The Nervous System

Question 1

angiography

Answer 1

a radiologic study of an artery using a radiopaque medium

Question 2

arachnoid

Answer 2

a delicate, lacelike membrane covering the central nervous system

Question 3

arteriography

Answer 3

a radiologic study of an artery using a radiopaque medium

Question 4

auditory

Answer 4

(1) pertaining to the sense of hearing; (2) the external canal of the ear

Question 5

autonomic

Answer 5

spontaneous; the part of the nervous system concerned with reflex control of bodily functions

Question 6

axons

Answer 6

an extension from a nerve cell

Question 7

central

Answer 7

situated at or related to a center

Question 8

cerebellum

Answer 8

lower or back brain below the posterior portion of the cerebrum

Question 9

cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 9

the liquid that circulates within the meninges of the spinal cord and ventricles and meninges of the brain

Question 10

cerebrum

Answer 10

the largest part of the brain. It is divided into two hemispheres with four lobes in each hemisphere

Question 11

coma scale

Answer 11

refers to the Glasgow Coma Scale used to determine level of consciousness

Question 12

computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scan)

Answer 12

rapid scanning of single-tissue planes is performed by a process that generates images of the tissue in slices about 1 cm thick

Question 13

cranium

Answer 13

the skull; the eight bones of the head enclosing the brain; generally applied to the 28 bones of the head and face

Question 14

dendrites

Answer 14

an extension from a nerve cell

Question 15

dura mater

Answer 15

the outer membrane covering the brain and spinal cord

Question 16

electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 16

recording of the electric currents generated by the brain; a tracing of brain waves

Question 17

electromyography (EMG)

Answer 17

the insertion of needles into selected skeletal muscles for the purpose of recording nerve conduction time in relation to muscle contraction

Question 18

ganglion

Answer 18

a mass of nerve tissues that receives and sends out nerve impulses

Question 19

hypothalamus

Answer 19

a structure of the brain between the cerebrum and the midbrain; lies below the thalamus

Question 20

interneurons

Answer 20

neurons connecting sensory to motor neurons

Question 21

internuncial neurons

Answer 21

a connecting neuron in a neural pathway, usually serving as a link between two other neurons

Question 22

lumbar puncture

Answer 22

the insertion of a needle between the vertebrae in the lumbar area for the purpose of withdrawing spinal fluid

Question 23

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 23

a diagnostic test using magnetic waves to visualize internal body structures

Question 24

medulla oblongata

Answer 24

enlarged portion of the spinal cord; the lower portion of the brainstem

Question 25

meninges

Answer 25

the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord

Question 26

midbrain

Answer 26

that portion of the brain connecting the pons and the cerebellum

Question 27

migraines

Answer 27

a severe headache with characteristic symptoms

Question 28

motor neurons

Answer 28

refers to the nerves that permit the body to respond to stimuli

Question 29

myelography

Answer 29

an X-ray examination of the spinal cord following an injection of a radiopaque material

Question 30

occipital

Answer 30

pertaining to the back part of the head, the posterior lobe of the cerebrum

Question 31

olfactory

Answer 31

pertaining to the sense of smell

Question 32

optic

Answer 32

pertaining to the eye or sight

Question 33

parasympathetic

Answer 33

a division of the autonomic nervous system

Question 34

parietal

Answer 34

a central portion of the ceberum located on each side of the brain

Question 35

peripheral

Answer 35

(1) pertaining to a portion of the nervous system; (2) anything you plug into a computer for example, a printer, USB flash drive, monitor, or scanner; (3) side vision while looking straight forward

Question 36

pia mater

Answer 36

innermost of the three meninges of the brain and spinal cord

Question 37

plexuses

Answer 37

a network of nerves

Question 38

pons

Answer 38

a portion of the brainstem connecting the medulla oblongata and cerebellum with the upper portions of the brain

Question 39

positron emission tomography (PET scan)

Answer 39

a form of imaging permitting visualizing the physiologic function of the body

Question 40

sciatica

Answer 40

inflammation and pain along the sciatic nerve felt at the back of the thigh running down the inside of the leg

Question 41

sensory neurons

Answer 41

refers to the nerves that receive and transmit stimuli from the sense organs

Question 42

spina bifida occulta

Answer 42

a disorder characterized by a defect in the spinal vertebrae with or without protrusion of the spinal cord and meninges

Question 43

subarachnoid

Answer 43

the space between the pia mater and the arachnoid containing cerebrospinal fluid

Question 44

subdural

Answer 44

beneath the dura mater; the space between the arachnoid and the dura mater

Question 45

synpathetic

Answer 45

a portion of the autonomic nervous system

Question 46

synapse

Answer 46

the minute space between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another

Question 47

temporal

Answer 47

relating to the temporal bone on the skull

Question 48

thalamus

Answer 48

a portion of the brain lying between the cerebrum and the midbrain