Recognition: Nervous system

V. 42, Unit VI

Central Nervous System

Consists of brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Consists of nerves extending from the spinal cord and brain to other parts of the body such as muscles, intestines, and the skin

Neuron

Basic Unit of the nervous system

Dendrites

Sensory projections which carry information to the nerve cell body

Cerebrum

Larges portion of the fore brain important in thinking, sight, smell, and muscle control

Hydrocephalus

"Water on the brain" Can be congenital (born with it) or caused by injury or infection

Cerebellum

Found in the hind brain, has many ridges on its surface and is involved with balance, equilibrium and coordination

Spinal cord

Has white matter on the outside and gray matter on the inside. It is also bathed in cerebro-spinal fluid

Blood Clot

Can cause strokes

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges. May lead to paralysis, difficulty breathing or a coma depending on how bad the infection is. Can be bacterial or viral

Tumors

Can put pressure on areas of the brain and cause seizures

aphasia

impaired speech

stroke; CVA

blood clot or hemorrhage in brain

concussion

violent jarring of brain

convulsion; seizure

series of jerking of the face, trunk, and extremities

epilepsy

excessive electrical activity in brain

lightheadedness

dizziness

migraine

severe headache

multiple sclerosis

formation of plaque in the brain or spinal cord causing some degree of tremor, paralysis, or speech disturbance

numbness

absence of feeling

paralysis

loss of voluntary movement

Parkinson disease

rhythmical tremors, rigidity of movement, droopy posture, masklike facies

sciatica

pain in lower back andhip radiating down posterior thigh

tremor

involuntary trembling or shaking

vertigo

feeling as if room is spinning; dizziness