Nervous System 1

portion of the central nervous system contained within the cranium

largest portion of the brain; it is divided into right and left halves known as cerebral hemisphers that are connected by a bridge of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum.

brain and spinal cord

anterior section of each cerebral hemisphere responsible for voluntary muscle movement and personality

portion posterior to the frontal lobe, responsible for sensations such as pain, temperature, and touch

portion that lies below the frontal lobe, responsible for hearing, taste, and smell

portion posterior to the parietal and temporal lobes, responsible for vision

outer layer of the cerebrum consisting of gray matter, responsible for higher mental functions (cortex = bark)

two gray matter nuclei deep within the brain, responsible for relaying sensory information to the cortex

ring or circle; convolutions (mounds) of the cerebral hemispheres

ditch; shallow grooves that separate gyri

splitting crack; deep grooves in the brain

portion of the brain located below the occipital lobes of the cerebum, responsible for control and coordination of skeletal muscles

region of the brain that serves as a relay between the cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord, responsible for breathing, heart rate, and body temperature; there are three levels: mesencephalon (midbrain), pons, and medulla oblongata

series of interconnected cavities within the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem filled with cerebrospinal fluidClick to flip

plasma-like clear fluid circulating in and around the brain and spinal cord

column of nervous tissue from the brainstem through the vertebrae, responsible for nerve conduction to and from the brain and the body

three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, consisting of the dura mater, pia mater, and arachnoid

nerves that branch from the central nervous system, including nerves of the brain (cranial nerves) and spinal cord (spinal nerves)

nerves that carry involuntary impulses to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and various glandsClick to flip

condition without speech; impairment due to localized brain injury that affects understanding, retrieving, and formulating meaningful and sequential elements of language

condition of difficult articulation; group of related speech impairment that may affect the speed, range, direction, strength, and timing of motor movement as a result of paralysis, weakness, or incoordination of speech muscles (arthr/o = articulation)

general term referring to levels of decreased consciousness with varying responsiveness; a common method of assessment is the Glasgow coma scaleClick to flip

state of mental confusion due to disturbances in cerebral function--there are many causes, including fever, shock, or drug overdose (deliro = to draw the furrow awry in plowing, i.e., to go off the rails)

impairment of intellectual function characterized by memory loss, disorientation, and confusion (dementio = to be mad)

pain along the course of a nerve

temporary or permanent loss of motor control. Flaccid paralysis: defective (flabby) or absent uscle control caused by a nerve lesion. Spastic paralysis: stiff and awkward muscle control caused by a central nervous system disorder. Hemiparesis: partial paralysis of the right or left half of the body

pain that follows the pathway of the sciatic nerve caused by compression or trauma of the nerve of its roots

sudden, transient disturbances in brain function resulting from abnormal firing of nerve impulses (may or may not be associated with convulsion). Convulsion: to pull together; type of seizure that causes a series of sudden, involuntary contractions of muscles

fainting

disease of structural changes in the brain resulting in an irreversible deterioration that progresses from forgetfulness and disorientation to loss of all intellectual functions, total disability, and death

condition of motor dysfunction caused by damage to the cerebrum during development or injury at birth, characterized by partial paralysis and lack of muscle coordition (palsy = paralysis)

damage to the brain caused by cerebrovascular disease (e.g., occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus or thrombus or intracranial hemorrhage after rupture of an aneurysm)

brief episode of loss of blood flow to the brain usually caused by a partial occlusion that results in temporary neurological deficit (impairment)--often precedes a CVA

inflammation of the brain

disorder affecting the central nervous sytem characterized by recurrent seizures. Tonic-clonic: stiffening-jerking; a major motor seizure involving all muscle groups--previously termed grand mal (big bad) seizure. Absence: seizure involving a brief loss of consciousnes without motor involvement--previously termed petit mal (little bad) seizure. Partial: seizure involving only limited areas of the brain with localized symptoms.

hereditary disease of the central nervous system

inflammation of the meninges

disease of the central nervous system characterized by the demyelination (deterioration of the myelin sheath) of nerve fibers, with episodes of neurological dysfunction (exacerbation) followed by recovery (remission)

sleep disorder characterized by a sudden, uncontrollable need to sleep, attacks of paralysis (cataplexy), and dreams intruding while awake (hypnagogic hallucinations)

condition of slowly progressive degeneration of an area of the brainstem (substantia nigra) resulting in a decrease of dopamine ( a chemical neurotransmitter that is necessary for proper movement); characterized by tremor; rigidity of muscles, and slow movements (bradykinesia), usually occurring later in life

paralysis. Hemiplegia: paralysis on one side of the body. Paraplegia: paralysis from the waist down. Quadriplegia: paralysis of all four limbs

periods of breathing cessation that occur during sleep, often causing snoring