Week 1 Vocab

Question 1

Brainstem

Answer 1

the central trunk of the mammalian brain, consisting of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain, and continuing downward to form the spinal cord

Question 2

Cranial nerves

Answer 2

each of twelve pairs of nerves which arise directly from the brain, not from the spinal cord, and pass through separate apertures in the skull

Question 3

Tectum

Answer 3

the uppermost part of the midbrain, lying to the rear of the cerebral aqueduct

Question 4

Superior colliculus

Answer 4

a paired structure in the rostral midbrain that is involved in incorporating environmental stimuli and coordinating gaze of both eyes and head movements

Question 5

inferior colliculus

Answer 5

a paired structure in the rostral midbrain, which serves as an important relay point for auditory information as it travels from the inner ear to the auditory cortex

Question 6

Cranial nerve I

Answer 6

Olfactory nerve - each of the first pair of cranial nerves, transmitting impulses to the brain from the smell receptors in the mucous membrane of the nose

Question 7

Cranial nerve II

Answer 7

Optic nerve - each of the second pair of cranial nerves, transmitting impulses to the brain from the retina at the back of the eye

Question 8

Cranial nerve III

Answer 8

Oculomotor nerve - each of the third pair of cranial nerves, supplying most of the muscles around and within the eyeballs

Question 9

Cranial nerve IV

Answer 9

Trochlear nerve - each of the fourth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the superior oblique muscle of the eyeball

Question 10

Cranial nerve V

Answer 10

Trigeminal nerve - each of the fifth and largest pair of cranial nerves, supplying the front part of the head and dividing into the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves.

Question 11

Cranial nerve VI

Answer 11

Abducens nerve - each of the sixth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the muscles concerned with the lateral movement of the eyeballs

Question 12

Cranial nerve VII

Answer 12

Facial nerve - each of the seventh pair of cranial nerves, supplying the facial muscles and the tongue

Question 13

Cranial nerve VIII

Answer 13

Vestibulocochlear nerve - each of the eighth pair of cranial nerves, conveying sensory impulses from the organs of hearing and balance in the inner ear to the brain. The vestibulocochlear nerve on each side branches into the vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve

Question 14

Cranial nerve IX

Answer 14

Glossopharyngeal nerve - each of the ninth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the tongue and pharynx

Question 15

Cranial nerve X

Answer 15

Vagus nerve - each of the tenth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the heart, lungs, upper digestive tract, and other organs of the chest and abdomen

Question 16

Cranial nerve XI

Answer 16

Spinal Accessory nerve - each pair of eleventh pair of cranial nerves, supplying the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles

Question 17

Cranial nerve XII

Answer 17

Hypoglossal nerve - each of the twelfth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the muscles of the tongue

Question 18

Cribriform plate

Answer 18

exit foramen for cranial nerve I

Question 19

Optic canal

Answer 19

exit foramen for cranial nerve II

Question 20

Superior orbital fissure

Answer 20

exit foramen for cranial nerves II, IV, and V1 branch of cranial nerve V

Question 21

Foramen rotundum

Answer 21

exit foramen for V2 branch of cranial nerve V

Question 22

Foramen ovale

Answer 22

exit foramen for V3 branch of cranial nerve V

Question 23

Superior orbital fissure

Answer 23

exit foramen for cranial nerve VI

Question 24

Auditory canal

Answer 24

exit foramen for cranial nerves VII and VIII

Question 25

Jugular foramen

Answer 25

exit foramen for cranial nerves IX, X, and XI

Question 26

Hypoglossal foramen

Answer 26

exit foramen for cranial nerve XII

Question 27

Anosmia

Answer 27

loss of the sense of smell

Question 28

Trigeminal neuralgia

Answer 28

neuralgia involving one or more of the branches of the trigeminal nerves,and often causing severe pain

Question 29

Bell’s palsy

Answer 29

the most common facial nerve disorder where all divisions of the nerve are impaired within a few hours or days and then gradually recover

Question 30

Tympanic membrane

Answer 30

a membrane forming part of the organ of hearing, which vibrates in response to sound waves. In humans and other higher vertebrates, it forms the eardrum, between the outer and middle ear

Question 31

Labyrinth

Answer 31

the inner ear composed of the bony labyrinth and the membranous labyrinth

Question 32

Cochlea

Answer 32

the spiral cavity of the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, which produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations

Question 33

Vestibule

Answer 33

the centralized structure of the bony labyrinth from which the semicircular canals arise

Question 34

Membranous labyrinth

Answer 34

the inner labyrinth that is suspended within the bony labyrinth and filled with endolymph

Question 35

Bony labyrinth

Answer 35

the outer labyrinth comprised of bone and filled with perilymph

Question 36

Endolymph

Answer 36

the fluid in the membranous labyrinth of the ear

Question 37

Perilymph

Answer 37

the fluid between the membranous labyrinth of the ear and the bone that encloses it

Question 38

Utricle

Answer 38

one of the otoliths, located in the vestibule, which is sensitive to linear acceleration and positioned in the horizontal plane

Question 39

Saccule

Answer 39

one of the otoliths, located in the vestibule, which is sensitive to linear acceleration and is positioned in the vertical plane

Question 40

Semicircular canals

Answer 40

three fluid-filled bony channels in the inner ear. They are situated at right angles to each other and provide information about orientation to the brain to help maintain balance

Question 41

Scala vestibuli

Answer 41

the upper bony passage of the cochlea

Question 42

Scala tympani

Answer 42

the lower bony passage of the cochlea

Question 43

Scala media or cochlear duct

Answer 43

the central duct of the cochlea in the inner ear, containing the sensory cells and separated from the scala tympani and scala vestibuli by membranes.

Question 44

Organ of Corti

Answer 44

hair cells and supporting cells of the cochlea

Question 45

Primary auditory cortex

Answer 45

Brodmann's area 41 and the transverse gyrus of Heschl

Question 46

Vestibular nuclei

Answer 46

important for adjustment of posture, muscle tone, and eye position in response to movements of the head in space

Question 47

Ampullae

Answer 47

the bulge at the base of each semicircular canal containing the crista ampullaris and cupula

Question 48

Maculae

Answer 48

a sensory structure located inside the otoliths, the utricle and saccule, that detect linear acceleration and head tilt

Question 49

Cupula

Answer 49

a gelatinous mechanoreceptor inside the ampulla of the semicircular canal

Question 50

Otoliths

Answer 50

each of three small oval calcareous bodies in the inner ear of vertebrates, involved in sensing gravity and movement

Question 51

Crista ampullaris

Answer 51

- the primary sensory structure within the ampulla containing hair cells

Question 52

Scarpa’s ganglion

Answer 52

the location of cell bodies for the vestibular portion of cranial nerve VIII

Question 53

Conductive hearing loss

Answer 53

hearing loss caused by abnormalities of the external auditory canal or middle ear

Question 54

Sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 54

hearing loss caused by disorders of the cochlea or cranial nerve VIII

Question 55

Tinnitus -

Answer 55

ringing or buzzing in the ears

Question 56

Nystagmus

Answer 56

rapid involuntary movements of the eyes

Question 57

Peripheral vestibular disorders

Answer 57

vestibular disorders involving anatomy in the inner ear

Question 58

Central vestibular disorders

Answer 58

vestibular disorders involving the brainstem or cerebellum

Question 59

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Answer 59

the most common cause of peripheral vertigo which causes a false sensation of spinning or movement

Question 60

Vestibular neuritis

Answer 60

a peripheral vestibular disorder that affects the vestibular nerve and causes prolonged vertigo in the absence of hearing loss

Question 61

Vestibular labyrinthitis

Answer 61

a peripheral vestibular disorder that affects the labyrinth and causes prolonged vertigo along with hearing loss

Question 62

Meniere’s disease

Answer 62

a peripheral vestibular disorder that is caused by an abnormality in the labyrinth where fluid imbalance causes severe vertigo and hearing loss

Question 63

Acoustic neuroma

Answer 63

a vestibular schwannoma that is a benign, slow-growing tumor, that develops in and around cranial nerve VIII

Question 64

Paralysis

Answer 64

complete absence of muscle strength, unable to voluntarily recruit motor units

Question 65

Plegia

Answer 65

same as paralysis; complete absence of muscle strength, unable to voluntarily recruit motor units

Question 66

Paresis

Answer 66

muscle weakness

Question 67

Hemiplegia

Answer 67

one-sided paralysis

Question 68

Hemiparesis

Answer 68

one sided weakness

Question 69

Paraplegia

Answer 69

lower extremity paralysis

Question 70

Tetraplegia

Answer 70

upper and lower extremity paralysis (note that the term quadriplegia is no longer used!)

Question 71

Muscle tone:

Answer 71

the resistance felt in the muscle during passive elongation

Question 72

Hypotonia

Answer 72

low tone

Question 73

Flaccidity

Answer 73

a complete lack of resistance during passive elongation

Question 74

Hypertonia

Answer 74

high tone

Question 75

Spasticity

Answer 75

occurs when there is damage to the descending motor systems (i.e.corticospinal tract). A key sign of spasticity is that it is velocity dependent, meaning the faster you passively elongate the muscle you are assessing, the more resistance or spasticity you will feel

Question 76

Rigidity

Answer 76

Unlike spasticity it is not velocity dependent. It may affect both the agonist and antagonist muscles and is associated with lesions of the basil ganglia

Question 77

Coordination

Answer 77

allows for smooth, accurate and efficient movement. The motor cortex, basil ganglia, cerebellum, and dorsal columns (proprioception) all contribute to coordinated movement.

Question 78

Dystonia

Answer 78

excessive twisting and bizarre repetitive movements caused by axial and proximal limb muscles; associated with basal ganglion lesions (i.e. Parkinson's disease and long-term use of levodopa medication)

Question 79

Chorea

Answer 79

rapid and jerky limb movements; associated with basal ganglia lesions (i.e.Huntington's disease)

Question 80

Athetosis

Answer 80

slow, twisting, snake like movements; associated with cerebral palsy

Question 81

Tremor

Answer 81

rhythmical, oscillating and alternating movement of a body part

Question 82

Resting Tremor

Answer 82

occurs when muscles of the involved body part are at rest and supported against gravity; associated with Parkinson's disease

Question 83

Action Tremor:

Answer 83

occurs when muscles of the involved body part are contracted; such as a tremor that occurs when you are holding your body or body part in a posture against gravity (Postural Tremor) or a tremor that occurs during a voluntary movement such as reaching for a target (Intention Tremor); associated with cerebellar lesions disease

Question 84

Blurred vision

Answer 84

s the loss of visual acuity (sharpness of vision) resulting in a loss of ability to see small details

Question 85

Diplopia

Answer 85

condition in which a single object appears as two objects. Also called "doublevision." From the Greek diplo- (double) + -opia (vision)

Question 86

Strabismus

Answer 86

condition in which the visual axes of the eyes are not parallel, and the eyes appear to be looking in different directions. In divergent strabismus, or exotropia, the visual axes diverge.

Question 87

Nystagmus

Answer 87

rapid rhythmic repetitious involuntary (unwilled) eye movements. Nystagmus can be horizontal, vertical or rotary

Question 88

Homonymous Hemianopsia

Answer 88

medical term for a type of partial blindness resulting in a loss of vision in the same visual field of both eyes

Question 89

Occipital blindness

Answer 89

loss or absence of the ability to perceive visual images

Question 90

Agnosia

Answer 90

occurs when an individual demonstrates an inability to process and recognize incoming information. For example, despite normal eye site, an individual will not be able to visually identify an object, such as a brush, but looking at it. However, if they pickup the brush and manipulate it with their hands, they will be able to recognize that they are holding a brush.

Question 91

Unilateral Neglect (a body scheme agnosia)

Answer 91

common in individuals with right sided brain damage and it is defined as an inability to perceive and integrate stimuli on one side of the body and environment. It is not uncommon for an individual to eat food from only the right side of their plate, put make-up on only the right side of their face, and ignore individuals who are standing on their left side

Question 92

Apraxia

Answer 92

is the inability to perform movement despite the presence of normal sensation and motor control. Apraxia is more common in individuals with left sided brain damage. Some types of apraxia render an individual incapable of performing a task on command, but they can perform the task automatically. For example, you may ask your patient to show you how to answer the phone. Your patient will not be able to demonstrate this task for you. However, if the phone rang, your patient could automatically answer it without hesitation or difficulty. Wow! Pretty interesting stuff don't' you think? You will learn about different types of apraxia in a later unit.

Question 93

Memory

Answer 93

is the ability to store and retrieve information and past experiences. Memory is very complex and involves many areas of the brain (portions of all the lobes and the limbic system, specifically the hippocampus).

Question 94

Short-term memory

Answer 94

is the ability to recall events that took place a few minutes, hours, or days ago

Question 95

Immediate recall

Answer 95

is the ability to recall after a few seconds.

Question 96

Long-term memory:

Answer 96

is the ability to recall events that occurred years ago. Amnesia is a type of long-term memory deficit.

Question 97

Lethargy

Answer 97

refers to an altered level of consciousness in which a person’s level of arousal is diminished

Question 98

Obtunded

Answer 98

refers to diminished arousal and awareness

Question 99

Stupor

Answer 99

refers to a state of altered mental status and responsiveness to one’s environment

Question 100

Coma

Answer 100

an unconscious patient that cannot be aroused

Question 101

Expressive aphasia (also known as Broca's, non-fluent, and motor aphasia):

Answer 101

occurs when there is damage to Broca's area in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere (dominant hemisphere). An individual's auditory comprehension is intact, but they have difficulty expressing what they want to say. Thus, they understand what is being said to them but have great difficulty communicating their needs and responding to questions. Spoken language is very labored, slow, and hesitant and the individual is usually very frustrated.

Question 102

Receptive aphasia (also known as Wernicke's, fluent, and sensory aphasia):

Answer 102

occurs when there is damage to Wernicke's area in the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere (dominant hemisphere). An individual's auditory comprehension is impaired; thus, they don't understand what is being said to them and they do not get frustrated. Spoken language is smooth without hesitation but it does not make sense and often includes made up words.

Question 103

Global aphasia

Answer 103

results from widespread damage to the left hemisphere (dominant hemisphere) and leads to both expressive and receptive aphasia

Question 104

Dysarthria

Answer 104

a speech disorder (as opposed to a language disorder such as aphasia) and is commonly referred to as "slurred speech". Dysarthria occurs after an UMN lesion when there is damage to the motor speech system (right or left sided damage). Weakness and lack of coordination of the speech and respiratory muscles leads to articulation, pitch, and volume problems. Dysarthria is common in individuals with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Question 105

Dysphagia

Answer 105

is impaired swallowing ability

Question 106

Reactive Postural Control

Answer 106

occurs in response to an external force or perturbation (i.e. someone pushes you from behind) and relies on feedback mechanisms to prevent you from falling over. Thus, if you are unrepentantly pushed off balance you will recover using reactive postural control which relies on feedback mechanisms.

Question 107

Anticipatory Postural Control:

Answer 107

occurs in anticipation of a destabilization force (i.e. you know that you are going to get pushed) and relies on feed forward mechanisms to prevent you from falling over