Chapter24_Neurological

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Part of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Part of the nervous system that includes all nerve fibers outside the brain and spinal cord.

Cranial Nerves

12 pairs of nerves that arise from the brain and innervate primarily the head and neck.

Spinal Nerves

31 pairs of nerves that branch off the spinal cord and supply the body.

Afferent Messages

Sensory messages carried to the CNS from sensory receptors.

Efferent Messages

Motor messages carried from the CNS to muscles and glands.

Meninges

Protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Fluid that cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord.

Frontal Lobe

Region of the brain associated with personality, behavior, emotion, and intellectual functions.

Motor Area

Part of the frontal lobe responsible for voluntary movement.

Broca's Area

Region of the frontal lobe responsible for motor speech.

Temporal Lobe

Part of the brain associated with hearing, taste, and smell.

Wernicke's Area

Region of the brain responsible for speech comprehension, located in the temporal lobe.

Occipital Lobe

Region of the brain responsible for visual reception.

Cerebellum

Part of the brain that coordinates movement and maintains balance.

Basal Ganglia

Gray matter structures in the cerebral hemispheres that help control motor functions.

Thalamus

Relay station in the brain for sensory information.

Hypothalamus

Area of the brain that regulates basic bodily functions and homeostasis.

Cerebellar System

Part of the nervous system concerned with balance and coordination.

Upper Motor Neurons

Neurons that originate in the brain and send impulses down to lower motor neurons.

Lower Motor Neurons

Neurons that directly innervate skeletal muscles.

Dermatome

Area of skin primarily supplied by a single spinal nerve root.

Myotome

Muscle or group of muscles innervated by a specific spinal nerve.

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that controls voluntary movements.

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that regulates involuntary bodily functions.

Cranial Nerve I (Olfactory)

Responsible for the sense of smell.

Cranial Nerve II (Optic)

Responsible for vision.

Cranial Nerve III (Oculomotor)

Controls most eye movements.

Glasgow Coma Scale

A scale used to assess the level of consciousness in a patient.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A temporary period of symptoms similar to those of a stroke.

Expressive Aphasia

Inability to produce speech, often associated with damage to Broca's area.

Receptive Aphasia

Inability to understand language, often linked to damage in Wernicke's area.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive degenerative brain disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline.

Parkinson's Disease

A neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and leads to tremors and rigidity.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

An autoimmune disorder that affects the myelin sheaths of neurons.

Dystonia

Abnormal muscle tone that leads to twisting and repetitive movements.

Clonus

A series of rapid, rhythmic contractions of a muscle.

Reflex Arc

The neural pathway that mediates a reflex action.

Deep Tendon Reflexes (DTRs)

Reflexes that are assessed by tapping tendons.

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

Medical term for a stroke.

Ataxic Gait

A walk characterized by an unsteady and uncoordinated pattern.

Scissors Gait

A walk where legs cross in front of one another due to spasticity.

Fasciculation

An involuntary contraction of muscle fibers, often visible under the skin.

Tic

A sudden, repetitive movement or sound that some people make.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune neuromuscular disorder resulting in weakness of the skeletal muscles.

Cranial Nerve VIII (Acoustic)

Involved in hearing and balance.

Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)

Controls the muscles of facial expression and conveys taste sensations.

Cranial Nerve X (Vagus)

Controls functions of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.

Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)

Supplies the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles.

Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)

Controls tongue movements.

Kernig's Sign

A clinical sign indicating meningeal irritation.

Brudzinski's Sign

A clinical sign indicating meningeal irritation in which flexion of the neck causes flexion of the legs.

Mental Status Assessment

Evaluating a person's cognitive functioning and orientation.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Nerve damage resulting in weakness, numbness, and pain.

Cognitive Functioning

Mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension.

Behavioral Assessment

Evaluation of a person’s behavior, emotional state, and interaction with their environment.

Seizure

A sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain.

Spinal Tap (Lumbar Puncture)

Procedure to collect cerebrospinal fluid for examination.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses.

Afferent Pathway

Nerve pathways that carry sensory information to the central nervous system.

Efferent Pathway

Nerve pathways that carry motor commands from the central nervous system to effectors.

Stroke Symptoms

Signs such as facial drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulties that indicate a stroke.