AHS1110_10_Nervous System

-cele

hernia, tumor, swelling

-esthesia

sensation, feeling

-graphy

the process of producing a picture or record

-itis

inflammation

-lepsy

seizure, convulsion

-mening/o

meninges

- myel/o

spinal cord, bone marrow

-neur/i, neur/o

nerve, nerve tissue

-paresis

partal or incomplete paralysis

-phobia

abnormal fear

-plegia

paralysis

-psych/o

mind

-ptosis

drooping or sagging

spondyl/o, vertebr/o

vertebrae, vertebral column, backbone

arachn/o

spider

axon

nerve fiber that conducts impulses away from the cell body

brainstem

stalk-like portion of the brain that connects the cerebral hemispheres with the spinal cord

causalgia

persistent, severe burning pain following injury to a sensory nerve

cerebellum

second-largest part of the brain; coordinates muscular activity and balance

cerebrum

largest and uppermost part of the brain; responsible for thought, judgment, memory, and emotion

coma

profound (deep) state of unconsciousness

cranial hematoma

collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain

delirium

acute condition of confusion, disorientation, and hallucinations

dementia

slow, progressive decline in mental abilities including memory and thinking

dura mater

thick, tough, outermost membrane of the meninges

encephalitis

inflammation of the brain

encephal/o

brain

epilepsy

chronic neurological condition with recurrent seizures

ganglion

nerve center located outside the central nervous system

hallucination

sensory perception with no external stimulation

hypothalamus

portion of brain below thalamus that controls vital bodily functions

ischemic stroke

occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked

lethargy

lowered level of consciousness marked by listlessness or drowsiness

lobectomy

surgical removal of a portion of the brain

meningitis

inflammation of the meninges

migraine

throbbing head pain, usually on one side

myelitis

inflammation of the spinal cord

narcolepsy

sleep disorder involving sudden uncontrollable sleep episodes

neurotransmitters

chemical substances that transmit messages across the synapse

paralysis

total loss of voluntary muscle movement

paresthesia

abnormal sensation such as burning or tingling

peripheral nervous system

nerves outside the brain and spinal cord

psychiatrist

physician specializing in diagnosing and treating mental illness

psychologist

specialist in evaluating and treating emotional and mental problems

receptors

sensory organs that receive external stimuli

schizophrenia

psychotic disorder with withdrawal from reality, hallucinations, and delusions

seizure

sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain

synapse

space between two neurons

thalamus

sensory relay station in the brain

traumatic brain injury

blow to the head or penetrating injury to the brain

tranquilizer

drug that reduces tension and anxiety

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

temporary interruption in blood supply to the brain

vertigo

sense of spinning or dizziness

Alzheimer's disease (AD)

neurodegenerative disease; progressive memory loss and mental decline

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

aka Lou Gehrig's disease; attacks nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles

autism spectrum disorder

neurodevelopmental disorder affecting social interaction and communication

bipolar disorder

mood disorder with alternating highs (mania) and lows (depression)

cerebral palsy

brain damage disorder affecting muscle tone and coordination

concussion

violent shaking or jarring of the brain

depression

persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest

dyslexia

learning disorder with difficulty reading or processing symbols

hypnotic

medication that induces sleep

insomnia

prolonged or abnormal inability to sleep

multiple sclerosis (MS)

autoimmune disorder damaging myelin sheath of the CNS

neuralgia

pain in a nerve

neurologist

specialist in diagnosing and treating nervous system disorders

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

repetitive obsessions and compulsions

panic attack

sudden, intense fear or discomfort

Parkinson's disease

neurodegenerative disorder causing tremors, rigidity, and slow movement

phobia

persistent, irrational fear

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

anxiety disorder from traumatic experiences

restless legs syndrome

urge to move legs, often at night

sciatica

inflammation of the sciatic nerve

spina bifida

congenital defect with incomplete closure of the spine

syncope

brief loss of consciousness; fainting

tourette syndrome

involuntary tics, grunts, or inappropriate words

trigeminal neuralgia

severe facial pain due to 5th cranial nerve inflammation

white matter

myelinated nerve fibers of the brain

gray matter

unmyelinated nerve fibers of the brain

deep brain stimulation (DBS)

implantation of device to deliver electrical signals to the brain

stereotactic radiosurgery

precise delivery of radiation using a 3D coordinate system

gamma knife surgery

noninvasive treatment for brain tumors using focused radiation

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

electric current passed through the brain to treat severe depression

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

noninvasive brain stimulation using magnetic fields

lobotomy

surgical incision into a lobe of the brain

neurotomy

surgical cutting of a nerve

radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

use of heat to destroy nerve fibers causing pain