Med. Term Nervous System

neurotransmitter chemical relased at the end of nerce cells

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve)

middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and cpinal cord.

type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transport water and salts from capillaries

nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs

microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell.

protective mechanism that blocks specific substances found in the bloodstream from entering delicate brain tissue

lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the pons and medulla oblongata.

collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord

parts of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus

network of nervous tissue found in the brain and spinal cord

posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.

outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord

largest part of the brain responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought and memory

12 pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain with regard to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve)

microscopic branching fiber of the nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse

thick, outermost layer of the menindes surrpunding and protecting the brain and spinal cord

carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord, motor nerve

glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid

collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system

supportive and connective nerve cells that does not carry nervous impulses. Examples are astrocytes.

sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution

portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temp, and secretions from the pituitary gland.

part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here

3 protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cords

phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system

carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve

covering the shite fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.

macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons and dendrites) that carry electrical impulses

nerve cell that carries impluses throughout the body

chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell. (dopamine)

glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. Also called oligodendrocyte.

involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract

essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system. this includes the brain, spinal cord, and nuerons.

nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal and autonomic nerves

thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges

large, interlacing network of nerces

parts of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between teh medulla and the rest of te midbrain. It is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain.

organ that recieves a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves. The skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds are receptors.

Nerve extending from teh base of the spine down the thigh, lower led and foot. Sciattic is pain or inflammation along the course of the nerve.

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve

31 paris of nerves arising from the spinal cord

agent of change in the interanl or external environment that evokes a response.

connective and supporting tissue of an organ. Glial cells are the stromal tissue of the brain.

depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure

autonomic nerces that influence bodily functions involuntary in times of stress

space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells.

main relay center of the brain. Conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum

10th cranial nerve

canals in the brain that contrain cerebrospinal fluid.

cerebellum

cerebrum

cranium (skull)

dura mater

brain

glial cells

movement

thin, slender

word, phrase

• meninges (membranes covering brain and spinal cord)
• membranes

muscle

bone marrow; spinal cord

nerve

pons

nerve roots (of spinal nerves)

thalamus

sheath (usually refers to meninges)

vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve)

• excessive
• sensitivity to pain

pain

burning

deep sleep (coma)

feeling, nervous, sensation

movement

seizure

weakness

speech

paralysis (loss or impairment of the ability to move parts of the body)

action

strength

to cut off, cut short

order, coordination

near, beside; beyond

union, together, joined

minor (petit mal) form of a seizure, consiting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awareness of surroundings.

enlarged, weakened area in an arterial wall, which may rupture, leading to hemorrhage and CVA (stroke)

malignant tumor of astrocytes (glial brain cells)

peculiar sensation or sensation occuring before the onset (prodromal) of an attack of migraine or an epileptic seizure

mental decline and deterioration

destruction of myelin on axons of nerurons (as in multiple sclerosis)

CNS neurotransmitter, deficient in patient with Parkinson disease

clot of material that travels through the bloodstream and suddenly blocks a vessel

manner of walking

partaining to a sudden, acute onset, as with the convulsions of an epileptic seizure 

blockage

relieving symptoms but not curing them

removal of the thymus gland ( a lymphocyte producing gland in the chest); used as treatment for myasthenia gravis.

transient ischemic attack

involuntary movement of a small group of muscles, as of the face; characteristic of Tourette syndrome

major (grand mal) convulsion seizure marjed by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching and jerking movements.

• loss of voluntary motion in one or more muscle groups with or without loss of sensation
• -paralysis of one side of the body, typically as the result of a stroke; also called unilateral paralysis
• -paralysis of both lower limbs, typically as a result of trauma or disease of the lower spinal cord
• -paralysis of both arms and legs, typically as a result of trauma or disease of the upper spinal cord

major emotiona disorder in which contact with reality is lost to the point that the individual is inapable of meeting challenges of daily life

• defect in which the neural tube (tissue that forms the brain and spinal cord in the fetus) fails to close during embryogenesis
• -form of spina bifida in which the spinal cord develops properly but the meninges protrude through the spine
• -most severe form of spina bifida in which the spinal cord and meninges protrude through the spine
• -form of spina bifida in which one or more vertebrae are malformed and the spinal cord is covered with a layer of skin

sensation of numbness, prickling, tingling, or heightened sensitivity

inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord caused by a virus, commonly resulting in spianl and muscle deformity and paralysis

acute encephalopathy and fatty infiltration of the brain, liver and, possibly, heart kidney, spleen, and lymph nodes

severe pain in the leg along the course of the sciatic nerve felt at the base of the spine, down the thigh, and radiating downt the leg due to a compressed nerve

temporary loss of consciousness due to the sudden decline of blood flow to the brain; also falled fainting

general type of seizure characterized by the loss of consciousness and stiffening of the body (tonic phase) followed by rhythmic, jerking movements (clonic phase)

temporarty interference with blood supply to the brain lasting from a few minutes to a few hours

recording of electrical activity in the brain, whose cells emit distinct patterns of rhythmic electrical impulses

recording of electrical signals (action potentials) that occur in a muscle when it is at rest and during contraction to assess nerve damage

needle puncture of the spinal cavity to extract spinal fluid for diagnostic purposes, introduce anesthetic agents into the spinal canal, or remove fluid to allow other fluids (such as radiopaque substances) to be injected; also called spinal puncture and spinal tap

test that measures the speed at which impulses travel through a nerve

series of chemical, microscopic, and microbial tests used to diagnose disorders of the CNS, including viral and bacterial infections, tumors, and hemmorrhage

• radiography of the blood vessels after introduction of a contrast medium
• -angiography of blood vessels of the brain after injection of a contrast medium; also called cerebral anteriography

diagnostic and radiological examination of the spinal canal, nerve roots, and spinal cord after injection of a contrast medium into the spinal canal

scan using computed tomography to record the positrons (poitively charged particles) emitted from a radiopharmaceutical and produce a cross-sectional image of metabolic activity in body tissues to determine the presence of disease

ultrasound technique used to study intracraial structures of the brain and conditions that cause a shift in the midline structure of the brain

technique that exposes abnormal tissue to extreme cold to destroy it

precise method of locating and destorying sharply circumscribed lesions on specific, tiny areas of pathological tissue in deep-seated structures of the CNS; also called stereotaxy or stereotactic surgery

partial destruction the thalamus to treat intractable pain, involuntary movements, or emotional disturbances

transection of a nerve tract in the brainstem or spinal cord

technique that cuts a circular opening into the skull to reveal brain tissue and decrease intracranial pressure

interruption of the function of the vagus nerve to relieve peptic ulver

• produce partial or complete loss of sensation, whith or without loss of consciousness
• -act upon the brain to produce a complete loss of feeling with loss of consciousness
• -act upon nerves or nerve tracts to affect a local area only

prevent uncrontrolled neuron activity assocaited with seizures by altering electrical transmission along neurons or alterint he chemical composition of neurotransmitters; also called antiepileptics

control tremors and muscle rigitiy associated with parkinson disease by increasing dopamine in the brain

treat multiple symptoms of depression by increasing levels of specific neurotransmitters