beginning in the temporal lobe
complex partial seizure
causes a pause, then confusion, and memory problems; generalized impaired consciousness
huntington disease
hereditary disorder marked by degenerative changes in the cerebrum leading to abrupt involuntary movements and mental deterioration
multiple sclerosis (MS)
destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the CNS and its replacement by plaques of sclerotic tissue
masthenia gravis (MG)
autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles due antibodies blocking acetylcholine from transmitting nervous impulses from nerve to muscle cell
palsy
paralysis (partial or complete loss of motor function)
cerebral palsy
partial paralysis and lack of muscular coordination caused by loss of oxygen or blood flow to the cerebrum during pregnancy or in the perinatal period
bells palsy
paralysis on one side of the face
parkinson disease
degeneration of neurons in the basal ganglia due to dopamine deficiency, occurring in later life and leading to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement
tourette syndrome
involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds or inappropriate words
herpes zoster (shingles)
viral infection affecting peripheral nerves and resulting in blisters and pain
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges caused by bacteria or virus; leptomeningitis
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalopathy
brain disease and dementia occurring with AIDS
brain tumor
abnormal growth of brain tissue and meninges; gliomas, meningiomas
cerebral edema
brain swelling
cerebral concussion
type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head
cerebral contusion
bruising of brain tissue resulting from direct trauma to the head
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke;
thrombotic (thrombus) - artheromatous plaque that occludes
embolic (embolus) - dislodged thrombus that travels to cerebral arteries
hemorrhagic - blood vessel breaks and bleeds
aneurysm
weakened area in a vessel wall that balloons and may eventually burst
migraine
severe, recurring, unilateral, vascular headache
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
short period of neurologic dysfunction due to a partial arterial blockage which precedes a stroke
astrocytoma
malignant tumor of astrocytes (glial brain cells)
dopamine
CNS neurotransmitter
gait
manner of walking
ictal event
pertaining to a sudden, acute onset (seizures)
occlusion
blockage
palliative
relieving symptoms but not curing them
thymectomy
removal of the thymus gland which produces lymphocytes; treatment for myasthenia gravis
tic
involuntary movement of a small group of muscles (face
cerebral angiography
x-ray imaging of the arterial blood vessels in the brain after injection of contrast material in the femoral artery
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
radioactive glucose is injected and then detected in the brain to image the metabolic activity of cells
doppler ultrasound studies
sound waves detect blood flow in the carotid and intracranial arteries
electroencephalography (EEG)
recording of the electrical activity of the brain
lumbar puncture (LP)
CSF is withdrawn from between 2 lumbar vertebrae for analysis; spinal tap
stereotactic radiosurgery
use of a specialized instrument to locate and treat targets in the brain
