Question | Answer |
CNS is composed of? | The brain and spinal cord |
Efferent nerves carry impulses | away from the CNS |
Afferent nerves carry impulses | towards the CNS |
Two types of autonomic nerves | sympathetic and parasympathetic |
slows the body down which slows heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and stimulates peristalsis to clear the rectum. | parasympathetic |
stimulate the body in time of stress which increases heart rate, dilates airways, blood pressure goes up, stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete epinephrine, and slows digestion | sympathetic |
Ganglia | group of cells or tissues that occur outside the brain and spinal cord |
Ganglia singular | ganglion |
An individual nerve cell is a | Neuron |
Multiple sclerosis occurs when | the myelin sheath is destroyed and replaced with plaque |
blephar/o | Eyelid |
atel/o | Incompleate |
apoplexy | Stroke |
-lexia | Word, phrase |
-extra | outside |
What is CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid) | Fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord. |
Dendrite | Microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to recieve the nervous impulse |
Axon | Microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell |
Astrocyte | A type of glial (Neurologlial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries. |
Acetylcholine | Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends (synapses) of nerve cells. |
Blood-brain barrier | Blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out. |
Arachnoid membrane | Middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord |
ANS (Autonomic Nervous system) | Nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands and internal organs. |
Brainstem | Lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord. |
cauda equina | Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord. |
Cell body | Part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus. |
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;grey matter of the brain. |
Cerebrum | Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity. |
Cranial nerves | 12 pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain |
Dura mater | Thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord |
Ependymal cell | A glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid. |
cerebell/o | cerebellum |
cerebr/o | cerebrum |
dur/o | dura mater |
encephal/o | brain |
gli/o | glial cells |
lept/o | thin, slender |
mening/o | membranes, meninges |
my/o | muscle |
myel/o | spinal cord |
neur/o | nerve |
pont/o | pons |
radicul/o | nerve root |
thalam/o | thalamus |
thec/o | sheath(refers to the meninges) |
vag/o | vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve) |
alges/o | excessive sensitivity to pain |
-algia | pain |
caus/o | burning |
comat/o | deep sleep (coma) |
esthesi/o | feeling, nervous sensation |
kines/o | movement |
-kinesia | Movement |
-lepsy | seizure |
lex/o | word, phrase |
-paresis | weakness |
-phasia | speech |
-plegia | paralysis |
-praxia | action |
-sthenia | strength |
syncop/o | to cut off, cut short |
tax/o | order, coordination |
Pons | Part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain. It is a bridge connection various parts of the brain. (Latin pons means bridge) |
hypothalamus | portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature and secretions from the pituitary gland |
medulla oblongata | Part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here. |
meninges | Three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. |
myelin sheath | White fatty tissue that surrounds, and insulates the axon of a nerve cell. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons. |
Nerve | Macroscopic cordlike collection of fibers (axons and dendrites) that carry electrical impulses |
neuron | Nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body |
neurotransmitter | Chemical messenger, released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates or inhibits another cell, chich can be a nerve cell, muscle cell of gland cell. |
Peripheral nervous system | Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal and autonomic nerves. |
pia mater | Thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges. |
Plexus | Large, interlacing network of nerves. Examples are lumbosacral, cervical and crachial plexuses. |
Receptor | Organ that receives a nervous stimulation and passes it on to the nerves within the body. The skin, ears, eyes and taste buds are receptors. |
Sensory nerves | Carry messages to the brain and spinal cord from a receptor |
Spinal nerves | 31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord. Each spinal nerve affects a particular area of the skin. |
Stimulus (stimuli plural) | Agent of change (light, sound and touch) in the internal or external environment that evokes a response. |
stroma | Connective and supporting tissue of an organ.Glial cells are the stromal tissue of the brain |
sulcus (sulci plural) | Depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex |
synapse | Space through which a nervous impulse is transmitted from one neuron to another or from a neuron to another cell such as muscle or gland cell. |
Thalamus | Main relay center of the brain. It conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum; incoming sensory messages are relayed through the thalamus to appropriate centers in the cerebrum. |
Vagus nerve | Tenth cranial nerve; its branches reach to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus and stomach. |
Ventricals of the brain | Canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid. |
Hydrocephalus | Abnormal accumulation for fluid(CSF) in the brain |
Spina Bifida | Congenital defects in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts. |
Alzheimer disease | Brain disorder marked by gradual and progressive mental deterioration (dementia) with personality changes and impairment of daily functioning. |
Epilepsy | Chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity |
Multiple Sclerosis | Destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the CNS and its replacement by plaques of sclerotic (hard) tissue |
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) | Degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. |
Huntington Disease | Hereditary disorder marked by degenerative changes in the cerebrum leading to abrupt involuntary movements and mental deterioration |
myasthenia gravis (MG) | Autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles |
Parkinsons Disease | Degeneration of neurons in the basal ganglia, occurring in later life and leading to tremors, weakness of muscles and slowness of movement. |
Palsy | Paralysis(partial or compleate loss of moto function) |
Tourette syndrome | Involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words |
Herpes Zoster (Shingles) | Viral infection affecting peripheral nerves |
Meningitis | Inflammation of the meninges |
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)encephalopathy | Brain disease and dementia occurring with AIDS |
Brain tumor | Abnormal growth of brain tissue and meninges. |
cerebral concussion | Temporary brain dysfunction ( brief loss of consciousness) after injury, usually clearing within 24 hours. |
cerebral contusion | Bruising of brain tissue as a result of direct trauma to the head; neurologic deficits persist longer then 24 hours |
cerebrovascular accident (CVA) | Disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke |
meningi/o | membranes, meninges |
-kinesis | movement |
-kinetic | Movement |
-algesia | excessive sensitivity to pain |
-esthesia | feeling, nervous sensation |
kinesi/o | movement |
cerebrospinal fluid analysis | Samples of CSF are examined |
cerebral angiography | X-Ray imaging of the arterial blood vessel system in the brain after injection of contrast material. |
Computed tomography (CT) of the brain | X-Ray technique that generates computerized cross-sectional images of the brain and spinal cord |
myelography | X-Ray imaging of the spinal canal after injection of contrast medium into the subarachnoid space |
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain | Magnetic and radio waves create an image of the brain in all three planes. |
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan | Computerized radiologic technique useing radioactive glucose to image the metabolic activity of cells. |
Doppler/ultrasound studies | Sound waves detect blood flow in the carotid and intracrania arteries. |
Electroencephalography (EEG) | Recording of the electrical activity of the brain |
Lumbar puncture (LP) | CSF is withdrawn from between two lumbar vertebrae |
Stereotactic radiosurgery | Use of a specialized instrument to locate and treat targets in the brain |
AD | Alzheimer disease |
AFP | Alpha-fetoprotein |
ALS | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis- Lou Gehrig;s disease |
meningi/o | membranes, meninges |
-kinesis | movement |
-kinetic | Movement |
-algesia | excessive sensitivity to pain |
-esthesia | feeling, nervous sensation |
kinesi/o | movement |
cerebrospinal fluid analysis | Samples of CSF are examined |
cerebral angiography | X-Ray imaging of the arterial blood vessel system in the brain after injection of contrast material. |
Computed tomography (CT) of the brain | X-Ray technique that generates computerized cross-sectional images of the brain and spinal cord |
myelography | X-Ray imaging of the spinal canal after injection of contrast medium into the subarachnoid space |
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain | Magnetic and radio waves create an image of the brain in all three planes. |
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan | Computerized radiologic technique useing radioactive glucose to image the metabolic activity of cells. |
Doppler/ultrasound studies | Sound waves detect blood flow in the carotid and intracrania arteries. |
Electroencephalography (EEG) | Recording of the electrical activity of the brain |
Lumbar puncture (LP) | CSF is withdrawn from between two lumbar vertebrae |
Stereotactic radiosurgery | Use of a specialized instrument to locate and treat targets in the brain |
AD | Alzheimer disease |
AFP | Alpha-fetoprotein |
ALS | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis- Lou Gehrig's disease |
AVM | Arteriovenous malformation |
CNS | Central nervous system |
CSF | Cerebrospinal fluid |
CT | Computed tomography |
CVA | Cerebrovascular accident |
EEG | Electroencephalography |
GABA | Gamma-aminobutyric acid (Neurotransmitter) |
ICP | Intracrainial pressure (normal pressure is 5 to 15 mm Hg) |
LP | Lumbar puncture |
MAC | Monitored anesthetic care |
MG | Myasthenia gravis |
MRA | Magnetic resonance angiography |
MRI | magnetic resonance imaging |
MS | Multiple sclerosis |
1/2P | Hemiparesis |
PET | Positron emission tomography |
PSRS | Proton stereotactic radiosurgery |
Sz | Seizure |
TBI | Traumatic brain injury |
TENS | Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulations |
TIA | Transient ischemic attack |
tPA | tissue plasminogen activator; a clot dissolving drug used as therapy for strokes |
diencephalon | highest portion of the brain stem |