The Nervous System

Front 1

absence seizure

Back 1

a small seizure in which there is a sudden temporary loss of consciousness lasting only a few seconds

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acetylcholine

Back 2

a chemical substance in the body tissues that facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses from one nerve to another; it has a stimulant (or excitatory) effect on some parts of the body , and a depressant (or inhibitory) effect on other parts of the body; aka a neurotransmitter

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afferent nerves

Back 3

transmitters of nerve impulses toward the CNS; aka sensory nerves

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agnosia

Back 4

loss of mental ability to udnerstabd sensory stimuli even though the sensory organs themselves are functioning properly

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agraphia

Back 5

the inability to convert one's thoughts into writing

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alexia

Back 6

the inability to understand written words

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anagelsia

Back 7

without sensitivity to pain

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anesthesia

Back 8

without feeling or sensation

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aneurysm

Back 9

a localized dilatation in the wall of an artery that expands with each pulsation of the artery; usually caused by hypertension or atherosclerosis

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aphasia

Back 10

inability to communicate through speech, writing, or signs becaus eof an injury to or disease in certain areas of the brain

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apraxia

Back 11

inability to perform coordinated movements or use objects properly; not associated with sensory or motor impairment or paralysis

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arachnoid membrane

Back 12

the weblike middle layer of the three membranous layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord

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astrocyte

Back 13

a star-shaped neuroglial cell found in the CNS

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astrocytoma

Back 14

a tumor of the brain or spinal cord composed of astrocytes

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ataxia

Back 15

without muscular coordination

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aura

Back 16

the sensation an individual experiences prior to the ibset of migraine headache or an epileptic seizure; it may be a sensation of light or warmth and may preced the attack by hours or only a few seconds

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autonomic nervous system

Back 17

the part of the nervous system that regulates the involuntary vital functions of the body, such as the activities involving the heart muscle, smooth muscles, and the glands; has two divisions: the SNS and the PNS

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axon

Back 18

the part of the nerve cell that transports nerve impulses away from the nerve cell body

Front 19

blood-brain barrier

Back 19

a protective characteristic of the capillary walls of the brain that prevents the passage of harmful substances from the bloodstream into the brain tissue or CSF

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bradykinesia

Back 20

abnormally slow movement

Front 21

brain stem

Back 21

the stemlike portion of the brain that connects the cerebral hemisphere with the spinal cord; contains the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata

Front 22

Brudzinski's sign

Back 22

a positive sign of meningitis, in which there is an involuntary flexion of the arm, hip, and knee when the patient's neck is passively flexed

Front 23

burr hole

Back 23

a hole drilled into the skull using a form of drill

Front 24

cauda equina

Back 24

the lower end of the spinal cord and the roots of the spinal nerves that occupy the spinal canal below the level of the first lumbar vertebra; so named because it resembles a horse's tail

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causalgia

Back 25

a sensation of an acute burning pain along the path of a peripheral nerve, sometimes accompanied by erthema of the skin; due to injury to the peripheral nerve fibers

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cell body

Back 26

the part of the cell that contains the nucleus and hte cytoplasm

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central nervous sytem

Back 27

one of the two main division of the nervous system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord

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cephalalgia

Back 28

pain in the head; headache

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cerebellum

Back 29

the part of the brain responsible for coordinating voluntary muscular movement; located behind the brain stem

Front 30

cerebral concussion

Back 30

a brief interruption of brain function, usually with a loss of consciousness lasting for a few seconds; usually caused by blunt trauma (a blow) to the head

Front 31

cerebral contusion

Back 31

small scattered venous hemorrhages in the brain; better described as a "bruise" of the brain tissue occuring when the brain strikes the inner skull

Front 32

cerebral cortex

Back 32

the thin outer layer if the nerve tissue, known as gray matter, that covers the surface of the cerebrum

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cerebrospinal fluid

Back 33

the fluid flowing through the brain and around the spinal cord that protects them from physical blow or impact

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cerebrum

Back 34

the largest and uppermost part of the brain; controls consciousness, memory, sensations, emotions, and voluntary movements

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Cheyne-Stokes respirations

Back 35

an abnormal pattern of breatheing characterized by periods of apnea followed by deep rapid breathing

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coma

Back 36

a deep sleep in which the individual cannot be aroused and does not respond to external stimuli

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comatose

Back 37

pertains to being in a coma

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contracture

Back 38

a permanent shortening of muscle causing a joint to remain in an abnormally flexed position, with resultant physical deformity

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convolution

Back 39

one of the many elevated folds of the surface of the cerebrum; also called a gyrus

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craniotomy

Back 40

a surgical incision into the cranium or skull

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deficit

Back 41

any deficiency or variation of the normal, as in a weakness deficit resulting from a cerebrovascular accident

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dementia

Back 42

a progressive irreversible mental disorder in which the person has deteriorating memory, judgement, and ability to think

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demyelination

Back 43

destruction or removal of the myelin sheath that covers a nerve ir nerve fiber

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dendrite

Back 44

a prjection that extends from the nerve cell body; receives impulses and conducts them on to the cell body

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diencephalon

Back 45

the part of the brain located between the cerebrum and the midbrain; main structures consist of the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pineal gland

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diplopia

Back 46

double vision; also called ambiopia

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dura mater

Back 47

the outermost of the three membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord

Front 48

dyslexia

Back 48

a condition characterized by an impairment of the ability to read; letters and words are often reversed when reading

Front 49

dysphasia

Back 49

difficult speech

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efferent nerves

Back 50

transmitters of nerve impulses away from the CNS; also known as motor nerves

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embolism

Back 51

an abnormal condition in which a blood clot (embolus) becomes lodged in a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood within the vessel

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epidural space

Back 52

the space immediately outside the dura mater that contains a supporting cushion of fat and other connective tissues

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epilepsy

Back 53

a neurological condition characterized by recurrent episodes of sudden brief attacks of seizures; seizures may vary from mild and unnoticeable to fullscale convulsive seizures

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fissure

Back 54

a deep groove on the surface of an organ

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fontanelle or fontanel

Back 55

a space covered by tough membrane between the bones of an infant's cranium, called a "soft spot"

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gait

Back 56

the style of walking

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ganglion

Back 57

a knotlike mass of nerve tissue found outside the brain or spinal cord

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gray matter

Back 58

the part of the nervous system consisting of axons that are not coveredd with myelin sheath, giving a gray appearance

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gyrus

Back 59

one of the many elevated folds of the surface of the cerebrum

Front 60

hemiparesis

Back 60

slight or partial paralysis of one half of the body

Front 61

hemiplegia

Back 61

paralysis of one half of the body

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hyperesthesia

Back 62

excessive sensitivity to sensory stimuli, such as pain or touch.

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hyperkinesis

Back 63

excessive muscular movement and physical activity

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hypothalamus

Back 64

a part of the brain located below the thalamus that controls many functions such as body temperature, sleep, and appetite.

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interneurons

Back 65

connecting neurons that conduct impulses from afferent nerves to or toward motor nerves