The Language of Medicine - Chapter 10

cerebrum

part of the brain associated with thinking, personality, sensations, movements, memory

thalamus

part of the brain associated with relay station ("triage center") for sensory impulses; control of awareness and consciousness

hypothalamus

part of the brain associated with body temperature, sleep, appetite, emotions, control of the pituitary gland

cerebellum

part of the brain associated with coordination of voluntary movements and balance

pons

part of the brain associated with connection of nerves (to the eyes and face)

medulla oblongata

part of the brain associated with nerve fibers cross over, left to right and right to left; contains centers to regulate heart, blood vessels, and respiratory system

acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells

afferent nerve

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve)

arachnoid membrane

middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord

astrocyte

type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries

autonomic nervous system

nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs

axon

Microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell

blood-brain barrier

Blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out

brainstem

lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the pons and medulla oblongata

cauda equina

collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord

cell body

part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus

central nervous system (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord

cerebellum

posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance

cerebral cortex

outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord

cerebrum

Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory

cranial nerves

twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain with regard to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve)

dendrite

microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse

dura mater

thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord (Latin for "hard mother.")

efferent nerve

carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve

ependymal cell

a glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid

ganglion (plural: ganglia)

collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system

glial cell (neuroglial cell)

Supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses. Examples are astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes.

gyrus (plural: gyri)

sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution

hypothalamus

Portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland.

medulla oblongata

Part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here

meninges

three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

microglial cell

phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system.

motor nerve

carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve

myelin sheath

Covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.

nerve

macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons and dendrites) that carry electrical impulses

neuron

nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body

neurotransmitter

chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell.

oligodendroglial cell

glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. also called oligodendrocyte

parasympathetic nerves

involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract

parenchyma

essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system.

peripheral nervous system

nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves

pia mater

Thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges

plexus (plural: plexuses)

Large, interlacing network of nerves. Examples are lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial (brachi/o means arm) plexuses. (Indo-European plek, meaning to weave together)

pons

Part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain. It is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain

receptor

Organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves. The skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds are receptors.

sciatic nerve

nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot.

sensory nerve

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve

spinal nerves

31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord

stimulus (plural: stimuli)

Agent of change (light, sound, touch) in the internal or external environment that evokes a response.

stroma

Connective and supporting tissue of an organ. Glial cells are the stromal tissue of the brain.

sulcus (plural: sulci)

depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure

sympathetic nerves

autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress

synapse

space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells

thalamus

Main relay center of the brain; brain structure that receives messages from the sense organs and relays the information to the proper region of the cerebrum for further processing

vagus nerve

10th cranial nerve; its branches reach to the larynx, traches, bronche, lungs, aorta, esophagus, & stomach

ventricles of the brain

canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid

cerebell/o

Combining form meaning cerebellum

cerebr/o

Combining form meaning cerebrum

dur/o

Combining form meaning dura mater

encephal/o

Combining form meaning brain

gli/o

Combining form meaning glial cells

lept/o

Combining form meaning thin, slender

mening/o, meningi/o

Combining forms meaning membranes, meninges

my/o

Combining form meaning muscle

myel/o

Combining form meaning spinal cord (means bone marrow in other contexts)

neur/o

Combining form meaning nerve

pont/o

Combining form meaning pons

radicul/o

Combining form meaning nerve root (of spinal nerves)

cerebellar

pertaining to the cerebellum

cerebrospinal fluid

fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord

cerebral cortex

outer region of the cerebrum

subdural hematoma

collection of blood under the dura mater (outermost layer of the meninges)

epidural hematoma

collection of blood above the dura mater

encephalitis

inflammation of the brain

encephalopathy

disease of the brain

anencephaly

Condition of no brain

glioblastoma

malignant tumor of the glial cells in the brain

leptomeningeal

pertaining to the pia mater and arachnoid membranes of the meninges

meningeal

pertaining to the meninges

meningioma

Tumor of the meninges

myelomeningocele

hernia of the spinal cord and meninges

myoneural

pertaining to muscle and nerves

myelogram

x-ray record of the spinal cord

poliomyelitis

inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord

neuropathy

disease condition of the nerves

polyneuritis

Inflammation of many nerves.

cerebellopontine

pertaining to the cerebellum and the pons

radiculopathy

disease condition of the nerve root

radiculitis

inflammation of the nerve roots

thalamic

pertaining to the thalamus

intrathecal injection

Placement or injection of substances (medications) into the subarachnoid space.

vagal

pertaining to the vagus nerve

analgesia

without excessive sensitivity to pain

hypalgesia

Diminished sensation to pain

neuralgia

nerve pain

cephalgia

Headache

causalgia

burning sensation of pain

comatose

pertaining to a coma or deep sleep

anesthesia

no feeling or no nervous sensation