Question | Answer |
hypothalamus | a part of the brain located below the thalamus that controls many functions, such as body tempurtaure,slep and appetite |
hyperkinesis | excessive muscluar movement and physical activity, hyperactivity |
hyperesthesia | excessive sensitivity to sensory stimuli;such as pain or touch |
herpes zoster | an acute infection casued by the same virus that casues chickenox, characterized by painful vesicaular lesions along the path of a spinal nerve |
hemiplegia | paralysis of one half of the body |
hemiparsels | slight or parital paralysis of one half of the body |
gyrus | one of the many elevated folds of the surface of the cerebrum |
neurologist | a physicain who specializes in treating the diseases and disorders of the nervous system |
neuroglia | the supporting tissue of the nervous system |
neuritis | inflammation of a nerve |
neuralgia | servere, sharp,spasmlike pain that extends along the course of one or more nerves |
nerve block | the injection of a local anesthetic along the course of a nerve or nerves to eliminate sensation to the area supplied by the nerve |
nerve | a cordlike bundle of nerve fibers that transmit impulses to and from the brian and spinal cord to the other parts of the body |
naracolepsy | uncontrolled, sudden attacks of sleep |
myelin sheath | a protective sheath of nerve fibers that transmit impulses to and from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body |
motor nerves | transmitters of nerve impulses away from the CNS |
midbrain | the uppermost part of the brain stem |
microglia | small neuroglial cells found in the interstital tissue of the nervous system that engulf celluar debris, wastes products, and pathogens within the nerve tissue |
meninges | the three layers of protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord |
neurology | the study of the nervous system and its disorders |
neuron | a nerve cell |
neurosurgeon | ap hysicain who specializes in surgery of the nervous system |
neurosugery | any suergery involving the nervos system |
neurotrasmitter | a chemical substance within the body that activates or inhibits the transmission of nerve impulses at synapses |
occlusion | blockage |
oligodendrocyte | a type of neuroglial cell found in the interstitial tissue of the nervous system |
palliative | soothing |
paraplegia | paralysis of the lower extremities and trunk, usually due to spinal cord injuries |
parasympathetic nerves | nerves of the ANS that regulate essential involuntary body functions such as slowing the heart rate, increasing peristalsis of the intestines, increasing glanduluar secreations and relaxing sphincters |
parasympathomimetic | copying or producing the same effects as those of the parasympathetic nerves |
paresthesia | a sensation of numbness or tingling |
peripheral nervous system | the part of the nervous system oustide the CNS, consisting of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves |
shunt | a tube or passage that diverts or redirects body fluid from one cavity or vessel to another |
shingles | an acute infection casued by the same virus that casues chickenox, characterized by painful vesicaular lesions along the path of a spinal nerve |
sensory nerves | transmitters of nerve impluses toward the CNS |
sensory | pertaining to sensation |
sciatica | inflammation of the sciatic nerve |
rhizotomy | the surgical resection of a spinal nerbe root |
receptor | a sensory nerve ending |
radiculotomy | the surgical resection of a spinal nerve root |
quadriplegia | paralysis of all four extremities and the trunk of the body; caused by injury to the spinal cord at the level of teh cervical vertebra |
pons | the part of the brain located between the medula oblongata and the midbrain |
plexus | a network of interwoven nerves |
pineal gland | a small cone-shaped structre thought to be invloved in regulating the body's biological clock and that produces melatonin |
pineal body | a small cone-shaped structre thought to be invloved in regulating the body's biological clock and that produces melatonin |
pia meter | the innermost of the three membrane surrounding the brian and spinal cord |
phagocytosis | the process by which certain cells engulf and destroy microorganisms and cellular debris |
white matter | the part of the nervous system consisting of axons covered with myelin sheath, givinga white apperance |
whiplash | an injury to the cervical vertebra and their supporting structures due to a sudden back-and-forth jerking movment of the head and neck |
ventricle, brain | a small hollow within the brain that is filled with cerebrospinal fluid |
tonic-clonic seizure | a seizure characterized by the presence of muscle contraction ot tension followed by relaxation,creating a "jerking" movment of the body |
thrombosis | an abnomral condition in which a clot develops in a blood vessel |
thalamus | the part of thebrain located between the cerebral hemispheres and the midbrain |
syncope | fainting |
synapse | the space between the end of one nerve and the beginning of another, through which nevre impulses are transmitted |
symapathomimetic | copying or producing the smae effects as those of the sympatheic nerves |
sympatheic nerves | nerves of the ANS that regulate essential invlountary body functions such as increasing the heart rate, conscrting blood vessels and raising blood pressure |
sulcus | a depression or shallow groove on the surface of an organ |
subdural space | the space located just under the arachoid membrane that contians CSF |
stupor | a state of lethargy |
stimulus | any agent or factor capable of intiating a nerve impulse |
somatic nervous system | the part of the PNS that provides voluntary control over skeletal muscle contractions |