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Nervous System
Vocabulary / Chapter 10
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| acetylcholine | Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends (synapses) of nerve cells. |
| afferent nerves | Carry messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerves). |
| arachnoid membrane | Middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. The Greek arachne means spider. |
| astrocyte | A type of glial (neurologic) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries. |
| automonic nervous system | Nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs. |
| axon | Microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell. |
| blood-brain barrier | Blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out. |
| brainstem | Lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord. The pons and medulla oblongata are part of the brainstem. |
| 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 the spinal cord. |
| cerebellum | Posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintain balance. |
| cerebral cortex | Outer region of the cerebrum; containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain. |
| cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) | Fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord. |
| cerebrum | Largest part of the brain; responsibles for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory. |
| cerebral cortex | Outer region of the cerebrum; containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain. |
| cranial nerves | Twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain. |
| 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 (latin for hard mother). |
| efferent nerves | Carry messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerves. |
| ependymal cell | a glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid. |
| glanglion (plural: ganglia) | Collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system. |
| glial cell (neuroglial cell) | Cell in the nervous system that is supportive and connection in function. Examples are astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, and oligodentrocytes. |
| gyrus (plural: gyri) | Sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded fold on the surface of the cerebellum; convulution. |
| 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. |
| microglial cell | Phogocytic glial cell that removes wates products from the central nervous system. |
| motor nerves | Carry messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent (ef [a from of ex] = away) nerves. |
| myelin sheath | While 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 dentrites) that carry electrical impulses. |
| neurotransmitter | Chemical messenger, released of the end of a nerve cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell. Examples of neurotransmitters are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. |
| oligodendroglial cell | Glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. Also called oligodendrocyte. |
| parasymphathetic nerves | Involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. |
| parenchyma | Essential, distinguishing tissue of the nervous system; includes the brain and spinal cord. This is to distinguish it from surrounding tissues, such as the meninges. |
| 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 (plural: plexuses) | Large, interlacing network of nerves. Examples are lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial (brachi/o means arm) plexuses. The term originated from the Indo-European plek meaning to weave together. |
| pons | Part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain (Latin pons means bridge). It is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain. |
| receptor | Organ that receives a nervous stimulation and passes it on to nerves within the body. The skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds are receptors. |
| sciatic nerve | Nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot. Sciatica is pain or finlammation along the course of the nerve. |
| sensory nerves | Carry messages to the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent (af[a form of ad] = toward) nerve. |
| spinal nerves | Thirty-one pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord. Each spinal nerve affects a particular area of the skin. |
| stimulus (plural: stimuli) | Agent of change (light, sound, 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 (plural: sulci) | Depression or groove in the surface 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 is transmitted from one neuron to another or from a neuron to another cell, such as a muscle or gland cell. From the Greek synapsis, a point of contact. |
| 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. Latin thalamus means room. |
| vagus nerve | Tenth craniel nerve; its branches reach to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach. Latin vagus meanse wondering. |
| ventricles of the brain | Canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid. |
| hydrocephalus | Abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain. |
| spina bifida | Congenital defects in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts (neural tube defect). |
| Alzheimer disease (AD) | Brain disorder marked by gradual and progressive mental deterioration (dementia) with personality changes and impairment of daily functioning. |
| amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) | Degeneratiave disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. |
| epilepsy | Chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity. |
| Huntington disease | Hereditary disorder marked by degenerative changes in the cerebrum leading to abrupt involuntary movement and mental deterioration. |
| multiple sclerosis (MS) | Autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness (-asthenia) of voluntary muscles (attached to bones). |
| palsy | Paralysis (partial or complete loss of motor function). |
| Parkinson disease | Involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements; incontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words. |
| 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; leptomeningitis. |
| absence seizure | Minor (petit mal) form of seizure, consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awreness of surroundings. |
| aneurysm | Enlarged, weakened area in an arterial wall, which may rupture, leading to hemorrhage and CVA (stroke) |
| astrocytoma | Malignant tumor of astrocytes (glial brain cells). |
| aura | Peculiar sensation experienced by some persons with epilepsy before onset of an actual seizure. |
| blast | Immature cells (as in glioblastoma). |
| dementia | Mental decline and deterioration |
| demyelination | Destruction of myelin on axons of nerves (as in multiple sclerosis). |
| dopamine | CNS neurotransmitter, deficient in patient with Parkinson disease. |
| embolus | A mass (clot) of material travels through the bloodstream and suddenly blocks a vessel. |
| gait | Manner of walking. |
| herpes zoster | Herpes virus that causes shingles-eruption of blisters in a pattern that follows the path of peripheral nerves around the trunk of the body; zoster mean "girdle." |
| ictal event | Pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as the convulsions of an epileptic seizure. |
| occlusion | Blockage. |
| palliative | Relieving symptoms but not curing. |
| thymectomy | Removal of the thymus gland (a lymphocyte-producing gland in the chest); used as treatment of myasthenia gravis. |
| TIA | Transient inschemic attack. |
| tic | Involuntary movement of a small group of muscles, as of the face; characteristic of Tourette syndrome. |
| tonic-clonic seizure | Major (grand mal) convulsive seizure marked by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching and jerking movements. |
| AD | Alzheimer disease |
| AFP | alpha-fetoprotein; elevated levels in amniotic fluid and maternal blood are associatd with congenital malformations of the nervous system, such as anencephaly and spina bifida |
| ALS | amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - Lou Gehrig's disease |
| AVM | arteriovenous malformation; congenital tangle of arteries and veins in the cerebrum |
| CNS | central nervous system |
| CSF | cerebrospinal fluid |
| CT | computed tomography |
| CVA | cerebrovascular accident |
| EEG | electroencephalography |
| GABA | gamma-aminobutyric acid (neurotransmitter) |
| ICP | intracranial 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 steriotactic radiosurgery |
| Sz | seizure |
| TBI | traumatic brain injury |
| TENS | transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; technique using a battry-powered device to relieve acute and chronic pain |
| TIA | transient ischemic attack; temporary interference with the blood supply to the brain |
| tPA | tissue plasminogen activator; a clot-dissolving drug used as therapy for strokes |
| Parts of the brain | Cerebrum, Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Cerebellum, Pons, Medulla Oblongata |
| Cerebrum | Thinking, Personality, Movements, Sensation, Memory |
| Thalamus | Relay station of sensory impulses; pain |
| Hypothalamus | Body Temperature,Sleep, Appetite, Emotion; control the pituitary gland |
| Pons | Connection of nerves (to control eyes and face |
| Medulla Oblongata | Nerve fiber crossover, left to right and right to left; contains centers to regulate heart, blood vessels, respiratory system |
| lept/o | thin, slender |
| my/o | muscle |
| myel/o | spinal cord (meanse bone marrow in other contexts) |
| radicul/o | nerve root (of spinal nerves) |
| thec/o | sheath (refers to the meninges) |
| vag/o | vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve) |
| caus/o | burning |
| comat/o | deep sleep (coma) |
| lex/o | word, phrase |
| -phasia | speech |
| -praxia | action |
| -sthenia | strength |
| tax/o | order, coordination |
| ictal event | Pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as the convulsions of an epileptic seizure. |
| palliative | Relieving symptoms but no curing. |
| tonic-clonic seizure | Major (grand mal) convulsive seizure marked by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching and jerking movements. |
| cerebrospinal fluid analysis | Doctors measure water, glucose, sodium, chloride, and protein, RBC, WBC, dectect tumor cells, bacteria, and viruses. These studies are used to diagnose infection, tumors, or multiple sclerosis. |
| ataxia | Uncoordinated gait |
| transient ischemic attack | interruption of blood supply to the cerebrum; mini-stroke |
| tonic-clonic seizure | Major epileptic seizure; ictal event |
| herpes zoster | virus that causes chickenpox and shingles |
| palliative | relieving but not curing |
| dopamine | relieving, but not curing |
| absence seizure | minor epileptic seizure |
| glioblastoma multiforme | malignant brain tumor of immature glial cells |
| paresthesias | abnormal tingling sensations |
| paresis | slight paralysis |
| radiculitis | inflammation of a spinal nerve root |
| apraxia | movements and behaior that are not purposefull |
| ataxia | lack of muscular coordination |
| paraplegia | paralysis in the lower half of the body |
| neurasthenia | nervous exhausion and fatique |
| synapse | space between nerve cells |
Created by:
murielsclark
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