unit 9 (nervous sytem) - medical vocabulary Flashcards
afferent nerves
nerves that only conduct messages from the sensory receptors to the central nervous system
Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
a form of dementia (progressive mental deterioration) resulting from atrophy of the frontal and occipital lobes of the brain
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
a disease marked by muscular weakness and atrophy with involuntary contractions and excessive reflexes; caused by the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord and in the brain’s medulla and cortex
analgesic
a drug that relieves pain; includes nonprescription pain relievers, such as aspirin, and prescription pain relievers, such as hydrocodone
anesthetic
a drug that causes a reversible loss of sensation or pain; used to temporarily deaden pain
antianxiety agent
a medication used to reduce feelings of anxiety
anticonvulsant
a drug that prevents or relieves convulsions
antidepressant
a medication used to treat depression
anxiety disorders
a group of mental disorders that share the core characteristic of anxiety (excessive worry, nervousness, or uneasiness)
anxiolytic
an antianxiety drug
arachnoid mater
the middle layer of the meninges, which consists of many thin fibers that connect it to the pia mater
ascending spinal tracts
transmit sensory information from organs and glands to the brain
astrocytoma
a tumor of the neuroglial tissue
attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
a chronic mental disorder in which a person is frequently distracted, is hyperactive, and displays a lack of impulse control
aura
a subjective sensation that often occurs before a migraine or seizure
autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
a developmental disability characterized by difficulty communicating with others and focusing beyond oneself; inability to maintain eye contact; motor activity that is repetitious; and preoccupation with small objects
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
the division of the nervous system that controls the involuntary bodily functions; can be divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
axon
a long, tail-like projection on a neuron, which takes information from the cell body out to the muscles
axon terminals
an offshoot of the axon that branches out to connect with individual muscle fibers
Babinski sign
a reflex in which the toes curl upward when the plantar surface (sole) of the foot is stimulated; also known as the Babinski reflex
Bell’s palsy
a condition characterized by a unilateral (one-sided) paralysis of the nerves that control the facial muscles, causing one side of the face to droop
bipolar disorder
a mental disorder characterized by alternating periods of mania (emotional “highs”) and depression (emotional “lows”)
brain
the organ of the body contained in the cranium, which controls the functions, movements, sensations, and thoughts
brain stem
a structure that is located beneath the diencephalon, connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord, and helps regulate the central nervous system by serving as a conduit for sensory information carried between the cerebrum and cerebellum and the rest of the body
brain tumor
any intracranial mass, which may be neoplastic (a new growth), cystic (a sac containing fluid), or inflammatory (an abscess)
bulimia nervosa
an eating disorder characterized by binge eating that is followed by induced vomiting, use of laxatives, and/or excessive exercise; often abbreviated to bulimia
carotid endarterectomy
the surgical removal of fatty deposits in one or both carotid arteries (arteries that supply blood to the brain); commonly used to prevent a CVA
cell body
the main part of the cell, which contains the nucleus
central nervous system (CNS)
the collective term for the brain and spinal cord
cerebellum
the second largest region of the brain, which controls your body’s sense of balance and equilibrium and coordinates movements of voluntary muscles
cerebral aneurysm
an abnormal, localized (limited to one area) dilation of a blood vessel in the cerebrum
cerebral angiography
an X-ray of the blood vessels in the brain after a contrast medium (dye) has been injected; used to diagnose a CVA and other injuries and disorders of the brain
cerebral contusion
a bruising in the cerebral tissue
cerebral cortex
the outer layer of the cerebrum, which contains many folds of curved and depressed areas
cerebral palsy (CP)
a disorder that affects movement and muscle tone; caused by a defect in, or trauma to, the brain before birth
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
a clear, watery fluid that envelops and protects the brain and spinal cord
cerebrospinal fluid shunt
a surgically implanted device that drains cerebrospinal fluid in a controlled manner from the brain ventricles to the abdomen or heart; commonly used to treat hydrocephalus
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
the death of brain tissue that occurs when an arterial blockage or arterial rupture prevents blood flow to the brain; commonly called stroke
cerebrum
the largest brain region, which is the seat of high-level cognitive functions such as language, reasoning, planning, memory, and sensory integration
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
a form of psychotherapy or mental health counseling wherein the goal is to help the client to gain an improved awareness of negative thought processes and to adopt strategies for counteracting negative thinking
coma
a state of extended unconsciousness caused by a medical crisis, such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, infection, or illness (diabetes, for example)
concussion
a traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from a blow to the head or violent shaking of the head and upper body; causes partial or complete loss of brain functions, which can result in memory loss, impaired coordination, balance deficit, and dizziness
convulsion
a sudden, abnormal, involuntary contraction (or series of contractions) of the muscles
corpus callosum
a bundle of nerve tissue that connects the two hemispheres of the brain
craniectomy
the surgical removal of part of the skull to gain access to the brain; most commonly used to treat swelling in the brain
craniotomy
an incision into the skull to gain access to the brain
cytoplasm
a jelly-like substance that makes up most of the cell body and which protects the nucleus
deep tendon reflexes (DTRs)
involuntary muscle contractions that occur when the tendons associated with certain areas of the limbs (for example, the patella, or knee) are percussed with a reflex hammer. DTRs are tested during a standard neurological exam
delirium
a state of mental confusion and agitation characterized by disorientation of time and place, usually accompanied by hallucinations (false sensory experiences that are perceived as real) and illusions (misperceptions of environmental stimuli)
dementia
a condition of progressive mental deterioration caused by organic brain disease (that is, caused by tissue changes in the brain), which is characterized by memory loss, difficulties with language expression, and inability to perform ordinary daily activities of living
dendrites
branches of a neuron that collect stimuli and transport them to the cell body
depression
a mood disorder marked by persistent feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and lack of interest in daily activities
descending spinal tracts
relay motor commands from the brain to one or more of the peripheral nerves
developmental disorders
a group of mental disorders characterized by disruption of normal development during childhood
diencephalon
an area of the brain that includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pineal gland; also known as the interbrain
diskectomy
the surgical removal of a herniated (protruding) vertebral disk
dura mater
a thick sac of dense collagen fiber and blood vessels; the outermost layer of the meninges
dyslexia
a learning disorder characterized by difficulty in recognizing and comprehending written language; affects reading and spelling abilities as well as self-expression
eating disorders
a group of mental disorders characterized by an unhealthy focus on weight and food
effectors
muscles or glands in the body that generate a response in the form of motor output
efferent nerves
nerves that conduct messages from the central nervous system to the nucleus or glands of the body
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
electrical shock applied to the brain under medical supervision to trigger convulsions
electroencephalogram (EEG)
a record of the electrical impulses of the brain; used to diagnose neurological conditions that affect brain function and level of consciousness
electroneurodiagnostic (END) technologist
a healthcare worker that uses specialized diagnostic equipment to monitor a patient’s nervous system
epidural hematoma (EDH)
a mass of blood that forms between the skull and the dura mater as a result of the brain colliding against the skull, such as from a head injury or a fall
epilepsy
a neurological disorder of the central nervous system disorder in which the activity of the neural cells in the brain becomes disrupted, causing seizures, unusual sensations, repeated twitching of the limbs, and, occasionally, loss of consciousness
focal seizure
abnormal electrical activity that occurs in one or more parts of one brain hemisphere; also known as a partial seizure
frontal lobes
lobes of the brain located in the anterior part of the cerebrum, which controls movement, reasoning, planning, problem solving, speech, and emotions
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive worry that is not restricted to specific situations or objects; often associated with physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest pain, tremors, sweating, nausea, or headaches
grand mal seizure
a epileptic seizure characterized by violent muscle contractions and loss of consciousness; also known as a tonic-clonic seizure
gray matter
unmyelinated nerve tissue that is composed mostly of nerve cell bodies and dendrites
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GB syndrome)
polyneuritis (inflammation of multiple peripheral nerves) characterized by progressive muscle weakness of the extremities, which may lead to paralysis; usually occurs during or after recovery from an infectious disease
gyri
convolutions in the brain
headache
pain that is spread out in one or more parts of the head; unconfined to a particular area of nerve distribution
hemiparesis
paralysis on one side of the body; also known as hemiplegia
hemiplegia
paralysis of one side of the body; also known as hemiparesis
hemorrhagic stroke
a type of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) that occurs when a weakened blood vessel, such as an aneurysm, ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding tissue of the brain
hydrocephalus
an accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid inside the ventricles of the brain, which causes cephalomegaly (enlargement of the head) and which may cause brain damage; commonly seen in young children
hypnotic
a drug that causes sleep or loss of consciousness
hypothalamus
a portion of the diencephalon, which regulates functions such as metabolism, heart rate, and blood pressure
integration
a process during which the central nervous system processes and interprets the information received through the sensory organs
intellectual disability (ID)
a condition of below-average intelligence resulting in the inability to develop skills necessary for daily living; also known as intellectual development disorder (IDD)
involuntary movement
movement that is out of a person’s control
ischemic stroke
a type of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) that occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain becomes occluded (blocked)
laminectomy
a procedure in which the vertebral lamina, or the part of the bone that makes up a vertebra in the spine, is surgically removed, allowing access to the spinal cord; commonly used to treat a herniated disk
light therapy
the use of a specialized light source, which replicated natural sunlight, to treat seasonal affective disorder
lumbar puncture (LP)
the insertion of a needle between two lumbar vertebrae (in the lower spine) to remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic evaluation or therapeutic treatment; commonly used to diagnose meningitis; also known as spinal tap
medulla oblongata
one part of the brain stem, which helps conduct neural impulses from the brain to the spinal cord; regulates breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature
meninges
three layers of connective tissue that protect the brain and spinal cord
meningocele
congenital hernia in which the meninges protrude through an opening of the skull or spinal cord
midbrain
one part of the brain stem, which serves as the passageway for electrical impulses as they travel between the brain and spinal cord
migraine
a headache that produces intense throbbing and pain in one area of the head and that is typically accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting and hypersensitivity to light and sound
mitochondria
specialized tissue cells that ingest, digest, and convert nutrients into energy for the cells of the body
mood disorders
a group of mental disorders marked by depression that may alternate with periods of elation (feelings of happiness)
mood stabilizer
a drug used to balance brain chemicals that control emotional states and behaviors associated with certain mental disorders
motor neurons
neurons that receive electrical impulses from the brain and spinal cord and communicate these impulses to other parts of the body
multiple sclerosis (MS)
a chronic, slow-progressing disease of the central nervous system marked by development of thin, demyelinated (without myelin) glial patches called plaques
myasthenia gravis (MG)
a disease of the skeletal muscles caused by disruption in neural communication between the muscles and the nerves; marked by severe weakness and fatigue
myelin sheath
a protective covering that is made up of fats and proteins and which surrounds the axons; provides electrical insulation
myelogram
a procedure in which an X-ray of the spinal cord is taken after a contrast agent (dye) has been injected into the spine
myelomeningocele
a form of spina bifida (split spine) marked by protrusion of a portion of the spinal cord and the meninges through the spine
narcotic
a drug that, in moderate doses, depresses the central nervous system, relieves pain and induces sleep
nerve block
the injection of a local or regional anesthetic or anesthesia to prevent pain in an area near a nerve
nerve condition velocity (NCV)
a procedure in which electrodes are placed on the surface of the body over specific nerve areas and a mild electrical impulse is delivered to the areas
nerve root
the origin point of the nerve
neuroglial cells
specialized cells that support the vital functions of the nervous systems; commonly known as glial cells
neuroleptic agent
a medication used to treat psychotic disorders, mainly schizophrenia
neurons
the fundamental cells of the nervous system; also known as nerve cells
neuroplasty
the surgical repair of a nerve
neurosurgeon
a physician who specializes in treating diseases and conditions of the nervous system
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that pass neural impulses across the cleft from one neuron to another
nucleus
the organelle that contains genetic material and controls the cell’s activity
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
an anxiety disorder in which irrational thoughts and fears cause one to perform repetitive actions (for example, excessive handwashing due to the fear of becoming contaminated by germs)
occipital lobes
lobes of the brain located in the posterior part of the cerebrum, which control vision
organelles
other specialized parts of a cell that perform specific functions for the body
panic disorder (PD)
a disorder characterized by sudden, recurring attacks of intense anxiety and fear; includes physical symptoms that imitate a heart attack, as well as a general sense of loss of control
paralysis
the temporary or permanent loss of voluntary movement (motor function)
paraplegia
a loss of voluntary movement (motor function) in the lower half of the body, including both legs; often as a result of spinal cord injury (SCI) or disease
parasympathetic nervous system
the branch of the autonomic nervous system that controls the “rest-and-digest” response; counteracts the adrenalized response generated by the sympathetic nervous system during a fight-or-flight experience
paresthesia
the sensation of numbness, prickling, or tingling, usually in the upper or lower extremities; caused by irritation of, or injury to, sensory nerves or nerve roots
parietal lobes
lobes of the brain located in the superior part of the cerebrum, which are largely responsible for processing sensory stimuli related to touch, pressure, temperature, and pain
Parkinson’s disease (PD)
a progressive disorder of the nervous system marked by signs such as tremor, bradykinesia (slow movement), muscular rigidity, and an irregular gait
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
the collective term for nerves that reach into and extend from the brain and spinal cord
petit mal seizure
brief, sudden lapses of consciousness, most commonly characterized by vacant starting for 10 to 15 seconds; also known as an absence seizure
phobia
an exaggerated fear of a specific object or situation that causes anxiety and panic
physician anesthesiologist
a doctor who administers general anesthesia or an anesthetic to patients before surgery
pia mater
a thin, delicate tissue membrane that lies directly on the brain and spinal cord; contains a rich supply of blood vessels that nourish the central nervous system
pineal gland
a small gland that is included in the diencephalon and which secretes melatonin
poliomyelitis (polio)
inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord; caused by a highly contagious virus
pons
one part of the brain stem, which connects the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
positron emission tomography (PET)
a procedure that uses nuclear medicine and computerized tomography to generate images of the brain; commonly used to diagnose a CVA, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy; also known as a brain scan
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
a condition resulting from an extremely traumatic experience, illness, or injury that triggers persistent thoughts and memories of the experience
postpartum psychosis
a rare psychiatric condition that develops in 1 to 2 per 1,000 women within the first week after childbirth; characterized by confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, delusions, obsessive thoughts about the infant, paranoia, sleep disturbances, and/or attempts to harm the infant or self
psychotherapy
a form of treatment for psychiatric disorders that emphasizes verbal and nonverbal communication, in a one-on-one setting or in a group environment, to attain a desired response or action
psychotic disorders
a group of mental disorders characterized by loss of touch with reality, hallucinations, and delusions; also known as psychoses
reflex
an involuntary reaction to a stimulus
reflex testing
a diagnostic test in which a part of the body is percussed (tapped) with a reflex hammer or other diagnostic stimulus to measure the presence and strength of muscular reflexes
Reye’s syndrome
a rare but serious condition that results in acute encephalopathy (brain malfunction) and hepatomegaly (liver enlargement); typically seen in children under 18 years of age after a viral infection. Signs and symptoms include confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness
schizoaffective disorder
a chronic disorder in which a person experiences symptoms of both schizophrenia and symptoms of a mood disorder
schizophrenia
a mental disorder that produces distorted thought processes and emotional perceptions; characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and/or periods of unresponsiveness
seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
a form of depression that occurs during the fall and winter seasons as a result of less exposure to natural sunlight
sedative
a drug that produces a soothing or tranquilizing effect
seizure
a disruption of electrical activity in the brain that produces physical and mental changes, such as convulsions, sensory disturbances, and loss of consciousness
sensory input
any electrical impulse sent from the sensory organs to the central nervous system
sensory neurons
neurons that conduct electrical signals from various parts of the body to the brain and spinal cord
sensory organs
term for the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin
sensory receptors
nerve endings in the sensory organs
shingles
an eruption of a painful rash, often on the trunk (torso) of the body along a peripheral nerve; caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which also causes chickenpox
somatic nervous system (SNS)
the division of the nervous system that controls the voluntary, conscious activities of the body
spina bifida
a congenital defect in which part of the membrane covering the spinal cord protrudes through a gap in the spine; split spine
spinal cord
a column of neural tissue that extends inferiorly from the medulla oblongata to the second lumbar vertebra
stereotactic radiosurgery
a form of radiation therapy in which a specially constructed frame is used to focus beams of radiation toward precise areas of the brain; used to treat inoperable tumors
stimulant
a drug that increases activity in the nervous system
stimuli
changes in the external and internal environment
subdural hematoma (SDH)
a mass of blood between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater of the brain; the most common type of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
substance-abuse disorders
mental disorders resulting from abusive use of substances such as drugs, alcohol, or toxins; characterized by social and personal dysfunction
sulci
depression in the brain
sympathetic nervous system
the brain of the autonomic nervous system that controls the body’s “fight-or-flight” response in times of crisis
synapse
the contact point at which one neuron communicates with another
synaptic cleft
a microscopic gap between two neurons
syncope
a temporary loss of consciousness due to inadequate blood flow to the brain; commonly known as fainting
temporal lobes
lobes of the brain located in the lateral parts of the right and left cerebral hemispheres, which are responsible for your hearing, sense of smell, factual and visual memory, and language processing
thalamus
the largest portion of the diencephalon, which communicates sensory and motor information between the body and the cerebral cortex
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
a brief stoppage of blood flow (ischemia) to a part of the brain; precursor to, or warning sign of, a stroke
tremor
an involuntary, repetitive trembling of the body or limbs
unconsciousness
a lack of awareness of oneself and the inability to respond to environmental stimuli due to injury, shock, or oxygen deprivation
vertebral (spinal) column
the series of vertebrae that extend from the cranium to the coccyx, providing support and forming a flexible body case for the spinal cord
voluntary movement
movement that is under a person’s control
white matter
myelinated nerve tissue
