The Brain and Nervous System: Structure, Function, and Disorders

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering brain anatomy, its lobes and functions, the divisions of the nervous system, and common neurological disorders described in the direct care lecture notes.

The Brain

The body's operating system that weighs approximately $1.2-1.5\,kg$ and consists of billions of neurons.

Neurons

Nerve cells that transmit signals through the nervous system using electrical impulses and chemical substances called neurotransmitters.

Brain Protection

The brain is protected by the skull bone (schedelbot), cerebrospinal fluid (hersenvocht), and meninges (hersenvliezen) against shocks, infections, and pressure.

Frontal Lobe (Voorhoofdskwab)

Lies behind the forehead; responsible for planning, organizing, decision-making, behavior control, speaking, conscious movements, and personality.

Parietal Lobe (Wandbeenkwab)

Located at the top of the head; processes touch, pressure, pain, body awareness (proprioception), and spatial insight.

Temporal Lobe (Slaapkwab)

Located by the temples and above the ears; responsible for hearing, language comprehension, memory storage, and emotional processing.

Occipital Lobe (Achterhoofdskwab)

Located at the very back of the head; dedicated to processing visual information.

Cerebellum (Kleine hersenen)

Located at the bottom back of the skull; manages balance, coordination, fine motor skills, and automatic movements.

Brainstem (Hersenstam)

Connects the brain to the spinal cord and regulates vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, swallowing, and consciousness.

Central Nervous System (CZS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord; it processes information and coordinates reflexes.

Peripheral Nervous System (PZS)

Consists of all nerves outside the CNS; it connects the central system to muscles, skin, and organs via sensory and motor nerves.

Autonomic Nervous System (AZS)

Regulates unconscious functions such as heart rate and digestion; includes the sympathetic ("fight-or-flight") and parasympathetic ("rest and recovery") systems.

Epilepsy

A condition involving sudden electrical discharges in the brain causing brief seizures, twitching, loss of consciousness, or "absent staring."

CVA (Cerebro Vasculair Accident)

A stroke caused by a blood flow disorder (blood clot or ruptured vessel), leading to symptoms like paralysis, a drooping mouth, or speech problems.

FAST Acronym

A diagnostic tool for strokes: Face (drooping mouth), Arm (arm sinks), Speech (unclear speech), and Time (call $112$ immediately).

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

A chronic condition where the protective layer around nerves is damaged, causing slowed or incorrect signal transmission.

Parkinson's Disease

A progressive neurological disease where nerve cells die, causing a dopamine deficiency that leads to tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movement.

Dementia

An umbrella term for more than $60$ diseases where information processing in the brain is disturbed, primarily impacting memory and daily functioning.

Alzheimer's Disease

The most common form of dementia, caused by protein accumulation that leads to the death of neurons and severe short-term memory loss.

Vascular Dementia

The second most common dementia, caused by reduced blood flow to the brain; it often progresses in steps after a stroke or TIA.

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)

A progressive brain disease involving protein clumps (Lewy bodies) characterized by visual hallucinations and strong fluctuations in alertness.

Frontotemporale Dementie (FTD)

Dementia occurring often before age $65$; involves cell death in the frontal and temporal lobes, causing drastic changes in behavior, personality, and language.

Validation (Validatie)

A caregiving technique for dementia where the caregiver goes along with the resident's experience/perception rather than correcting them.