Med term midterm sg

acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter chemical released at ends

of nerve cells

afferent nerve

Carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord

astrocyte

Glial cell that transports water and salts from capillaries

axon

Microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell

blood-brain barrier

Protective separation between the blood and brain cells that keeps substances (such as anticancer drugs) from penetrating capillary

walls and entering the brain

central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord

cerebrospinal fluid

Circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord

ganglion

Collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system

meninges

Three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

myelin sheath

Covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell; speeds impulse conduction

neuron

Nerve cell that carries impulses throughout body; parenchyma of the nervous system

neurotransmitter

Chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell; stimulates or inhibits another cell

sciatic nerve

The nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot

synapse

The space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells

vagus nerve

Tenth cranial nerve; branches reach to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach

cerebell/o

Cerebellum

cerebr/o

Cerebrum

dur/o

Dura matter

encephal/o

Brain

gli/o

Gial cells

lept/o

Thin, slender

mening/o,

meningi/o

Membranes, meninges

my/o

Muscle

myel/o

Spinal cord

neur/o

Nerve

pont/o

Pons

radicul/o

Nerve root

thalam/o

Thalamus

thec/o

Sheath

vag/o

Vagus nerve

alges/o, -algesia

Excessive sensitivity to pain

-algia

Pain

caus/o

Burning

comat/o

Deep sleep

esthesi/o, -esthesia

Feeling, nervous sensation

kines/o, -kinesia

Movement

-kinesis, kinetic

Movement

-lepsy

Seizure

lex/o

Word, phrase

-paresis

Slight paralysis

-phasia

Speech

-plegia

Paralysis

-praxia

Action

-sthenia

Strength

syncop/o

Cut off

tax/o

Order, coordination

Hydrocephalus

Fluid accumulation in the brain

AD

Alzheimer disease

AFP

alpha-fetoprotein

ALS

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BBB

blood brain barrier

CNS

central nervous system

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

EEG

electroencephalogram

GABA

gamma-aminobutyric acid (neurotransmitter)

LP

lumbar puncture

MG

myasthenia gravis

MRA

magnetic resonance angiography

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

PNS

peripheral nervous system

gli/o

Glue

hydr/o

Water

kines/o

Movement

olig/o

Scanty

narc/o

Sleep

troph/o

Nourishment

alges/o

Sensitivity to pain

angi/o

Vessel, blood

caus/o

Burn, burning

cephal/o

Head

comat/o

Deep sleep

crani/o

Skull

cry/o

Cold

dur/o

Dura matter

encephal/o

Brain

esthesi/o

Nervous sensation

lept/o

Thin, slender

my/o

Muscle

myel/o

Spinal cord

olig/o

Scanty

pont/o

Pons

erythropoietin

Hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate production of red blood cells by bone marrow

nephron

The functional unit of thekidney where filtration,reabsorption, and secretiontake place

cali/o, calic/o

calyx (calix); cup-shaped

cyst/o

Urinary bladder

glomerul/o

glomerulus

meat/o

Meatus

nephr/o

Kidney

pyel/o

Renal pelvis

ren/o

Kidney

trigon/o

Trigone

ureter/o

Ureter

urethr/o

Urethra

vesic/o

Urinary bladder

albumin/o

Albumin

azot/o

Nitrogen

bacteri/o

Bacteria

dips/o

Thirst

kal/o

Potassium

ket/o, keton/o

Ketone bodies