Chap 14 Terminology.txt

Carry or move inward or toward a central structure

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

network of nervous tissue found in the brain and spinal cord

carry or move away from a central structure

projection of a neuron, especially the axon that transmits impulses

additional sheath external to myelin that is formed by Schwann cells and found only on axons in the peripheral nervous system

chamber or cavity of an organ that receives or holds a fluid

center for thought and emotion, interpretation of sensory stimuli, and coordination of body functions

main pathway for transmission of information between the brain and body

Includes 12 pairs of nerves that emerge from the base of the skull and may act in either a motor capacity, sensory capacity or both

Includes 31 pairs of nerves that emerge from the spine and act in both motor and sensory capacities

• Cerebrum
• Cerebellum
• Disencephalon
• Brainstem

• Ependymocytes
• Astrocytes
• Oligodendrocytes
• Microglia

• Dilates pupils
• Inhibits the flow of saliva
• Relaxes bronchi
• Accelerates heart rate
• Slows digestive activities
• Constricts visceral blood vessels

• Constricts pupils
• Increases the flow of saliva
• Constricts bronchi
• Slows heart rate
• Accelerates digestive activities
• Dilates visceral blood vessels

inability to comprehend auditory, visual, spatial, olfactory or other sendations even though the sensory sphere is intact

weakness, debility or loss of strength

lack of muscle coordination in the execution of voluntary movement

• premonitory awareness of an approaching physical or mental disorder
• peculiar sensation that preceeds seizures

developmental disorder characterized by extreme withdrawal and an abnormal absorption in fantasy, usually accompanied by an inability to communicate even on a basic level

• injury to the head in which the dura mater remains intact and brain tissue is not exposed
• injury site may occur at the impact site, where the brain hits the inside of the skull (coup) or at the rebound site, where the opposite side of the brain strikes the skull (contracoup)

abnormally deep unconsciousness with absence of voluntary response to stimuli

• injury to the brain, occaisionally with transient loss of consciousness as a result of injury or trauma to the head
• delayed symptoms of concussion may include headache, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision

any sudden and violent contraction of one or more muscles

broad term that refers to cognitive deficit, including memory impairment

inability to learn and process written nlanguage despite adequate intelligence, sensory ability and exposure

autoimmune condition that causes acute inflammation fo the peripheral nerves in which myelin sheaths on the axons are destroyed, resulting in decreased nerve impulses, loss of reflex response and sudden muscle weakness.

• painful, acute infectious disease of the posterior root ganglia of only a few segments of the spinal or cranial nerves; also called shigles
• caused by the same organism that causes chickenpox in children.

• inherited disease of the CNS characterized by quick, involuntary movements, speech disturbances and mental deterioration
• Onset is commonly between ages 30 - 50

accumulation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain, causing increased intracranial pressure (ICP), thinning of brain tissue and separation of cranial bones

abnormal inactivity or lack of response to normal stimuli; also called sluggishness

nonpsychotic mental illness that triggers feeling of distress and anxiety and impairs normal behavior

paralysis, usually partial, and commonly characterized by weakness and shaking or uncontrolled tremor

• facial paralysis caused by a functional disorder of the seventh cranial nerve, associated with herpes virus
• self limiting and usually spontaneously resolves in 3-5 weeks

• type of paralysis that affects movement and body position and sometimes, speech and learning ability
• commonly occurs as a result of trauma to the brain during the birthing process

• loss of voluntary motion in one or more muscle groups with or without loss of sensatoin
• common causes are strokes and spinal cord injuries
• strokes - one side of the body
• spinal cord injuries - paralysis below the site of the injury

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 lefs, typically as a result of trauma or disease of the upper spinal cord

major emotional disorder in which contact with reality is lost to the point that the indiviual is incapable of meeting challenges of daily life

• defect in which the neural tube (tissue that forms the brain and spinal chord in the fetus) fails to close during embryogenesis
• includes: meningocele, meningomyelocele and occulta

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 throught he 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, thingling, or heighted sensitivity
• can be caused by disorders affecting the CNS such as stroke, TIA, MS, transverse myelitis and encephalitis

• inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord caused by a virus, commonly resulting in spinal and muscle deformity and paralysis
• preventable with standard vaccinations administered to children

• acute encephalopathy and fatty infiltration of the brain, liver and possibly the pancreas, heart, kidney, spleen and lymph nodes
• usually seen in children younger than 15

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

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

syncope due to a drop in blood pressure brought on by the response of the nervous system to abrupt emotional stress, pain or trauma

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

• temporary interference with blood supply to the brain lasting from a few minutes to a few hours
• symptoms may include numbness or weakness in the extremities, esp on one side of the body; confusion or dificulty in talking or understanding speech; visual impairment; dizziness; loss of balance and difficulty walking

• recording of electrical activity in the brain, whose cells emit distinct patterns of rhythmic electrical impulses
• diff wave patterns are assoc w/ normal and abnormal waking and sleeping states. They help diagnose such conditions as tumors, infections and seizure disorders

• recording of electrical signals (action potentials) that occur in a muscle when it is at rest and during contraction to assess nerve damage
• an electrode inserted into a muscle records impulses and displays them on a monitor called an oscilloscope

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

• precise method of locating and destroying sharply circumscribed lesions on specific, tiny areas of pathological tissue in deep-seated structures of the central nervous system
• also called sterotaxy or sterotactic surgery
• used in the treatment of seizure disorders, aneurysms, brain tumors and many other neuropathological conditions and is performed w/o a surgical incision. The pathological site is localized with 3D coordinates and high doses of radiation are used to destroy it

• partial destruction of the thalamus to treat intractable pain, involuntary movements or emotional disturbances
• produces few neurological deficits or changes in personality

• Transection of a nerve tract in the brainstem or spinal cord
• sometines used to relieve intractable pain

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

• interruption of the funcction of the vagus nerve to relieve peptic ulcer
• performed when ulcers in the stomach and duodenum do not respond to medication or changes in diet