CH15-Nervous System Flashcards
1
Q
cerebrum
A
largest portion of the brain, divided into left and right hemispheres. The cerebrum controls the skeletal
muscles, interprets general senses (such as temperature, pain, and touch), and contains centers for sight
and hearing. Intellect, memory, and emotional reactions also take place in the cerebrum.
2
Q
ventricles
A
cavities (spaces) within the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The cerebrospinal fluid flows
through the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord.
3
Q
cerebellum
A
located under the posterior portion of the cerebrum; assists in the coordination of skeletal muscles to
maintain balance (also called hindbrain)
4
Q
pons
A
literally means bridge. It connects the cerebrum with the cerebellum and brainstem.
5
Q
medulla oblongata
A
located between the pons and spinal cord. It contains centers that control respiration, heart rate, and the
muscles in the blood vessel walls, which assist in determining blood pressure.
6
Q
midbrain
A
most superior portion of the brainstem
7
Q
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
A
clear, colorless fluid contained in the ventricles that flows through the subarachnoid space around the
brain and spinal cord. It cushions the brain and spinal cord from shock, transports nutrients, and clears
metabolic waste.
8
Q
spinal cord
A
passes through the vertebral canal extending from the medulla oblongata to the level of the second
lumbar vertebra. The spinal cord conducts nerve impulses to and from the brain and initiates reflex action
to sensory information without input from the brain.
9
Q
meninges
A
three layers of membrane that cover the brain and spinal cord
10
Q
dura mater
A
tough outer layer of the meninges
11
Q
aarchnoid
A
delicate middle layer of the meninges
12
Q
pia mater
A
thin inner later of the meninges
13
Q
ganglion
A
group of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system
14
Q
glia
A
specialized cells that support and nourish nervous tissue
15
Q
cerebello
A
cerebellum
16
Q
cerebro
A
cerebrum
17
Q
duro
A
hard, dura mater
18
Q
myelo
A
spinal cord
19
Q
radico
A
nerve root
20
Q
esthesio
A
sensation, sensitivity, feeling
21
Q
mento
A
mind
22
Q
phaso
A
speech
23
Q
polio
A
gray matter`
24
Q
-ictal
A
seizure, attack
25
-iatry
treatment, specialty
26
cerrebellitis
inflammation of the cerebellum
27
cerebral thrombosis
pertaining to the cerebrum, abnormal condition of a clot (blood clot in a blood vessel of the
brain. Onset of symptoms may appear from minutes to days after an obstruction occurs; a
cause of ischemic stroke.)
28
duritis
inflammation of the dura mater
29
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
30
encephalomalacia
softening of the brain
31
encephalomyeloradiculitis
inflammation of the brain, spinal cord, and nerve roots
32
glioblastoma
tumor composed of glia
33
meningioma
tumor of the meninges
34
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges
35
meningocele
protrusion of the meninges (through a defect in the skull or vertebral arch)
36
mononeuropathy
disease affecting a single nerve
37
neuralgia
pain in a nerve
38
neuritis
inflammation of a nerve
39
neuroarthropathy
disease of nerves and joints
40
poliomyelitis
inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord
41
polyneuritits
inflammation of many nerves
42
polyneuropathy
disease of many nerves (most often occurs as a complication of diabetes mellitus, but may
also occur as a result of drug therapy, critical illness such as sepsis, or carcinoma; exhibiting
symptoms of weakness, distal sensory loss, and burning)
43
radiculities
inflammation of the nerve roots
44
rhizomeningomyelitis
inflammation of the nerve root, meninges, and spinal cord
45
subdural hematoma
pertaining to below the dura mater, tumor of blood
46
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
progressive muscle atrophy caused by degeneration and scarring of neurons along the lateral columns of
the spinal cord that control muscles (also called Lou Gehrig disease)
47
bell palsy
paralysis of muscles on one side of the face caused by inflammation or compression of the facial nerve—
cranial nerve VII. Signs include a sagging mouth on the affected side and nonclosure of the eyelid;
paralysis is usually temporary.
48
cerebral embolism
an embolus (usually a blood clot or a piece of atherosclerotic plaque arising from a distant site) lodges in
a cerebral artery, causing sudden blockage of blood supply to the brain tissue. Atrial fibrillation is a
common cause of cerebral embolism, which can lead to ischemic stroke.
49
cerebral palsy (CP)
condition characterized by lack of muscle control and partial paralysis, caused by a brain defect or lesion
present at birth or shortly after
50
hydrocephalus
congenital or acquired disorder caused by obstructed circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in
dilated cerebral ventricles and impaired brain function. For infants, hydrocephalus can cause
enlargement of the cranium.
51
intracerebral hemorrhage
bleeding into the brain as a result of a ruptured blood vessel within the brain. Symptoms vary depending
on the location of the hemorrhage; acute symptoms include dyspnea, dysphagia, aphasia, diminished
level of consciousness, and hemiparesis. The symptoms often develop suddenly. Intracerebral
hemorrhage, a cause of hemorrhagic stroke, is frequently associated with high blood pressure.
52
Parkinson disease (PD)
chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system. Signs and symptoms include resting tremors
of the hands and feet, rigidity, expressionless face, shuffling gait, and eventually dementia. It usually
occurs after the age of 50 years. (also called parkinsonism)
53
sciatica
inflammation of the sciatic nerve, causing pain that travels from the thigh through the leg to the foot and
toes; can be caused by injury, infection, arthritis, herniated disk, or from prolonged pressure on the nerve
from sitting for long periods
54
subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
bleeding between the pia mater and arachnoid layers of the meninges (subarachnoid space), caused by a
ruptured blood vessel (usually a cerebral aneurysm). The patient may experience an intense, sudden
headache accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and neck pain. SAH is a critical condition which must be
recognized and treated immediately to prevent permanent brain damage or death. (a cause of
hemorrhagic stroke)
55
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
sudden deficient supply of blood to the brain lasting a short time. The symptoms may be similar to those
of stroke, but with TIA the symptoms are temporary and the usual outcome is complete recovery. TIAs
are often warning signs for eventual occurrence of a stroke.
56
vascular or multiple infarct dementia
affects approximately 10% of patients with dementia. It is secondary to cerebrovascular disease and
usually occurs in older patients. Dementia usually worsens in a step-wise fashion, and other
neurological findings (like paralysis or cranial nerve abnormalities) are often present.
57
Lewy body dementia
usually a rapidly progressive form of dementia which is responsible for approximately 10% of all
dementias. Lewy body dementia is characterized by hallucinations, fluctuations in severity, sleep
disorders, and Parkinson symptoms, the latter of which occur less than one year before the dementia.
58
Frontotemporal dementia
affects the anterior portions of the brain; most common symptoms are personality changes, disinhibition,
and impulsiveness. Atrophy may be observed on brain CT or MRI.
59
normal pressure hydrocephalus
imbalance of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain leads to a triad of dementia, urinary incontinence, and gait
instability. Sometimes caused by trauma or subarachnoid hemorrhage; can be treated with a ventricular
peritoneal shunt
60
wernicke-korsakoff syndrome
form of dementia found with chronic alcoholism; caused by thiamine deficiency and poor nutritional
status
61
ganglionectomy
excision of a ganglion
62
neurectomy
excision of a nerve
63
neurolysis
loosening, separating a nerve (to release it from surrounding tissues)
64
neuroplasty
surgical repair of a nerve
65
neurorrhaphy
suturing of a nerve
66
neurotomy
incision into a nerve
67
radicotomy
incision into a nerve root
68
cerebral angiography
process or recording the blood vessels of the cerebrum
69
CT myelography
process of recording (scan of) the spinal cord (after an injection of a contrast agent into the
subarachnoid space by lumbar puncture. Size, shape, and position of the spinal cord and nerve
roots are demonstrated.)
70
electroencephalography
process of recording the electrical activity of the brain
71
evoked potential studies (EP studies)
group of diagnostic tests that measure changes and responses in brain waves elicited by visual, auditory,
or somatosensory stimuli. Visual evoked response (VER) is a response to visual stimuli. Auditory evoked
response (AER) is a response to auditory stimuli. Somatosensory evoked response (SSER) is a response to
stimuli applied to the extremities.
72
lumbar puncture (LP)
diagnostic procedure performed by insertion of a needle into the subarachnoid space usually between the
third and fourth lumbar vertebrae; performed for many reasons, including the removal of cerebrospinal
fluid (also called spinal tap)
73
amphasia
condition of without speaking (loss or impairment of the ability to speak)
74
dysesthesia
painful sensation
75
dysphasia
condition of difficulty speaking
76
encephalopathy
disease of the brain
77
gliocyte
glial cell
78
hemiparesis
slight paralysis of half (right or left of the body)
79
hemiplegia
paralysis of half
80
hyperesthesia
excessive sensitivity (to stimuli)
81
interictal
occurring between seizures or attack
82
intracerebral
pertaining to within the cerebrum
83
monoparesis
slight paralysis of one limb
84
myelomalcia
softening of the spinal cord
85
neuroid
resembling a nerve
86
paresthesia
abnormal sensation
87
postictal
occurring after a seizure or attack
88
preictal
occurring before a seizure or attack
89
subdural
pertaining to below the dura mater
90
afferent
conveying toward a center (for example, afferent nerves carry sensory impulses to the central nervous
system)
91
ataxia
lack of muscle coordination
92
dysarthria
inability to use speech that is distinct and connected because of a loss of muscle control after damage to the peripheral or central nervous system
93
syncope
fainting or sudden loss of consciousness caused by lack of blood supply to the cerebrum
94
mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
presence of significant memory difficulty when adjusted for age-related norms. The patient usually has
little difficulty performing activities of daily living. This condition may be an early manifestation of
Alzheimer disease or other forms of dementia.
95
pseudodementia
behavioral disorder resembling dementia but is not caused by brain tissue abnormalities. This can be
found in mental illness, such as major depression, and can be reversible with treatment.
96
psychiatry
specialty of the mind
97
psychogenic
originating in the mind
98
psychosis
abnormal condition of the mind
99
psychosomatic
pertaining to the mind and body (interrelations of)
100
anorexia nervosa
eating disorder characterized by a disturbed perception of body image resulting in failure to
maintain body weight, intensive fear of gaining weight, pronounced desire for thinness, and, in
females, amenorrhea
101
bulimia nervosa
eating disorder characterized by uncontrolled binge eating followed by purging
102
pica
compulsive eating of nonnutritive substances such as clay or ice. This condition may be a result of
an iron deficiency. When iron deficiency is the cause of pica the condition will disappear in 1 or 2
weeks when treated with iron therapy.
103
somatoform disorders
disorders characterized by physical symptoms for which no know physical cause exists
