Chapter 10. Nervous System - Medical Terms Flashcards
1
Q
acetylcholine
A
neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells
2
Q
afferent nerve
A
carries nervous impulses toward the brain and spinal cord; sensory nerve
3
Q
akinetic
A
pertaining to loss or absence of voluntary movement
4
Q
analgesia
A
absence of sensitivity to pain
5
Q
aphasia
A
inability to speak; language function is impaired due to injury to the cerebral cortex
6
Q
apraxia
A
inability to perform purposeful acts or manipulate objects
7
Q
arachnoid membrane
A
middle layer of the meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord
8
Q
astrocyte
A
glial (neuroglial) cell that transports salts and water from capillaries
9
Q
ataxia
A
without coordination
10
Q
autonomic nervous system
A
nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs
11
Q
axon
A
microscopic fiber that carries a nervous impulse along a nerve cell
12
Q
blood-brain barrier
A
blood vessels that let certain substances enter the brain tissue3 and keep other substances out
13
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bradykinesia
A
slow movement
14
Q
brainstem
A
lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord
15
Q
cauda equina
A
collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord
16
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causalgia
A
intensely unpleasant burning pain in a limb following damage to nerves
17
Q
cell body
A
part of the nerve cell (neuron) that contains the nucleus
18
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central nervous system
A
brain and spinal cord
19
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cephalgia
A
head pain; headache
20
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cerebellar
A
pertaining to the cerebellum
21
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cerebellopontine
A
pertaining to the cerebellum and pons
22
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cerebral cortex
A
outer region of the cerebrum
23
Q
cerebrospinal fluid
A
clear, watery fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord
24
Q
cerebrum
A
largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought and memory, among other functions
25
coma
state of unconsciousness from which a patient cannot be aroused
26
comatose
pertaining to a coma
27
cranial nerves
twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain
28
dendrite
microscopic branching portion of a nerve cell; first part of the nerve cell to receive the nervous impulse
29
dura mater
thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord
30
dyskinesia
impairment of the ability to perform voluntary movements
31
dyslexia
difficulty in reading, writing, and learning
32
efferent nerve
carries messages away from the brain to the spinal cord; motor nerve
33
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
34
encephalopathy
disease of the brain
35
ependymal cell
a glial cell that lines the membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid
36
epidural hematoma
collection of blood located above the dura mater
37
ganglion
collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system; plural is ganglia
38
glial cell
nervous system cell that is supportive and connective in function: Astrocyte, microglial cell, ependymal cell
39
glioblastoma
rapidly growing malignant tumor of the brain
40
gyrus, gyri
sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded fold on the surface of the cerebrum
41
hemiparesis
slight paralysis of the right or left half of the body
42
hemiplegia
paralysis of the right or left half of the body
43
hypalgesia
diminished sensitivity to pain
44
hyperesthesia
excessive sensitivity or feeling, especially of the skin in response to touch or pain
45
hyperkinesis
excessive movement
46
hypothalamus
portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland
47
intrathecal
pertaining to within the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord
48
leptomeningeal
pertaining to the two thinner membranes (arachnoid membrane and pia mater) surrounding the brain and spinal cord
49
medulla oblongata
lower part of the brain, closest to the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and size of size of blood vessels
50
meningeal
pertaining to meninges
51
meninges
three membranes surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord
52
meningioma
tumor (benign) of the meninges
53
microglial cell
phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system
54
motor nerve
carries impulses from the brain and spinal cord to muscles
55
myelin sheath
fatty, white covering over the axon of a nerve cell
56
myelogram
x-ray record (with contrast) of the spinal cord
57
myelomeningocele
congenital hernia (protrusion) of the spinal cord and meninges through a defect (gap) in the vertebral column, this defect is often associated with spina bifida
58
myoneural
pertaining to muscle and nerve
59
narcolepsy
sudden seizures of sleep
60
nerve
macroscopic cordlike collection of fibers that carry electrical impulses
61
neuralgia
nerve pain
62
neurasthenia
lack of strength in nerves; a feeling of weakness and exhaustion
63
neuroglia
supporting cells (stroma) of the nervous system; glial cells
64
neuron
nerve cell
65
neuropathy
disease of nerves; primarily in the peripheral nervous system
66
neurotransmitter
chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell
67
oligodendroglial cell
glial (neuroglial) cell that forms the myelin sheath covering the axon of a neuron
68
paraplegia
paralysis of the lower part of the body and both legs
69
parasympathetic nerves
involuntary, autonomic, nerves that regulate normal body functions, such as heart rate, breathing, and the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract
70
parenchyma
essential, functioning cells of any organ; neurons (nerve cells) are the parenchyma of the nervous system
71
paresis
slight paralysis
72
paresthesia
abnormal nervous sensation occurring without apparent cause; examples are tingling, numbness or prickling sensations
73
peripheral nervous system
nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves
74
pia mater
thin, delicate, innermost membrane of the meninges
75
plexus
network of nerves outside of the central nervous system; brachial, cervical, lumbosacral plexuses are examples
76
poliomyelitis
inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord
77
polyneuritis
inflammation of many nerves
78
pons
part of the brainstem anterior to the cerebellum, between the medulla and the rest of the brain; the pons connects the upper and lower portions of the brain
79
quadriplegia
paralysis of all four limbs; both arms and both legs
80
radiculitis
inflammation of a spinal nerve root
81
radiculopathy
disease of a spinal nerve root
82
receptor
organ that receives nervous stimulation and passes it on to nerves that carry the stimulation to the brain and spinal cord; skin, ears, eyes and taste buds
83
sciatic nerve
extends from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot; sciatica is pain along the course of the nerve
84
sensory nerve
carries messages to the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve
85
spinal nerves
thirty-one pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord; each spinal nerve affects a particular area of the skin
86
stimulus
agent of change (light, sound, touch) that evokes a response
87
stroma
connective and supportive tissue of an organ
88
subdural hematoma
collection of blood in the space below the dura mater surrounding the brain
89
sulcus, sulci
depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure
90
sympathetic nerves
autonomic nerves that activate responses in times of stress; heartbeat, respiration, and blood pressure are affected
91
synapse
space between nerve cells or between nerve cells and muscle and glandular cells
92
syncopal
pertaining to a syncope (fainting)
93
syncope
fainting; temporary loss of consciousness
94
thalamic
pertaining to the thalamus
95
thalamus
main relay center of the brain; located in the central region or diencephalon of the brain
96
trigeminal neuralgia
flashes of stab like pain along the course of a branch of the trigeminal nerve (5th crainial nerve); the trigeminal nerve has branches to the eye, upper jaw and lower jaw
97
vagal
pertaining to the vagus nerve
98
vagus nerve
tenth cranial nerve with branches to the chest and abdominal organs
99
ventricles of the brain
fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) filled canals in the brain
100
absence seizure
minor form of seizure, consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of contact with the environment
101
alzheimer disease
brain disorder marked by progressive, gradual mental deterioration (dementia) along with personality and impairment of daily functioning
102
amyotropic lateral sclerosis
degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem and resulting in total body paralysis
103
aneurysm
weakening of an arterial wall, which may lead to hemorrhage and cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
104
astrocytoma
brain tumor composed of astrocytes (glial cells); the most serious of these tumors is a glioblastoma multiforme (Grades III and IV malignant brain tumor)
105
aura
peculiar sensation appearing before more definite symptoms
106
bell palsy
unilateral paralysis of the face caused by a disorder of the facial nerve
107
cerebral angiography
x-ray record of blood vessels in the brain after intravenous injection of contrast material
108
cerebral concussion
temporary brain dysfunction (brief loss of consciousness) after injury; usually clearing within 24 hours
109
cerebral contusion
bruising of brain tissue as a result of direct trauma to the head; neurologic disorder persists longer than 24 hours
110
cerebral hemorrhage
bursting of an artery in the brain
111
cerebral palsy
partial paralysis and muscular coordination caused by loss of oxygen or blood flow to the cerebrum during pregnancy or in the perinatal period
112
cerebrospinal fluid analysis
samples of cerebrospinal fluid are examined for blood, cells, protein, glucose, tumor cells, bacteria and other substances
113
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
disruption of the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke
114
computed tomography
cross-sectional x-ray imaging of an organ (such as the brain or spinal cord) with or without contrast material
115
dementia
mental decline and deterioration
116
demyelination
destruction of myelin on axons of nerves (as in multiple sclerosis)
117
dopamine
neurotransmitter in the central nervous system; deficient in patients with Parkinson disease
118
Doppler ultrasound studies
sound waves are used to detect blood flow in arteries within the brain leading to the brain
119
electroencephalography
process of recording the electricity within the brain
120
embolus
blood clot that is carried by the bloodstream from one area of the body to another where it blocks a blood vessel
121
epilepsy
brain disorder marked by recurrent attacks (seizures) or abnormal nervous impulses
122
gait
manner of walking
123
glioblastoma
highly malignant brain tumor composed of glial cells (astrocytes)
124
herpes zoster
viral infection affecting peripheral nerves
125
HIV encephalopathy
disease of the brain (dementia) caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
126
Huntington disease
hereditary disorder affecting the cerebrum and involving abrupt, involuntary, jerking movements and mental deterioration in later stages
127
hydrocephalus
abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles (canals) of the brain
128
ictal event
pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as the convulsion of an epileptic seizure
129
lumbar puncture
withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid from the subarachnoid space between two lumbar vertebrae; spinal tap
130
magnetic resonance imaging
magnetic and radio waves create an image of an organ three planes of the body; the brain and spinal cord can be imaged to detect lesions
131
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges
132
meningocele
hernia of the meninges through a defect or space between vertebrae; a form of spina bifida cystica
133
migraine
a severe headache that is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting
134
multiple sclerosis
chronic neurologic disorder marked by destruction of the myelin sheath on neuronal axons in the CNS and replacement by plaques of sclerotic tissue
135
myasthenia gravis
autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles
136
migraine
a severe headache, often unilateral, and sometimes accompanies by nausea and vomiting
137
occlusion
blockage or obstruction
138
palliative
relieving symptoms, but not curative
139
palsy
paralysis
140
Parkinson disease
degeneration of nerve cells that produce the neurotransmitter, dopamine in the brain; leads to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement
141
positron emission tomography
computerized radiologic procedure using radioactive glucose or oxygen to image the metabolic activity of cells, such as brain cells
142
shingles
viral (herpes zoster) illness that affects peripheral nerves; produces blisters and pain on the skin overlying the path of peripheral nerves
143
spina bifida
congenital defect in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts; spinal cord and meninges may herniate through the vertebral gap
144
stereotactic radiosurgery
use of a specialized instrument using three-dimensional coordinates to locate the site to be operated on
145
thrombus
blood clot
146
tic
involuntary movement of a small group of muscles, as of the face
147
tonic-clonic seizure
a major seizure affecting the brain in epilepsy
148
tourette syndrome
neurologic disorder characterized by multiple facial and other body tics
149
transient ischemic attack
fleeting episode of ischemia (holding back blood) in the brain
150
cerebellum
controls body temperature, sleep, appetite, emotions, and the pituitary gland
