Chapter 8: Neurological System

Cerebrum

4 lobes, 2 hemispheres, brain part

Cerebellum (little brain)

coordinates muscle movement and balance

Diencephalon

Contains thalamus and hypothalamus

Thalamus

recieves and redirects impulses to and from the cerebrum

Hypothalamus

involuntary actions (heartbeat blood pressure)

Brainstem

contains medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain

Medulla Oblongata

main transmitter between brain and spinal cord

Pons

connection between medulla and cerebrum

Midbrain

another relay center

Frontal lobe

personality, speech, movement

Parietal lobe

sensation, language

Occipital lobe

vision

Temporal lobe

balance, coordination, hearing, smell

Gray matter

cell bodies of motor neurons that make up the spinal cord

White matter

myelin covered axons that extend from the cell boddies

Meninges

protective layers of membranes between the brain/spinal cord from the surrounding bones. Supply blood vessels and CSF to provide nutrients to the brain and spinal cord

1 cranial nerve

olfactory: smell

2 cranial nerve

optic: vision

3 cranial nerve

oculomotor: muscular movement of the eyes

4 cranial nerve

trochlear: upward movement of the eyes

5 cranial nerve

trigeminal: muscles for chewing

6 cranial nerve

abducens: abduction of the eyes

7 cranial nerve

facial: muscles of the face, sensation of the face

8 cranial nerve

vestibulochlear, hearing and balance

9 cranial nerve

glossopharyngeal: muscles for swallowing

10 cranial nerve

vagus: parasympathetic control over the heart, stomach, liver, and other organs

11 cranial nerve

spinal accessory: movement of the shoulder muscles

12 cranial nerve

hypoglossal: movement of the tongue

Ventral nerves

nerves that depart on the ventral (frontal) aspect of the body

Dorsal nerves

arise on the posterior part of the body

Afferent nerves

sensory in nature, carry impulses to the brain and spinal cord

Efferent nerves

carry out motor functions and carry impulses from the brain and spinal cord to muscles

Autonomic nervous system

regulates involuntary responses divided into two other systems

Sympathetic nervous system

fight or flight, bp, heart rate, sweat, and digestive processes

Parasympathetic nervous system

“chill” response, slows heart rate, breathing, and digestion

Ganglia

clusters of nervous tissue

Parenchymal cells (neurons)

carry out roles of nervous system

Stromal cells (Glia)

support neurons

Dendrites

connect to cell body, receive impulses

Axon

long tail-like body that carries impulses to terminals

Myelin Sheath

cover axon and speed up transportation

Axon terminal

extend off axon, send messages to dendrites, hold neurotransmitters

Amnesia

loss of memory due to injury or emotional distress

Anesthesia

absence of feeling, especially pain

Aphasia

inability to speak

Ataxia

impaired ability to perform coordinated movements

Athetosis

constant, slow, involuntary writhing movement of the extremities

Aura

precursor to a seizure or headache

Cephalalgia

headache

Coma

state of decreased consciousness

Convulsion

involuntary muscle spasm

Decerebrate posturing

position of and unconscious person where the upper extremities are flexed and the lower extremities are rigid

Dyphasia

difficulty speaking

Dyssomnia

sleep disorder, difficulty sleeping or staying asleep

Fasciculation

involuntary twitching of small muscles

Hyperalgesia

exceptionally sensitive to painful stimulus

Hypokinesia

decrease in normal movement

Monoparesis

partial paralysis of one limb

Neuralgia

pain in a nerve

Paresthesia

abnormal condition where one feels numbness or tingling without a specific cause

Radiculopathy

Disease of a nerve root

Sciatica

inflammation of the sciatic nerve causing pain/numbness down the back of a leg

Seizure

sudden attack of muscular convulsions or spasms

Syncope

Fainting, often due to lack of blood to the brain

Vertigo

dizziness when there is no movement

General anesthesia

whole body is without feeling

Local anesthesia

specific area is without feeling

Regional anesthesia

region is without feeling, usually by a nerve block

Topical anesthesia

surface of a tissue is without feeling

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

when the lateral aspects of the spinal column harden. Progressive atrophy and paralasis

Astrocytoma

tumor made of the star-shaped glial cells which can be mallignant

Cerebral palsy (CP)

partial muscle paralysis occurring since birth

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

arrested blood supply in the brain (stroke)

Dementia

declining mental function, not associated with age-related memory loss

Demyelinating

removal or destruction of the myelin sheath

Duritis

inflammation of the dura mater

Encephalitis

inflammation of the brain

Epilepsy

brain disorder characterized by reoccurring seizures

Ganglitis

inflammation of the ganglion

Glioma

tumor in the neuroglia cells

Hydrocephalus

abnormal accumulation of CSF resulting in an enlarged head

Meningitis

inflammation of the meninges

Menigocele

protrusion or hernia of the meninges through a defect in the spinal column or cranium

Multiple sclerosis

progressive disease marked by demyelination of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord

Myelitis

inflammation of the spinal cord

Narcolepsy

disorder characterized by sudden, uncontrollable, attacks of sleep and visual/auditory hallucinations

Neuroproxia

following an injury, the injured nerve is in tact but no longer transmits impulses

Neuritis

inflammation of a nerve

Neuroblastoma

malignant tumor of the ANS usually found in kids under 10

Neurofibroma

benign fibrous tumor made of nervous tissue

Neuropathy

disease of the nerves

Pollomyelitis

inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord

Polyneuritis

inflammation of several nerves at a nerve root

Radiculitis

inflammation of

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

brief loss of blood flow to the brain

Alzheimer’s disease

progressive neurodegenerative disease

Autism

development disorder that varies greatly with each patient

Bell’s palsy

paralysis of the facial nerve with rapid onset and slow resolution

Complex regional pain system (CRPS)

characterized by an overactive sympathetic nervous system

Gullian barre syndrome (GBS)

acute disorder of the peripheral nerves marked by demyelination and rapid degeneration to the point where most patients require hospitalization and breathing assistance