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AR Chapter 8a
Nervous System
Question | Answer |
---|---|
afferent nerves | transmitters of nerve impulses toward the CNS (brain and spinal cord); also known as sensory nerves |
anesthesia | absence of feeling or sensation |
aneurysm | dilatation of the wall of an artery that expands with each pulsation |
brain stem | stemlike portion of the brain that collects the cerebral hemisphere with the spinal cord; contains the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata |
burr hole | hole drilled into the skull using a form of drill |
cerebellum | located at the bottom of the brain and controls voluntary muscle movement and balance |
cerebral contusion | small, scattered hemorraghes in the brain; described as a "bruise" of the brain |
cerebrospinal fluid | fluid flowing through the brain and around the spinal cord that protects them from physical blow or impact |
coma | deep sleep in which pt cannot be aroused |
craniotomy | surgical incision into the crainium or skull |
deficit | word for any neurological abnormality |
dysphasia | diffuclt speech or speaking |
hemiplegia | paralysis of one half of the body (right or left) |
herpes zoster | infection that travels along the path of a nerve; also known as shingles |
hyperesthesia | excessive sensitivity to pain, stimuli, or touch |
interneurons | connecting neurons that conduct impulses from afferent nerves (sensory nerve) to or toward motor nerves (efferent nerve) |
lethargy | feeling of sluggishness |
medulla oblongata | most essential part of the brain that controls the heart and respirations |
meninges | 3-layered membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord |
narcolepsy | sudden, uncontrolled attack of sleep |
occlusion | blockage |
paresthesia | sensation of tingling or numbness |
phagocytosis | process in which cells engulf or destroy waste |
sciatica | inflammation of the sciatic nerve; characterized by pain along the course of the nerve, radiating through the thigh and down the back of the leg |
cerebral concussion | brief interruption of brain function, usually with loss of consciousness lasting a few seconds |
cerebrovascular accident (CVA) | death to a part of the brain due to a decrease in blood flow; also called a stroke |
epilepsy | recurring episodes of excessive irregular electrical activity of the brain |
encephalitis | inflammation of CNS(brain and spinal cord) caused by the bite of a mosquito or tick |
Bell's palsy | unilateral weakness or paralysis of the face |
Alzheimer's disease | deterioration of intellectual functioning |
anencephaly | absence of the brain and spinal cord at birth |
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) | progressive weakening of muscle groups |
cerebral palsy | permanent brain damage at birth - lack of voluntary muscle control |
Guillian-Barr syndrome | acute polyneuritis |
grand mal seizure | sudden loss of consciousness with contracting and relaxing muscles |
petit mal seizure | small seizure resulting in blank facial expression, some blinking lasting for only a few seconds |
migraine headache | vascular headache, one side of the face |
Huntington's chorea | patient has rapid, jerky, involuntary movement |
hydrocephalus | abnormal increase of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain |
meningitis | bacterial infection of protective covering of CNS (brain and spinal cord) |
multiple sclerosis | degenerative disease caused by hardening of myelin sheath |
Parkinson's disease | patient has masklike facial appearance |
transient ischemic attack (TIA) | brief periods of reduced oxygen to the brain |
autonomic nervous system | regulates the involuntary vital functions of the body; two divisions: the SNS (sympathetic nervous system) and PNS (parasympathetic nervous system) |
peripheral nervous system | contains 12 pair of cranial and 31 pair of spinal nerves |
central nervous system (CNS) | nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord |
paraplegia | paralysis of the lower extremities and trunk |
quadriplegia | paralysis of all four extremities |
sympathetic nerves | regulate essential involuntary body function by increasing (fight or flight) |
parasympathetic nerves | regulate essential involuntary body functions by slowing (peaceful, calming) |
efferent nerves | transmitters of nerve impulses away from the CNS (brain and spinal cord) |
plexus | network of interwoven nerves |
pineal body | cone-like structure involved in our biological clock and produces melatonin; can be called a gland |
cerebrum | largest, uppermost part of brain responsible for consciousness, memory, sensation, emotion and voluntary movement |
ataxia | without muscle coordination |
aura | sensation felt prior to the onset of a migraine or epileptic seizure |
agraphia | unable to convert thoughts into writing |
whiplash | feeling of neck pain due to a sudden back and forth jerking movement |
axon | part of the nerve cell that transports impulses |
neuroglia | supporting tissue of the nervous system |
neuralgia | sharp, spasm like pain of the nerves |
nerve block | elimination of sensation to an area supplied by nerves |
aphasia | inability to communicate through speech, writing, or signs because of injury to or disease in certain areas of the brain |
bradykinesia | abnormally slow movement |
palliative | soothing |
dendrite | part of a neuron that receives an impulse |
myelin sheath | part of the neuron that speeds up the impulse on the axon |
synapse | space where the impulse jumps from neuron to neuron |
neuron | a nerve cell |
syncope | fainting |
Romberg test | test for equilibrium |
carpal tunnel syndrome | pinching or compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel due to inflammation and swelling of the tendons; occurs due to repetition and overuse |
neurologist | physician who specializes in treating the diseases and disorders of the nervous system |
neurology | study of the nervous system and its disorders |
neurosurgeon | physician who specializes in surgery of the nervous system |
neurosurgery | surgery involving the nervous system |