Chapter 12: Nervous System Flashcards
Anesthetic
An agent that produces a local or general loss of sensation including feelings of pain.
Anticholinesterase Drug
A drug that blocks the breakdown of ACh by AChE.
Atropine
A drug that prevents ACh from binding to the postsynaptic membrance of cardiac muscle cells and smooth muscle cells.
D-tubocurarine
A drug, derived from curare, a South American rain forest vine. It produces paralysis by preventing ACh from binding to the postsynaptic membrane (motor end plate) of skeletal muscle fibers.
Dysthymia
A form of clinical depression with a depressed mood for most of the time for at least two years along with at least two of the following signs and symptoms: poor appetite or overeating; insomnia or excessive sleep; low energy or fatigue; low self-esteem; poor concentration or indecisiveness; and hopelessness.
Excitotoxicity
Continuous exaggerated stimulation by a neurotransmitter, especially for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. The nerve cells can become damaged and killed by over activation of the receptors.
Neuroblastoma
Continuous and exaggerated stimulation by a neurotransmitter, especially for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. The nerve cells can become damaged and killed by the overactivation of receptors.
Neuropathy
Condition that causes tingling, numbness, and/or pain in parts of the body, notably the hands and feet.
Neutotoxin
A compound that disrupts normal nervous system function by interfering with the generation or propagation of action potentials. Examples include tetrodotoxin (TTX), saxitoxin (STX), and ciguatoxin (CTX).
Tay-Sachs Disease
A genetic abnormality involving the metabolism of gangliosides, important lipid components of neuron plasma membranes. The result is a gradual deterioration of neurons due to the buildup of metabolic by-products and the release of lysosomal enzymes.
