The Nervous System and Behavioral Disorders : Key Terms Flashcards
1
Q
arachnoid mater
A
the middle layer of the meninges ; resembles a spider web
2
Q
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
A
the division of the nervous system that regulates involuntary activities, controlling smooth muscles, cardiac muscle, and glands; the visceral nervous system
3
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axon
A
the fiber of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the cell body
4
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brain
A
the nervous tissue contained within the cranium; consists of the cerebrum, diencephalon, brainstem, and cerebellum
5
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brainstem
A
the part of the brain that consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongota
6
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CNS
A
Central Nervous System: the brain and spinal cord
7
Q
cerebellum
A
the posterior portion of the brain dorsal to the pons and medulla; helps to coordinate movement and to maintain balance and posture; little brain
8
Q
cerebral cortex
A
the cerebrum’s thin surface layer of gray matter
9
Q
cerebrum
A
The large upper portion of the brain; it is divided into two hemispheres by the longitudinal fissure
10
Q
CSF
A
cerebrospinal fluid: the watery fluid that circulates in and around the brain and spinal cord for protection
11
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cranial nerves
A
the 12 pairs of nerves that are connected to the brain
12
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dendrite
A
a fiber of a neuron that conducts impulses toward the cell body
13
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diencephalon
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the part of the brain that contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland; located between the cerebrum and the brainstem
14
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dura mater
A
the strong, fibrous outermost layer of the meninges
15
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efferent
A
carrying away from a given point, such as the motor neurons and nerves that carry impulses away from the CNS
16
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ganglion
A
a collection of neuron cell bodies outside the CNS
17
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gray matter
A
unmyelinated tissues of the nervous system
18
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gyrus
A
a raised convolution of the surface of the cerebrum; plural: gyri
19
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hypothalamus
A
the part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland and maintains homeostasis
20
Q
interneuron
A
any neuron located between a sensory and a motor neuron in a neural pathway, such as the neurons that transmit impulses within the CNS
21
Q
medulla oblongata
A
the portion of the brain that connects with the spinal cord. It has vital centers for control of respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure; often called simply medulla
22
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meninges
A
the three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord
23
Q
midbrain
A
the part of the brainstem between the diencephalon and the pons; contains centers for coordination of reflexes for vision or hearing
24
Q
motor
A
producing movement; describes efferent neurons and nerves that carry impulses away from the CNS
25
myelin
a whitish, fatty substance that surrounds certain axons of the nervous system
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neuroglia
the support cells of the nervous system; also called glial cells
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neuron
the basic unit of the nervous system; a nerve cell
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neurotransmitter
a chemical that transmits energy across a synapse. Examples are norepinephrine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and dopamine
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nerve
a bundle of neuron fibers outside the CNS
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parasympathetic nervous system
the part of the automatic nervous system that reverses the response to stress and restores homeostasis. It slows heart rate and respiration rate and stimulates digestive, urinary, and reproductive activities.
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PNS
peripheral nervous system: the portion of the nervous system outside the CNS
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pia mater
the innermost layer of the meninges
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pons
a rounded area on the ventral surface of the brainstem; contains fibers that connect brain regions; adjective: pontine
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reflex
a simple, rapid and automatic response to a stimulus
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root
a branch of a spinal nerve that connects to the spinal cord; the dorsal (posterior) root joins the spinal cord's dorsal gray horn; the ventral ( anterior) root joins the spinal cord's ventral gray horn
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sensory
pertaining to the senses or sensation; describing afferent neurons and nerve that carry impulses toward the CNS
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somatic nervous system
the division of the nervous system that controls skeletal (voluntary) muscles
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spinal cord
the nervous tissue contained within the spinal column; extends from the medulla oblongota to the second lumbar vertebra
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spinal nerves
the 31 pairs of nerves that connect with the spinal cord
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sulcus
a shallow furrow or groove, as on the surface of the cerebrum; plural: sulci
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sympathetic nervous system
the part of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes a response to stress, increases heart rate and respiration rate, and delivers more blood to skeletal muscles
42
synapse
the junction between two neurons; also the junction between a motor neuron and a muscle or gland
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thalamus
the part of the brain hat receives all sensory impulses, except those for the sense of smell, and directs them to the proper portion of the cerebral cortex
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tract
a bundle of neuron fibers within the CNS
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ventricle
a small cavity, such as one of the cavities in the brain in which CSF is formed
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visceral nervous system
the autonomic nervous system
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white matter
myelinated tissue of the nervous system
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afferent
carrying toward a given point, such as the sensory neurons and nerves that carry impulses toward the CNS
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Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
a form of dementia caused by atrophy of the cerebral cortex; presenile dementia
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amyloid
a starch-like substance of unknown composition that accumulates in the brain in Alzheimer and other diseases
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aneurysm
a localized abnormal dilation of blood vessel that results from weakness of the vessel wall; may eventually burst
52
aphasia
specifically, loss or defect in speech communication. Applied more broadly to a range of language disorders, both spoken or written. May affect ability to understand speech (receptive aphasia) or the ability to produce speech (expressive aphasia). Both forms are combined in global aphasia
53
astrocytoma
a neuroglial tumor composed of astrocytes
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cerebral contusion
a bruise to the surface of the brain following a blow to the head
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cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
sudden damage to the brain resulting from reduction of cerebral blood flow; possible causes are atherosclerosis, thrombosis, or a ruptured aneurysm; aka stroke
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coma
state of deep unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused
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concussion
injury resulting from a violent blow or shock; a brain concussion usually results in loss of consciousness
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confusion
a state of reduced comprehension, coherence and reasoning ability resulting in inappropriate responses to environmental stimuli
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contrecoup onjury
damage to the brain on the side opposite of the point of blow as a results of the brain's hitting the skull
60
convulsion
a series of violent, involuntary muscle contractions. A tonic convulsion involves prolonged muscle contractions; in a clonic convulsion, there is alternation of contraction and relaxation. Both appear in grand mal epilepsy
61
dementia
a gradual and usually irreversible loss of intellectual function
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embolism
obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot or other material carried in circulation
63
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
64
epidural hematoma
accumulation of blood in the epidural space (between the dura mater and the skull)
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epilepsy
a chronic disease involving periodic sudden bursts of electric activity from the brain, resulting in seizures
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glioma
a tumor of the neuroglial cells
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hemiparesis
partial paralysis or weakness of one side of the body
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hemiplegia
paralysis of one side of the body
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hydrocephalus
increased accumulation of CSF in or around the brain as a result of obstructed flow. May be caused by tumor, inflammation, hemorrhage, congenital abnormality.
70
insomnia
insufficient or non restorative sleep despite ample opportunity to sleep
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meningioma
tumor of the meninges
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multiinfarct dementia (MID)
dementia caused by chronic cerebral ischemia (lack of blood supply) as a result of multiple small strokes. There is progressive loss of cognitive function, memory and judgment as well as altered motor and sensory function.
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MS
multiple sclerosis: a chronic, progressive disease involving loss of myelin in the CNS
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narcolepsy
brief, uncontrollable episodes of sleep during the day
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neurilemmoma
a tumor of a peripheral nerve sheath (neurilemma); schwannoma
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paralysis
temporary or permanent loss of function. Flaccid paralysis involves loss of muscle tone and reflexes and muscular degeneration. Spastic paralysis involves excess muscle tone and reflexes but no degeneration.
77
parkinsonism
a disorder originating in the brain's basal ganglia and characterized by slow movements, tremor, rigidity, and mask-like face. Aka Parkinson's disease
78
seizure
a sudden attack, as seen in epilepsy. Most common forms are tonic-clonic or gland mal; absence seizures or petit mal, and psychomotor seizure
79
shingles
an acute viral infection that follows nerve pathways causing small lesions on the skin. Caused by reactivation of the virus that also causes chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus). Aka herpes zoster
80
sleep apnea
brief periods of breathing cessation during sleep
81
stroke
sudden interference with blood flow in one or more cerebral vessels leading to oxygen deprivation and necrosis of brain tissue; caused by a clot in a vessel (ischemic stroke) or rupture of a vessel (hemorrhage stroke); CVA
82
subdural hematoma
accumulation of blood beneath the dura mater
83
thrombosis
development of a blood clot within a vessel
84
termor
a shaking or involuntary movement
85
carotid endarterectomy
surgical removal of the lining of the carotid artery, the large artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain
86
cerebral angiography
radiographic study of the brain's blood vessel after injection of a contrast medium
87
electroencephalography (EEG)
amplification, recording, and interpretation of the brain's electrical activity
88
L-dopa
a drug used in the tx of parkinsonism, levodopa
89
lumbar puncture
puncture of the subarachnoid space in the lumbar region of the spinal cord to remove spinal fluid for dx or to inject anesthesia; spinal tap
90
polysomnography
simultaneous monitoring of a variety of physiologic functions during sleep to dx sleep disorders
91
anxiety
a feeling of fear, worry, uneasiness or dread
92
Asperger syndrome
a behavioral condition on a continuum with autism that may include difficulty with social interactions and understanding, strong specific interests, and repetitive behaviors
93
ADHD
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a condition that begins in childhood and is characterized by attention problems, easy boredom, impulsive behavior and hyperactivity
94
autism
a disorder of unknown cause consisting of self-absorption, lack of response to social contact and affection, preoccupations, stereotyped behavior, and resistance to change
95
bipolar disorder
a form of depression with episodes of mania (a state of elation); manic depressive illness
96
delusion
a false belief inconsistent with knowledge and experience
97
depression
a mental state characterized by profound feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, and lack of interest or pleasure in activities
98
dysthymia
a mild form of depression that usually develops in response to a serious life event
99
hallucination
a false perception unrelated to reality or external stimuli
100
mania
a state of elation which may include agitation, hyper excitability, or hyperactivity
101
OCD
obsessive compulsive disorder: a condition associated with recurrent and intrusive thoughts, images, and repetitive behaviors performed to relieve anxiety
102
panic disorder
a form of anxiety disorder marked by episodes of intense fear
103
paranoia
a mental state characterized by jealousy, delusions of persecution, or perceptions of threat or harm
104
phobia
an extreme, persistent fear of a specific object or situation
105
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder: persistent emotional disturbances that follow exposure to life-threatening, catastrophic events, such as trauma, abuse, natural disasters, and warfare
106
psychosis
a mental disorder extreme enough to cause gross misperception of reality with delusional hallucinations
107
schizophrenia
a poorly understood group of severe mental disorders with features of psychosis, delusions, hallucinations, and withdrawn or bizarre behavior
