ELOTD505 Clinical Neuroscience - Chapter 1-2: Introduction and Neuroanatomy

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated for Clinical Neuroscience (ELOTD505) Chapter 1-2, covering basic cellular anatomy, Central vs Peripheral Nervous System divisions, Cranial and Spinal nerves, and brain structures.

Neuron

The functional unit of the nervous system responsible for transmitting information via electrical impulses.

Glial Cells

Supporting cells in the nervous system that nourish, support, and protect neurons, and help neurons communicate with each other.

White Matter

Axons or projections of nerve cells that transmit information away from cell bodies to other parts of the nervous system, appearing white due to an insulating layer of myelin.

Gray Matter

Areas of the nervous system composed of neurons, cell bodies (soma), glia, and blood vessels where information is processed and understood.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The portion of the nervous system encased and protected by the skull and vertebral column, consisting of the spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, and cerebrum.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

All parts of the nervous system not protected by the skull or vertebral column, beginning at the exit of cranial nerves and spinal cord ventral/dorsal rootlets.

Olfactory Nerve (CN I)

Purely sensory cranial nerve responsible for smell.

Optic Nerve (CN II)

Purely sensory cranial nerve responsible for vision.

Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)

Purely motor cranial nerve responsible for eye movement, pupil constriction, and adjusting lens shape for focus.

Trochlear Nerve (CN IV)

Purely motor cranial nerve responsible for eye movement.

Trigeminal Nerve (CN V)

Mixed cranial nerve responsible for sensations from the face and head, as well as chewing.

Abducens Nerve (CN VI)

Purely motor cranial nerve responsible for eye movement.

Facial Nerve (CN VII)

Mixed cranial nerve responsible for facial expression, closing the eye, tearing, and salivation.

Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII)

Purely sensory cranial nerve responsible for sensation of head position, head movement, and hearing.

Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)

Mixed cranial nerve responsible for swallowing, salivation, and sensation from the pharynx, posterior tongue, and middle ear.

Vagus Nerve (CN X)

Mixed cranial nerve responsible for sensation from the pharynx, larynx, external ear canal, and motor/sensory innervation to abdominal and thoracic viscera.

Accessory Nerve (CN XI)

Purely motor cranial nerve responsible for elevating the shoulder and turning the head.

Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII)

Purely motor cranial nerve responsible for moving the tongue.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disorder targeting the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) that commonly affects extraocular muscles innervated by CN III, IV, and VI, resulting in ptosis or diplopia.

Ptosis

Drooping of the eyelid.

Diplopia

Double vision.

Brachial Plexus

A network of spinal nerve roots from $C_5$–$T_1$ that forms peripheral nerves (axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median, ulnar) supplying the upper limb.

Afferent Nerve Fibers

Neuron axons that carry sensory information towards the Central Nervous System.

Efferent Nerve Fibers

Neuron axons that carry motor signals away from the Central Nervous System to skeletal muscle.

Dorsal Root

Structure attached to the spinal cord through which afferent sensory information enters the cord.

Ventral Root

Structure attached to the spinal cord through which efferent motor commands exit the spinal cord to target muscles.

Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG)

An enlargement of the dorsal root containing the cell bodies of sensory neurons.

Intervertebral Foramen

The opening through which spinal nerve axons exit the vertebral column, transitioning from the CNS to the PNS.

Spinal Cord Cross Section Anatomy

Internal organization featuring a central gray 'H' divided into horns and a commissure, surrounded by anterior, lateral, and dorsal white matter columns.

Brain Stem

Structure composed of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata that connects the spinal cord to the cerebral region and regulates involuntary vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep/wakefulness.

Cerebellum

Structure attached to the posterior brain stem that plays a primary role in postural control and movement coordination.

Cerebral Cortex

The surface layer of the cerebrum, composed entirely of gray matter.

Functional Lobes of the Cerebrum

The five functional divisions of the brain: Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital, and Limbic lobes.

Frontal Lobe

Cerebral lobe involved in problem solving, emotional traits, reasoning (judgment), speaking, and voluntary motor activity.

Parietal Lobe

Cerebral lobe responsible for processing touch/sensation, body orientation, reading, and distinguishing right from left.

Temporal Lobe

Cerebral lobe responsible for understanding language, behavior, memory, and hearing.

Occipital Lobe

Cerebral lobe dedicated to vision and color perception.

Limbic System

An interconnected group of brain structures involved in emotion, memory, behavior, motivation, and olfaction.

Hypothalamus

Limbic structure that produces hormones, regulates sleep, mood, hunger, thirst, sexual arousal, blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate.

Amygdala

Limbic structure key to experiencing emotions (anxiety, anger, fear), memory processing, and social interpretations.

Thalamus

Structure that processes sensory information (hearing, taste, sight, touch) and assists with memory, planning, and emotions.

Hippocampus

Limbic structure responsible for forming new memories and supporting learning.

Anterograde Amnesia

Impairment resulting from limbic system damage that causes difficulty forming new long-term memories.

Women ages 40-60

Who is most prone to CTS

Both

What kind of problem is CTS Motor or sensory

At night

When does CTS first Appear?

Peristalsis

Tingling of fingers

Tinel’s Sign

Light percussion over the  median nerve trunk for 30 seconds

Positive Tenel’s Sign

indicates the presence of neuropathy or nerve regeneration. It is assessed by the reproduction of tingling sensations in the distribution of the median nerve.

Phalen’s Maneuver

Allowing the wrists to fall freely into maximum flexion and maintain the position for 60 seconds or more

Positive Phalen’s Maneuver

indicates carpal tunnel syndrome when tingling or pain occurs in the median nerve distribution after holding the position.

Surgery to create a larger space

Medications, therapy, and acupuncture

Ways to treat CTS

can cause preceving things as threats and cause danger for others. Reasoning and judgement is out the window and primitive thoughts run wild

frontal lobe injury