Flashcards in Ch. 12- Nervous System Deck (126):
1
brain
coordinates body functions
2
nerves
transmit messages to and from the central nervous system
3
spinal cord
transmits messages to and from the brain
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central nervous system
brain and spinal cord. sensory information is processed here, motor messages are sent to muscles and glands
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peripheral nervous system
12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves, divided into the autonomic nervous system and somatic nerves
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neurons
individual nerve cells capable of conducting electrical impulses responding to a stimulus
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three parts of a neuron
dendrites, cell body, axon
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dendrites
highly branched projections that receive impulses
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cell body
contains nucleus and many other organelles
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axon
projection from nerve cell body that conducts electrical impulse towards its destination
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synapse
point at which the axon of one neuron meets dendrite of another neuron
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synaptic cleft
gap between two neurons
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neurotransmitter
chemical messenger that allows impulses to pass across the synaptic cleft
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neuroglial cells
cells that DO NOT conduct electrical impulses but have various other functions within the neuron, some produce myelin
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myelin
fatty substance that acts as insulation for many axons so that they can conduct electrical impulses faster
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grey matter
in the CNS; comprised of unsheathed or uncovered cell bodies and dendrites
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white matter
myelinated nerve fibers
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tracts
bundles of nerve fibers interconnecting different parts of the CNS
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meninges
three membranes that encase and protect the CNS
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four sections of the brain
cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, and brain stem
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cerebrum
largest section of the brain, processes thoughts, judgment, memory, problem solving, and language, and divided into four lobes
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four lobes of the brain
frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal
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cerebral cortex
outer layer of the cerebrum composed of folds of grey matter
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gyrus (gyri)
elevated portions of cerebrum
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sulcus (sulci)
fissures separating the gyri
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cerebral hemispheres
left and right halves of the cerebrum
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frontal lobe
motor function, personality, and speech
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parietal lobe
receives and interprets nerve impulses from sensory receptors and interprets language
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occipital lobe
vision
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temporal lobe
hearing and smell
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diencephalon
contains thalamus and hypothalamus
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thalamus
composed of grey matter and relays impulses from eyes, ears, and skin to the cerebrum
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hypothalamus
body temperature, appetite, sleep, sexual desire, and emotions. also controls ANS, CV system, digestive system, and pituitary gland
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cerebellum
second largest portion of the brain; coordinates voluntary body movements and maintaining balance and equilibrium
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three components of brain stem
midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata
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midbrain
pathway for impulses between the brain and spinal cord
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pons
connects cerebellum to rest of brain (pons=bridge)
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medulla oblongata
connects brain to spinal cord; controls respiration, heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure. nerve tracts cross from one side of the brain to control movement and function on the opposite side of the body here
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ventricles
interconnected cavities in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid
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where are the four brain ventricles located?
one in each cerebral hemisphere, one in the thalamus, and one in front of the cerebellum
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cerebrospinal fluid
watery, clear fluid that provides protection from shock or sudden motion to the brain and spinal cord
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spinal cord function
provide a pathway for impulases traveling to and from the brain
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vertebral column
cavity that contains the spinal cord
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spinal cavity or vertebral canal
continuous canal for the spinal cord formed by the 33 vertebrae
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central canal
canal down the center of the spinal cord that contains cerebrospinal fluid
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ascending tracts
myelinated white matter on the outside of the spinal cord that carries sensory information up to the brain
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descending tracts
myelinated white matter on the outside of the spinal cord that carries motor information down to a peripheral nerve
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meninges
three layers of connective tissue membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord
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dura mater
"tough mother" outermost layer, tough, fibrous sac
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subdural space
space between the dura mater and arachnoid layers
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arachnoid layer
thin, delicate layer attached to the pia mater by weblike filaments. between the subdural space and subarachnoid space
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subarachnoid space
space between the arachnoid layer and the pia mater, contains CSF that cushions the brain from the outside
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pia mater
"soft mother" innermost membrane layer and sits directly on the brain and spinal cord
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nerve root
point where either type of nerve is attached to the central nervous system
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afferent neurons
aka sensory neurons, carry sensory information from a sensory receptor to the CNS
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efferent neurons
aka motor neurons, carry motor information from the CNS to muscles or glands out in the body
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ganglion
knot like mass of nerve cell bodies of neurons forming the nerves
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autonomic nervous system
controls involuntary bodily functions, and is separated into the parasympathetic and sympathetic branch
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sympathetic branch
"fight or flight" reaction during times of stress and crisis
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parasympathetic branch
"rest and digest" reaction, counterbalance to the sympathetic branch
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somatic nerves
serve skin and skeletal muscles and are mainly involved with voluntary bodily functions. they carry motor commands to skeletal muscles
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intrathecal
pertaining to within the meninges
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absence seizure
epileptic seizure that lasts only a few seconds to half a minute, characterized by a loss of awareness and absence of activity
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analgesia
absence of pain
65
aphasia
inability to communicate verbally or in writing
66
ataxia
lack of muscle coordination
67
aura
sensations, such as seeing colors or smelling an unusual odor, that occur just prior to an epileptic seizure or migraine headache
68
cephalalgia
headache
69
convulsion
severe involuntary muscle contractions and relaxations
70
delirium
abnormal mental state characterized by confusion, disorientation, and agitation
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dysphasia
difficulty communicating verbally or in writing
72
focal seizure
localized seizure often affecting one limb
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hemiparesis
weakness or loss of motion on one side of the body
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hemiplegia
paralysis on one side of the body
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hyperesthesia
abnormally heightened sense of feeling, pain, or touch
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neuralgia
nerve pain
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palsy
temporary or permanent loss of the ability to control movement
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paresthesia
abnormal sensation such as burning or tingling
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tonic-clonic seizure
severe epileptic seizure characterized by a loss of consciousness and convulsions. alternates between strong continuous muscle spasms and rhythmic muscle contraction and relaxation
80
astrocytoma
tumor of the brain or spinal cord composed of astrocytes, one type of neuroglial cells
81
cerebral aneurysm
localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel,
82
cerebral contusion
bruising of the brain from a blow or impact
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cerebral palsy
nonprogressive brain damage resulting from a defect, trauma, or oxygen deprivation at the time of birth
84
cerebrovascular accident
development of an infarct due to loss in blood supply to an area of the brain, aka stroke
85
epilepsy
recurrent disorder of the brain in which seizures and loss of consciousness occur as a result of uncontrolled electrical activity of brain neurons
86
hydrocephalus
accumulation of CSF in the brain ventricles, causing the head to be enlarged
87
Reye syndrome
combination of symptoms that include acute encephalopathy and damage to various organs, and is linked with taking aspirin
88
transient ischemic attack
temporary interference with blood flow to the brain, causing dizziness, numbness, and hemiparesis, and may lead to stroke
89
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
muscle weakness and atrophy due to degeneration of motor neurons of the spinal cord
90
meningocele
congenital condition in which the meninges protrude through an opening in the vertebral column
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myelomeningocele
meninges and spinal cord protrude through an opening in vertebral column
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poliomyelitis
viral inflammation of grey matter of spinal cord
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spina bifida
congenital defect in the walls of spinal canal in which laminae of vertebra do not close and can result in a meningocele or myelomeningocele
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Bell's palsy
one sided facial paralysis due to inflammation of the faciel nerves
95
Guillain-Barré syndrome
disease of nervous system in which nerves lose their myelin covering
96
multiple sclerosis
inflammatory disease of CNS in which there is extreme weakness and numbness due to loss of myelin from nerves
97
myasthenia gravis
severe muscle weakness and fatigue due to insufficient neurotransmitter at a synapse
98
radiculitis
inflammation of a nerve root
99
radiculopathy
condition that occurs when herniated nucleus pulposus puts pressure on a nerve root
100
shingles
painful blisters on the body along a nerve path
101
meningioma
tumor in meninges
102
meningitis
inflammation of meninges
103
subdural hematoma
mass of blood forming beneath dura mater if meninges are torn by trauma
104
cerebrospinal fluid analysis
laboratory examination of the clear, watery, colorless fluid from within brain and spinal cord
105
brain scan
image of the brain taken after injection of radioactive isotopes
106
cerebral angiography
xray of blood vessels of brain
107
echoencephalography
recording of ultrasonic echoes of brain
108
myelogram
xray of spinal cord
109
myelography
xray of spinal cord after injection of dye
110
positron emission tomography
image of brain produced by measuring gamma rays emitted from brain after injecting glucose tagged with positively charged isotopes
111
Babinski reflex
reflex test to determine lesions and abnormalities in the nervous system
112
electroencephalogram
record of brain's electrical patterns
113
electroencephalography
recording electrical activity of brain by placing electrodes at various positions on scalp
114
lumbar puncture
puncture with a needle into the lumbar area to withdraw fluid for examination and for the injection of anesthesia
115
nerve conduction velocity
test that measures how fast an impulse travels along a nerve
116
nerve block
injection of regional anesthetic to stop the passage of sensory or pain impulses along a nerve path
117
carotid endarterectomy
removing an obstruction in the carotid artery
118
cerebrospinal fluid shunts
bypass is created to drain CSF
119
laminectomy
removal of a portion of a vertebra to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve
120
analgesic
treat minor to moderate pain without loss of consciousness
ex) aspirin, Bayer, Ecotrin, acetaminophen, Tylenol, ibuprofen, Motrin
121
anesthetic
produces a loss of sensation or a loss of consciousness
ex) lidocaine, Xylocaine, pentobarbital, Nembutal, propofol, Dprivan, procaine, Novocain
122
anticonvulsant
reduces excitability of neurons and prevents uncontrolled neuron activity associated with seizures
ex) carbamazepine, Tegretol, phenobarbital, Nembutal
123
dopaminergic drugs
treats Parkinson's by either replacing the dopamine that is lacking or increasing the strength of dopamine that is present
ex) levodopa, L-dopa, Larodopa, levodopa/carbidopa, Sinernet
124
hypnotic
promotes sleep
ex) secobarbital, Seconal, termazepam, Restoril
125
narcotic analgesic
treats severe pain, has the potential to be habit forming if taken for a prolonged period of time
ex) morphine, MS Contin, oxycodone, OxyContin, meperidine, Demerol
126