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Nervous System Vocab Flashcards

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1
Q

acetylcholine

A

Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells.

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2
Q

afferent nerve

A

Carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve). Afferent comes from af- (a form of ad- meaning toward) and -ferent (meaning carrying).

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3
Q

arachnoid membrane

A

Middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. The Greek arachne means spider.

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4
Q

astrocyte

A

Type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries in the nervous system.

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5
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

Nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs.

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6
Q

axon

A

Microscopic fiber that is part of a neuron and carries nervous impulse along a nerve cell.

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7
Q

blood-brain barrier

A

Protective separation between the blood and brain cells. This makes it difficult for substances (such as anticancer drugs) to penetrate capillary walls and enter the brain.

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8
Q

brainstem

A

Posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata.

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9
Q

cauda equina

A

Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord.

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10
Q

cell body

A

Part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus.

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11
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

Brain and spinal cord.

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12
Q

cerebellum

A

Posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.

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13
Q

cerebral cortex

A

Outer region of the cerebrum containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain.

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14
Q

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

A

Circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord.

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15
Q

cerebrum

A

Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought and memory.

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16
Q

cranial nerves

A

Nerves carry messages to and from the brain to all parts of head and neck and also (in the case of the vagus nerve) to other parts of the body. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.

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17
Q

dendrite

A

Microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell (neuron) that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse.

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18
Q

dura mater

A

Thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord. Latin for “hard mother.”

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19
Q

efferent nerve

A

Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve. Efferen comes from ef- (meaning away from) and -ferent (meaning to carry).

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20
Q

ependymal cell

A

Glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and help form cerebrospinal fluid.

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21
Q

What is a ganglion?

A

Collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.

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22
Q

What is a glial cell?

A

Supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses. Examples are astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes. Glial cells can reproduce themselves.

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23
Q

What is a gyrus?

A

Sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution.

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24
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

Portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland.

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25
What is the 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
What are the meninges?
Three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
27
What is a microglial cell?
Phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system.
28
What is the midbrain?
Uppermost portion of the brainstem.
29
What is a motor nerve?
Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve.
30
What is a myelin sheath?
Covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.
31
What is a nerve?
Macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons) that carry electrical impulses.
32
What is a neuron?
Nerve cell that is necessary for impulses to be carried throughout the nervous system.
33
What is a neurotransmitter?
Chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell. Examples of neurotransmitters are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
34
What is an oligodendroglial cell?
Glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. Also called oligodendrocyte.
35
What are parasympathetic nerves?
Involuntary autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.
36
What is parenchyma?
Essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system. The parenchyma of the nervous system includes the neurons and nerves that carry nervous impulses. Parenchymal cells of the liver are hepatocytes, and parenchymal tissue of the kidney includes the nephrons, where urine is formed.
37
What is the peripheral nervous system?
Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord: cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves.
38
What is the pia mater?
Thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges.
39
What is a plexus?
Large, interlacing network of nerves. Examples are lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial plexuses.
40
What is the pons?
Part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain. It is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain.
41
What is a receptor?
Organ that receives and transmits a stimulus to sensory nerves. The skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds are receptors.
42
What is the sciatic nerve?
Nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot. Sciatica is pain or inflammation along the course of the nerve.
43
What is a sensory nerve?
Carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve.
44
What are spinal nerves?
Pairs of nerves, arising one on each side of the spinal column. They transmit messages to and from the spinal cord.
45
What is a stimulus?
Agent of change in the internal or external environment that evokes a response. It may be light, sound, touch, pressure, or pain.
46
What is stroma?
Connective and supporting tissue of an organ. Glial cells make up the stromal tissue of the brain.
47
What is a sulcus?
Depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure.
48
What are sympathetic nerves?
Autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress.
49
What is a synapse?
Space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells. From the Greek synapsis, a point of contact.
50
What is the thalamus?
Main relay center of the brain. It conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum; incoming sensory messages are relayed through the thalamus to appropriate centers in the cerebrum. Latin thalamus means room.
51
What is the vagus nerve?
Tenth cranial nerve (cranial nerve X). Its branches reach to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach. Latin vagus means wandering.
52
What are ventricles of the brain?
Canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid. Ventricles are also found in the heart—they are the two lower chambers of the heart.
53
54
What is an absence seizure?
Form of seizure consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awareness of surroundings.
55
What is an aneurysm?
Enlarged, weakened area in an arterial wall, which may rupture, leading to hemorrhage and CVA (stroke).
56
What is an astrocytoma?
Malignant brain tumor of astrocytes (glial brain cells).
57
What is an aura?
Peculiar symptom or sensation occurring before the onset (prodromal) of an attack of migraine or an epileptic seizure.
58
What is dementia?
Mental decline and deterioration.
59
What is demyelination?
Destruction of myelin on axons of neurons (as in multiple sclerosis).
60
What is dopamine?
CNS neurotransmitter, deficient in patient with Parkinson disease.
61
What is an embolus?
Clot of material that travels through the bloodstream and suddenly blocks a vessel.
62
What is gait?
Manner of walking.
63
What does ictal event refer to?
Pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as with the convulsions of an epileptic seizure.
64
What is occlusion?
Blockage.
65
What does palliative mean?
Relieving symptoms but not curing them.
66
What is thymectomy?
Removal of the thymus gland (a lymphocyte-producing gland in the chest); used as treatment for myasthenia gravis.
67
What is a TIA?
Transient ischemic attack. TIAs can occur with all three types of strokes: thrombolytic, embolic, and even hemorrhagic (if minor). They are characterized by a limited time course of neurologic deficits.
68
What is a tic?
Involuntary movement of a small group of muscles, as of the face; characteristic of Tourette syndrome.
69
What is a tonic-clonic seizure?
Major (grand mal) convulsive seizure marked by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching and jerking movements.

Medical Terminology (19 decks)

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