Nervous System Flashcards
1
Q
acetylcholine
A
neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells
2
Q
afferent nerve
A
- carries messages towards the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve)
- afferent: af- (a form of ad- meaning toward)and -ferent (meaning carrying)
3
Q
arachnoid membrane
A
- middle layer of the 3 membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord
- the Greek arachne means spider
4
Q
astrocyte
A
type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries
5
Q
autonomic nervous system
A
nerves that control INVOLUNTARY BODY FUNCTIONS of muscles, glands, and internal organs
6
Q
axon
A
microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell
7
Q
blood-brain barrier (BBB)
A
- protective separation between the blood and brain cells
- makes it difficult for substances (ie. anticancer drugs) to penetrate capillary walls and enter brain
8
Q
brainstem
A
- posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord
- includes the pons and medulla oblongata
9
Q
cauda equina
A
collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord
10
Q
cell body
A
part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus
11
Q
central nervous system (CNS)
A
brain and spinal cord
12
Q
cerebellum
A
- posterior part of the brain
- coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance
13
Q
cerebral cortex
A
- outer region of the cerebrum
- contains sheets of nerve cells
- grey matter of the brain
14
Q
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
A
circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord
15
Q
cerebrum
A
- largest part of the brain
- responsible for VOLUNTARY MUSCULAR ACTIVITY, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory
16
Q
cranial nerves
A
12 pairs of nerves
- carry messages to and from the brain with regards to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve)
17
Q
dendrite
A
- microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell
- first part to receive the nervous impulse
18
Q
dura mater
A
- thick, outermost layer of the meninges
surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord - Latin for “hard mother”
19
Q
efferent nerve
A
- carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord
- motor nerve
- ef- (meaning away from) and -ferent (meaning to carry)
20
Q
ependymal cell
A
- glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord
- helps form cerebrospinal fluid
21
Q
sg. ganglion
pl. ganglia
A
collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
22
Q
glial cell (neuroglial cell)
A
- supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses
- ex) astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes
- glial cells can reproduce themselves, as oppused to neurons
23
Q
sg. gyrus
pl. gyri
A
- sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex
- convolution
24
Q
hypothalamus
A
- portion of the brain beneath the thalamus
- controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland
25
medulla oblongata
- part of the brain just above the spinal cord
- controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels
- nerve fibers cross over here
26
meninges
3 protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
27
microglial cell
- phagocytic glial cell
| - removes waste products from the CNS
28
motor nerve
- efferent nerve
| - carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs
29
myelin sheath
- covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell
- myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons
30
nerve
macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons and dendrites) that carry electrical impulses
31
neuron
- nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body
| - parenchyma of the nervous system
32
neurotransmitter
- chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell
- stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell
- Ex) acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin
33
oligodendroglial cell
- glial cells that forms the myelin sheath covering axons
| - also called oligodendrocyte
34
parasympathetic nerves
INVOLUNTARY, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract
35
parenchyma
- essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system
- includes the neurons and nerves that carry nervous impulses
- hepatocytes = parenchymal cells of the liver
- nephrons = some of the parenchymal tissue of the kidneys
36
peripheral nervous system
nerves outside the brain and spinal cord: cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves
37
pia mater
thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges
38
sg. plexus
| pl. plexuses
- large, interlacing networks of nerves
- Ex) lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial plexuses
- from Indo-European *plek* meaning to weave together
39
pons
- part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain
- Latin *pons* means bridge
- bridge connecting various parts of the brain
40
receptor
- organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves
- Ex) skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds
41
sciatic nerve
- extends from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot
- *sciatica* is pain or inflammation along the course of the nerve
42
sensory nerve
- afferent nerve
| - carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor
43
spinal nerves
31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord
44
sg. stimulus
| pl. stimuli
agent of change (light, sound, touch) in the internal or external environment that evokes a response
45
stroma
- connective and supporting tissue of an organ
| - glial cells are the stromal tissue of the brain
46
sg. sulcus
| pl. sulci
- depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex
| - fissure
47
sympathetic nerves
autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions INVOLUNTARILY in times of stress
48
synapse
- space through which nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells
- from the Greek *synapsis*, a point of contact
49
thalamus
- main relay centre of the brain
- conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum
- incoming sensory messages are relayed through the thalamus to appropriate centres in the cerebrum
- Latin *thalamus* means room. Romans, who named this structure, thought this part of the brain was hallow, like a room.
50
vagus nerve
- 10th cranial nerve (cranial nerve X)
- its branches reach to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach
- Latin *vagus* means wandering
- unlike other cranial nerves, it leaves the head and "wanders" into the abdominal and thoracic cavities
51
ventricles of the brain
- canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid
| - ventricles are also found in the heart (2 lower chambers of the heart)
52
absence seizure
form of seizure consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awareness of surroundsing
53
aneurysm
enlarged, weakened area in an arterial wall, which may rupture, leading to hemorrhage and CVA (stroke)
54
astrocytoma
malignant tumor of astrocytes (glial brain cells)
55
aura
peculiar symptom or sensation occurring before the onset (prodromal) of an attack of migraine or an epileptic seizure
56
dementia
mental decline and deterioration
57
demyelination
destruction of myelin on axons of neurons (as in multiple sclerosis)
58
dopamine
CNS neurotransmitter, deficient in patient with Parkinson disease
59
embolus
clot of material that travels through the bloodstream and suddenly blocks a vessel
60
gait
manner of walking
61
ictal event
pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as with the convulstions of an epileptic seizure
62
occlusion
blockage
63
palliative
relieving symptoms but not curing them
64
thymectomy
- removal of the thymus gland (a lymphocyte-producing gland in the chest)
- used as treatment for myasthenia gravis
65
TIA
transient ischemic attack
66
tic
- involuntary movement of a small group of muscles, as of the face
- characteristic of Tourette syndrome
67
tonic-clonic seizure
major (grand mal) convulsive seizure marked by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching and jerking movements
