Term | Definition |
Neurology | The scientific study of structure, function, and pathology of the nervous system |
Central Nervous System (CNS) | Consists of brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves, cranial nerves, and controls consciousness, the five senses and voluntary muscle actions. |
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) | A system of nerves that connects the peripheral (outer) parts of the body to the central nervous system. It contains sensory and motor nerves. |
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) | Controls involuntary muscles and regulates the action of smooth muscles, glands, blood vessels heart and even breathing. |
Brain | largest most complex nerve tissue in the body, it controls sensation, muscles, activity of glands, and the power to think, sense, and feel. |
Spinal Cord | originates in the brain and extends down to the lower extremity of the trunk |
Neuron | the primary structural unit of the nervous system |
Dendrites | nerve fibers that carry impulses from the nerve cell and receive impulses from other neurons |
Axon/Axon Terminal | nerve fibers that send impulses away from the cell body to other neurons glands or muscles. |
Afferent Nerves/Sensory Nerves | nerve fibers that carry impulses from the sense organs to the brain |
Receptors | sensory nerve endings close to the skin surface |
Effrent Nerves/Motor Nerves | nerve fibers that carry impulses form the brain to the muscles or glands producing movement |
Reflex | An automatic response to stimulus involving an impulse from a sensory receptor along the sensory nerve to the spinal cord. |
Digital Nerve | supplies sensory function to the fingers |
Radial Nerve | supplies sensory function to the thumb side of the arm and back of the hand. |
Median Nerve | supplies the arm and hand with sensory functions. |
Ulnar Nerve | supplies sensory functions to the little finger side of the arm and palm of the hand |
Tibial Nerve | nerve extension that passes behind the knee and subdivides, supplying impulses to the knee, calf muscles, leg skin, and the sole heal and underside of the toes. |
Common Peroneal Nerve | nerve extension that extends from behind the knee winds around the head of the fibula to the front of the leg. |
Anterior Tibial Nerve/Deep Peroneal Nerve | Nerve that extends the front of the leg behind the muscles supplying impulses to the muscles and skin of the top of the foot on the first two toes side. |
Musclo-Cutaneous Nerve/Superficial Peroneal Nerve | extends down the leg just under the skin supplying impulses to the muscles and skin of the leg as well as the skin and toes on top of the foot. |
Dorsal-Cutaneous Nerve/Dorsal Nerve | Branch nerve that provides sensory function to the top of the foot. |
Saphenous Nerve | supplies impulses to the skin of the inner side of the leg and foot. |
Sural Nerve | supplies impulses to the skin on the outer side and back of the foot and leg. |