Neurological System Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the neurological system, brain anatomy, nervous system divisions, sensory disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions based on the NSG 811 Summer 2025 lecture.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The body’s control center, made up of the brain and spinal cord.

Neuron

The nervous system’s fundamental unit; a highly specialized conductor cell that receives and transmits electrochemical nerve impulses.

Axons

Nerve fibers that carry impulses away from the cell body.

Dendrites

Nerve fibers that carry impulses to the cell body.

Neuroglial cells

Support cells that outnumber neurons and provide nourishment, protection, and structural support.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain, which houses the nerve center controlling sensory activity, motor activity, and intelligence.

Cerebral cortex

The outer layer of the cerebrum consisting of neuron cell bodies, also known as gray matter.

Basal ganglia

Structures found in the inner layer of the cerebrum that control motor coordination and steadiness.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Composed of cranial and spinal nerves that carry impulses to ($afferent$) and away ($efferent$) from the CNS.

Somatic nervous system

Consists of motor and sensory pathways regulating voluntary motor control of skeletal muscle.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Consists of motor and sensory pathways providing involuntary control of organ systems.

Myelin sheath

An insulation around selected axons that allows for quicker nerve impulse conduction.

Thalamus

A component of the diencephalon and limbic system that integrates sensory information and projects it to the cerebral frontal lobes.

Hypothalamus

A structure that controls autonomic functions, sets appetitive drives, participates in emotional responses, and secretes $ADH$ and oxytocin.

Cerebellum

A hindbrain structure responsible for the involuntary coordination and control of movements for equilibrium, muscle tone, and posture.

Pons

A structure that links the cerebellum with other brain centers and the medulla; it also modifies the output of respiratory centers.

Medulla oblongata

Part of the hindbrain that regulates heart rate, force of contraction, and respiration rate.

Midbrain

A relay center for motor and sensory tracts that also contains centers for auditory and visual reflexes, temperature control, and sleep-wake cycles.

Reticular formation

A network in the brain responsible for maintaining wakefulness and attention.

Limbic system

The area of the brain involved with emotion and memory, including the hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB)

A highly selective semipermeable border of endothelial cells that prevents blood solutes from non-selectively entering the extracellular fluid of the CNS.

Spinal Cord Tracts

Vertical columns of white matter consisting of myelinated nerve fibers; sensory ($ascending$) tracts carry impulses to the brain, while motor ($descending$) tracts carry them down.

Pyramidal system

Also known as the corticospinal tract; responsible for fine, skilled movements of the skeletal muscle.

Extrapyramidal system

Also known as the extracorticospinal tract; responsible for the control of gross motor movements.

Sympathetic nervous system

A division of the ANS that responds to stress by mobilizing energy stores, primarily through the release of norepinephrine.

Parasympathetic nervous system

A division of the ANS that conserves energy and body resources, primarily through the release of acetylcholine.

Proprioception

The perception of the position and location of the body and its parts, with receptors located in the inner ear, joints, and ligaments.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Hearing loss that develops with impairment of the organ of Corti or its central connection.

Presbycusis

The most common form of sensorineural hearing loss, which is age-related and typically caused by gradual changes in the inner ear.

Acute otitis media

An infection of the middle ear associated with ear pain, fever, an inflamed tympanic membrane, and fluid accumulation.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

The most common chronic, irreversible dementia, characterized by accumulations of amyloid and tau protein neurofibrillary tangles.

Beta-amyloid plaques

Deposits of protein-like substances in the brain tissue of Alzheimer's patients that may exert neurotoxic effects.

Bradykinesia

Slowness of movement; one of the primary symptoms of Parkinson's disease resulting from degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

A motor neuron disease characterized by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons, leading to flaccid paresis and eventually paralysis.

Anhedonia

A negative symptom of schizophrenia characterized by an inability to feel or express pleasure.

Avolition

A negative symptom of schizophrenia involving a lack of motivation.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

A condition characterized by excessive and persistent worries about life events, often accompanied by motor disturbances and fatigue.

Cerebral palsy (CP)

A group of nonprogressive syndromes caused by prenatal hypoxia or perinatal/postnatal trauma, resulting in motor and developmental disabilities.