Med Term Final

caus/o

burning, burn

cerebr/o

cerebrum, brain

concuss/o

shaken together, violently agitated

contus/o

bruise

encephal/o

brain

esthesia

sensation, feeling

esthet/o

feeling, nervous sensations, sense of perception

mania

madness

mening/o

membranes, meninges

neur/i, neur/o

nerve, nerve tissue

phasia

speak or speech

phobia

abnormal fear

psych/o

mind

radicul/o

root or nerve root

tropic

having an affinity for

Central nervous system (CNS)

§Includes the brain and spinal cord

§Functions: to receive and process information and to regulate all bodily activity

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

§12 pairs of cranial nerves extending from the brain

§31 pairs of peripheral spinal nerves extending outward from the spinal cord

§Function: to transmit nerve signals to and from the central nervous system

nerves

bundle of neurons that connect the brain and spinal cord with other parts of the body

tract

bundle or group of nerve fibers in the brain or spinal cord

ascending (up) nerve tracts

carry nerve impulse toward the brain

descending (down) nerve tracts

carry nerve impulses away from the brain

ganglion

nerve center, outside central nervous system

innervation

supply of nerves to a specific body part

plexus

network of intersecting spinal nerves

receptors

sites in the sensory organs that receive external stimulation

stimulus

anything that excites (activates) a nerve and causes an impulse

reflexes

automatic, involuntary responses to change; EX. coughing, pain response, HR/BP changes

neurons

basic cells of the nervous system

§Allow body parts to communicate with each other

§Billions carry nerve impulses throughout the body

afferent neurons

sensory neurons (at the brain)

connecting neurons

associative neurons

efferent neurons

motor neurons (exit the brain)

dendrites

receive impulses, conduct them to cell body

axons

conduct impulses away from nerve cells

terminal end fibers

branching fibers, lead impulse from axon to synapse

synapses

space between neurons

neurotransmitters

Chemical substances that make it possible for messages to cross from a synapse to a target receptor

glial cells

provide support and protection for neurons

myelin sheath

•Protective covering made up of glial cells

§White matter of the brain: myelinated nerve fibers

§Gray matter of the brain: unmyelinated nerve fibers

meninges

system of membranes that enclose the brain and spinal cord

dura mater

thick, tough, outermost membrane

epidural space

located between walls of vertebral column and dura mater

subdural space

located between dura mater and arachnoid membrane

arachnoid membrane

resembles a spider web, second layer

pia mater

third later, located nearest to the brain and spinal cord

cerebrospinal fluid (spinal fluid)

§Produced by special capillaries

§Cools and cushions the brain and spinal cord

§Nourishes the brain and spinal cord

cerebrum

controls highest level of thought including judgment, memory, association, critical thinking; processes sensations and controls voluntary muscle activity

thalamus

relays sensory stimuli from spinal cord & midbrain to cerebral cortex, located below cerebrum

hypothalamus

controls bodily functions, located below the thalamus

cerebellum

coordinates muscular activity and balance, located at the back of the head below the posterior portion of the cerebrum

brainstem

controls necessary survival functions like breathing, digestion, heart rate, BP, and arousal

spinal cord

§Long, fragile, tube-like structure; begins at the end of the brainstem and continues down almost to the bottom of the spinal column

§Contains all nerves that affect the limbs and lower part of the body, serves as a pathway for impulses traveling to/from brain

§Surrounded and protected by CSF and meninges

autonomic nerve fibers

carry instructions to organs and glands

sensory nerve fibers

receive external stimuli and transmit to brain

somatic nerve fibers

convey info that controls the body’s voluntary movements

cranial nerves

§12 pairs

§Identified by Roman numerals

§Named for area or function they serve

peripheral spinal nerves

§31 pairs

§Cervical nerves: C1–C8

§Thoracic nerves: T1–T12

§Lumbar nerves: L1–L5

§Sacral nerves: S1–S5

sympathetic nerves (fight or flight)

§Prepare the body for emergencies and stress

§Increase the respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood flow to muscles

§Become aroused as part of the fight-or-flight response

parasympathetic nerves (rest and digest)

§Return the body to normal after a response to stress

§Maintain normal body functions during ordinary circumstances

anesthesiologist

physician specializing in administering anesthesia

anesthetist

nonphysician specializing in administering anesthesia

neurologist

physician specializing in the nervous system

neurosurgeon

physician specializing in surgery of the nervous system

psychiatrist physician

specializes in chemical dependencies, emotional problems, and mental illness

psychologist

has doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) but not a medical doctor. They evaluate and treat emotional problems and mental illness

social worker

trained therapist, usually with a master’s degree (MSW)

migraine headache

throbbing pain on one side of the head, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound

meningocele

excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain

meningitis

inflammation of meninges of the brain and spinal cord caused by a bacterial or viral infection

alzheimer’s disease

group of disorders and is the leading form of dementia

parkinson’s disease

chronic, degenerative central nervous disorders

tremor

repetitive, involuntary muscle movement

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

rapidly progressive neurological disease, attacks nerve cells that control voluntary muscles

concussion

violent shaking up or jarring of the brain

cerebral contusion

bruising of brain tissue from bouncing against the skull

cranial hematoma

collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain

shaken baby syndrome

results from a child being violently shaken by someone

lethargy

lowered level of consciousness, listlessness, drowsiness, and apathy

syncope

fainting; brief loss of consciousness, decreased flow of blood to the brain

coma

profound (deep) state of unconsciousness

delirium

acute condition of confusion, disorientation, disordered thinking and memory, agitation, and hallucinations

cerebrovascular accident (stoke)

brain damage from disrupted blood flow to the brain. blocked or ruptured blood vessel

ischemic stroke

most common type in older people, blockage or narrowing of an artery in the brain

hemorrhagic stroke (bleed)

blood vessels in the brain leaks

narcolepsy

sudden and uncontrollable brief episodes of falling asleep during the day

parasomnia

several categories of sleep disorders that occur while falling asleep, during sleep, or while waking from sleep

myelitis

inflammation of the spinal cord

cervical radiculopathy

nerve pain caused by pressure on the spinal nerve roots in the neck

multiple sclerosis

autoimmune disorder, inflammation causes demyelination

Bell’s palsy

temporary paralysis of the seventh (facial) cranial nerve and affects one side of the face

sciatica

inflammation of the sciatic nerve

trigeminal neuralgia

chronic pain condition, inflammation of the fifth (trigeminal) nerve

cerebral palsy

§Group of disorders caused by damage that affects the cerebrum

§Poor muscle control, spasticity, speech defects, and other neurologic deficiencies

§Usually caused by a brain injury that occurs during pregnancy, during birth, or soon after birth

epilepsy

chronic neurological condition, recurrent episodes of seizures of varying severity

seizure

sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain, affects how a person feels or acts for a short time

causalgia

burning pain following an injury to a sensory nerve

hyperesthesia

exessive sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli

paresthesia

burning or prickling sensation with no apparent physical cause

neuropathy

any disease or damage to a nerve

carotid ultrasonography

ultrasound study of the carotid artery

electroencephalography

recording the electrical activity of the brain