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196 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back

acetylcholine

chemical that stimulates cells

afferent (sensory) neuron

neuron that carries information from the sensory receptors to the central nervous system

arachnoid

middle layer of meninges

astrocyte, astroglia

a type of neuroglia that maintains nutrient and chemical levels in neurons

autonomic nervous system

part of the peripheral nervous system that carries impulses from the central nervous system to glands, smooth muscles, cardiac muscle, and various membranes

axon

part of a nerve cell that conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body

basal ganglia

large masses of gray matter within the cerebrum

brain

body organ responsible for controlling the body's functions and interactions with outside stimuli

brainstem

one of the four major divisions of the brain; division that controls certain heart, lung, and visual functions

cell body

part of a nerve cell that has branches or fibers that reach out to send or receive impulses

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

cerebellum

one of the four major divisions of the brain; division that coordinates musculoskeletal movement

cerebral cortex

outer portion of the cerebrum

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

watery fluid that flows throughout the brain and around the spinal cord

cerebrum

one of the four major divisions of the brain; division involved with emotions, memory, conscious thought, moral behavior, sensory interpretations, and certain bodily movement

conductivity

ability to transmit a signal

convolutions

folds in the cerebral cortex; gyri

corpus callosum

bridge of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the cerebrum

cranial nerves

any of 12 pairs of nerves that carry impulses to and from the brain

cranium

bony structure that the brain sits in

dendrite

a thin branching extension of a nerve cell that conducts nerve impulses toward the cell body

diencephalon

one of the four major structures of the brain; it is the deep portion of the brain and contains the thalamus

dura mater

outermost layer of meninges

efferent (motor) neuron

neuron that carries information to the muscles and glands from the central nervous system

epidural space

area between the pia mater and the bones of the spinal cord

epithalamus

one of the parts of the diencephalon; serves as a sensory relay station

excitability

ability to respond to stimuli

fissure

one of many indentations of the cerebrum; sulcus

frontal lobe

one of the four parts of each hemisphere of the cerebrum

gyrus

convolution

hypothalamus

one of the parts of the diencephalon; serves as a sensory relay station

interneuron

neuron that carries and processes sensory information

medulla oblongata

part of the brain stem that regulates heart and lung functions, swallowing, vomiting, coughing, and sneezing

meninges

three layers of membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord

microglia

a type of neuroglia that removes debris

midbrain

part of the brainstem involved with visual reflexes

myelin sheath

fatty tissue that covers axons

nerve

bundle of neurons that bear electrical messages to the organs and muscles of the body

nerve cell

basic cell of the nervous system having three parts: cell body, dendrite, and axon; also called a neuron

nerve impulse

released energy that is received or transmitted by tissue or organs and that usually provokes a response

neurilemma

membranous covering that protects the myelin sheath

neuroglia, neuroglial cell

cell of the nervous system that does not transmit impulses

neuron

basic cell of the nervous system having three parts; also called nerve cell

neurotransmitters

various substances located in tiny sacs at the end of an axon

occipital lobe

one of the four parts of each hemisphere of the cerebrum

oligodendroglia

a type of neuroglia that produces myelin and helps to support neurons

parasympathetic nervous system

part of the autonomic nervous system that operates when the body if in a normal state

parietal lobe

one of the four parts of each hemisphere of the cerebrum

pia mater

innermost layer of meninges

pons

part of the brainstem that controls certain respiratory functions

receptor

tissue or organ that receives nerve impulses

somatic nervous system

part of the peripheral nervous system that receives and processes sensory input from various parts of the body

spinal cord

ropelike tissue that sits inside the vertebral column and from which spinal nerves extend

spinal nerves

and of 31 pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the spinal cord and the torso and extremities

stimulus

anything that arouses a response

subdural space

area between the dura mater and the pia mater across which the arachnoid runs

sulcus

fissure

sympathetic nervous system

part of the autonomic nervous system that operates when the body is under stress

synapse

space over which nerve impulses jump from one neuron to another

temporal lobe

one of the four parts of each hemisphere of the cerebrum

terminal end fibers

group of fibers at the end of an axon that passes the impulses leaving the neuron to the next neuron

thalamus

one of the four parts of the diencephalon; serves as a sensory relay station

ventral thalamus

one of the four parts of the diencephalon; serves as a sensory relay station

ventricle

cavity in the brain for cerebrospinal fluid

cerebell(o)

cerebellum

cerebr(o), cerebri

cerebrum

crani(o)

cranium

encephal(o)

brain

gangli(o)

ganglion

gli(o)

neuroglia

mening(o), meningi(o)

meninges

myel(o)

bone marrow, spinal cord

neur(o), neuri

nerve

spin(o)

spine

thalam(o)

thalamus

vag(o)

vagus nerve

ventricul(o)

ventricle

Ach

acetylcholine

ALS

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BBB

blood-brain barrier

CNS

central nervous system

CP

cerebral palsy

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CT or CAT scan

computerized (axial) tomography

CVA

cerebrovascular accident

CVD

cerebrovascular disease

PNS

peripheral nervous system

Babinski's reflex

reflex on the plantar surface of the foot

cerebral angiogram

x-ray of the brain's blood vessels after a dye is injected

computerized (axial) tomography (CT or CAT) scan

radiographic imaging that produces cross-sectional images

electroencephalogram (EEG)

record of the electrical impulses of the brain

encephalogram

record of the radiographic study of the ventricles of the brain

evoked potentials

record of the electrical wave patterns observed in an EEG

lumbar (spinal) puncture

withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid from between two lumbar vertebrae

myelogram

x-ray of the spinal cord after a contrast medium has been injected

nerve conduction velocity

timing of the conductivity of an electrical shock administered to peripheral nerves

PET (positron emission tomography)

imaging of the brain using radioactive isotopes and tomography

polysomnography

recording of electrical and movement patterns during sleep

reflex

involuntary muscular contraction in response to a stimulus

SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) brain scan

brain image produced by the use of radioactive isotopes

transcranial sonogram

brain images produced by the use of sound waves

absence seizure

mild epileptic seizure consisting of brief disorientation with the environment

agnosia

inability to receive and understand outside stimuli

Alzheimer's disease

a type of degenerative brain disease causing thought disorders, gradual loss of muscle control, and, eventually, death

amnesia

loss of memory

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

degenerative disease of the motor neurons leading to loss of muscular control and death

aneurysm

abnormal widening of an artery wall that bursts and releases blood

aphasia

loss of speech

apraxia

inability to properly use familiar objects

astrocytoma

type of glioma formed from astrocytes

ataxia

condition with uncoordinated voluntary muscle movement, usually resulting from disorders of the cerebellum or spinal cord

aura

group of symptoms that precede a seizure

bacterial meningitis

meningitis caused by a bacteria; pyrogenic meningitis

Bell's palsy

paralysis of one side of the face; usually temporary

brain contusion

bruising of the surface of the brain without penetration

cerebellitis

inflammation of the cerebellum

cerebral infarction

cerebrovascular accident

cerebral palsy

congenital heart disease caused by damage to the cerebrum during gestation or birth and resulting in lack of motor coordination

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

neurological incident caused by disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke

coma

abnormally deep sleep with little or no response to stimuli

concussion

brain injury due to trauma

dementia

deterioration in mental capacity, usually in the elderly

demyelination

destruction of myelin sheath, particularly in MS

dopamine

substance in the brain or manufactured substance that helps relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease

duritis

inflammation of the dura mater

dysphasia

speech difficulty

embolic stroke

sudden stroke caused by an embolus

embolus

clot from somewhere in the body that blocks a small blood vessel in the brain

encephalitis

inflammation of the brain

epilepsy

chronic recurrent seizure activity

fainting

syncope

gait

manner of walking

gangliitis

inflammation of a ganglion

ganglion

any group of nerve cell bodies forming a mass or a cyst in the peripheral nervous system; usually forms in the wrist

glioblastoma multiforme

most malignant type of glioma

glioma

tumor that arises from neuroglia

grand mal seizure

tonic-clonic seizure

hemorrhagic stroke

stroke caused by blood escaping from a damaged cerebral artery

Huntington's chorea

hereditary disorder with uncontrollable, jerking movements

hydrocephalus

overproduction of fluid in the brain

Lou Gehrig's disease

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

meningioma

tumor that arises from the meninges

meningitis

inflammation of the meninges

meningocele

in spina bifida cystica, protrusion of the spinal meninges above the surface of the skin

meningomyelocele

in spina bifida cystica, protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord above the surface of the skin

multiple sclerosis

degenerative disease with loss of myelin, resulting in muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, and some paralysis

myasthenia gravis

disease involving overproduction of antibodies that block certain neurotransmitters; causes muscle weakness

myelitis

inflammation of the spinal cord

narcolepsy

nervous system disorder that causes uncontrollable sudden lapses into deep sleep

neuritis

inflammation of the nerves

occlusion

blocking of a blood vessel

oligodendroglioma

type of glioma formed from oligodendroglia

palsy

partial or complete paralysis

paresthesia

abnormal sensation, such as tingling

Parkinson's disease

degeneration of nerves in the brain caused by lack of sufficient dopamine

petit mal seizure

absence seizure

pyrogenic meningitis

meningitis caused by bacteria; can be fatal; bacterial meningitis

radiculitis

inflammation of the spinal nerve roots

sciatica

inflammation of the sciatic nerve

shingles

viral disease affecting the peripheral nerves

somnambulism

sleepwalking

somnolence

extreme sleepiness caused by a neurological disorder

spina bifida

congenital defect of the spinal column

stroke

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

syncope

loss of consciousness due to a sudden lack of oxygen in the brain

Tay-Sachs disease

hereditary disease that causes deterioration in the central nervous system and, eventually, death

thrombotic stroke

stroke caused by a thrombus

tics

twitching movements that accompany some neurological disorders

tonic-clonic seizure

severe epileptic seizure accompanied by convulsions, twitching, and loss of consciousness

Tourette syndrome

neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable speech sounds and tics

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

short neurological incident usually not resulting in permanent injury, but usually signaling that a larger stroke may occur

viral meningitis

meningitis caused by a virus and not as severe as pyrogenic meningitis

cordotomy

removing part of the spinal cord

craniectomy

removal of a part of the skull

craniotomy

incision into the skull

lobectomy

removal of a portion of the brain to treat certain disorders

lobotomy

incision into the frontal lobe of the brain

neurectomy

surgical removal of a nerve

neuroplasty

surgical repair of a nerve

neurorrhaphy

suturing of a severed nerve

neurosurgeon

medical specialist who performs surgery on the brain and spinal cord

neurotomy

dissection of a nerve

stereotaxy, stereotactic surgery

destruction of deep-seated brain structures using three-dimensional coordinates to locate the structures

trephination, trepanation

circular incision into the skull

vagotomy

surgical severing of the vagus nerve

analgesics

salicylates (aspirin), acetominophen, acetaminophen and codeine, ibuprofen


Tylenol, Tylenol #3, Advil, Motrin, Nuprin

local anethetics

lidocaine, procaine


Lidoderm, Novocain

general anethetics

enflurane, propofol, ketamine, midazolam


Ethrane, Diprivan, Ketalar, Versed

anticonvulsants

phenobarbital, carbamazeprine, clonazepam, phenytoin


Luminal, Solfoton, Tegretol, Klonopin, Dilantin

sedatives/hypnotics

diazepam, zolpidem, methaqualone, meprobamate


Valium, Ambien, Quaalude, Miltown

analgesic

agent that relieves or eliminates pain

anesthetic

agent that causes loss of feeling or sensation

anticonvulsant

agent that lessens or prevents convulsions

hypnotic

agent that induces sleep

narcotic

agent that relieves pain by inducing a stuporous or euphoric state

sedative

agent that relieves feelings of agitation