Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
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 |