Neurology Part 1

Vocabulary flashcards covering key nervous system structure, function, assessment, common disorders, diagnostics, and treatments from Neurology Part 1.

Nervous system

Coordinates body functions from internal and external stimuli; processes sensory information and mediates responses; includes brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord; processes information and coordinates activity of the body.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Nerves outside the CNS that connect the CNS to the rest of the body; subdivided into somatic and autonomic branches.

Afferent (sensory) pathways

Nerves carrying information from receptors toward the CNS.

Efferent (motor) pathways

Nerves carrying information from the CNS to muscles and glands.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Involuntary body functions; subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Sympathetic nervous system

Fight-or-flight response: increases heart rate, dilates pupils, bronchodilation, and redirects blood flow.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Rest-and-digest response: slows heart rate, constricts pupils, enhances digestion.

Left hemisphere (Left brain)

Analytic functions and language centers; typically controls the right side of the body.

Right hemisphere (Right brain)

Spatial awareness and creativity; typically controls the left side of the body.

Frontal lobe

Reasoning, planning, decision making, and motor function; houses motor cortex and some language areas.

Parietal lobe

Interprets sensory information such as touch, temperature, and proprioception.

Temporal lobe

Processes auditory information and memory; involved in language and emotion.

Occipital lobe

Primary area for visual processing.

Cerebellum

Balance and coordination of voluntary movements.

Diencephalon – Thalamus

Relay station that directs sensory information to the cerebrum.

Diencephalon – Hypothalamus

Regulates autonomic functions (temperature, thirst, hunger, water balance) and emotions; part of the limbic system.

Midbrain

Part of the brainstem; involved in auditory/visual reflexes and cranial nerve nuclei.

Pons

Part of the brainstem; controls chewing, taste, and saliva production.

Medulla oblongata

Bottom part of the brainstem; regulates respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Dura mater

Tough outer cranial meningeal layer that protects the brain.

Arachnoid mater

Middle meningeal layer with a web-like appearance; contains the subarachnoid space with CSF.

Pia mater

Gentle inner membrane that closely covers the brain and follows its contours.

Subdural space

Potential space between the dura and arachnoid membranes.

Subarachnoid space

Space between the arachnoid and pia maters that contains CSF.

Cranial meninges

Protective coverings of the brain: dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Choroid plexus

Structure that produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricles.

Central canal

CSF-filled channel running through the spinal cord.

Arachnoid granulations

Projections of the arachnoid membrane that drain CSF into the venous system.

Cauda equina

Bundle of nerve roots at the end of the spinal cord resembling a horse’s tail.

Spinal nerves (31 pairs)

Nerves outside the CNS that emerge from the spinal cord; include dorsal (sensory) and ventral (motor) roots.

Dorsal root

Sensory root of a spinal nerve.

Ventral root

Motor root of a spinal nerve.

Cranial nerves (12 pairs)

Nerves emerging directly from the brain; control sensory and motor functions of the head and neck.

Olfactory nerve (CN I)

Smell; sensory function located in the cerebrum.

Optic nerve (CN II)

Vision; carries visual information from the retina to the brain.

Oculomotor (CN III)

Controls most eye movements; pupil size and accommodation (PERRLA).

Trochlear (CN IV)

Controls superior oblique muscle; eye movement downward and inward.

Trigeminal (CN V)

Chewing and facial sensation; includes sensation from chin, cheek, and forehead.

Abducens (CN VI)

Controls lateral eye movement.

Facial (CN VII)

Facial expressions and palate/tacial movements; taste to anterior tongue.

Vestibulocochlear (CN VIII)

Hearing and balance.

Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)

Gag reflex and swallowing.

Vagus (CN X)

Regulates internal organs (digestion, heart rate, respiration); reflexes like coughing and swallowing.

Accessory (CN XI)

Shoulder shrug and head rotation.

Hypoglossal (CN XII)

Tongue movement.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

Assessment of eye opening (E), verbal response (V), and motor response (M) to categorize level of consciousness.

Decorticate posturing

Rigid flexion of arms with inward rotation and clenched fists, indicates damage above the brainstem.

Decerebrate posturing

Rigid extension of arms and legs outward, indicates brainstem damage.

Nuchal rigidity tests – Brudzinski/Kernig

Brudzinski’s sign: hip/knee flexion with neck flexion; Kernig’s sign: pain with straightening of the leg when hip is flexed.