Neurological NCLEX-PN Practice Review Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering neurological structure, physiology, cranial nerves, brain functions, spinal cord pathways, autonomic system, neurological assessment, and related NCLEX-PN clinical concepts.

Dendrite

Neuron structure that receives incoming signals and carries them toward the cell body.

Soma

The cell body of a neuron; contains the nucleus and directs cell metabolism.

Myelin Sheath

Structure that insulates the axon and speeds conduction of a nerve impulse via saltatory conduction.

Nodes of Ranvier

Unmyelinated gaps in the myelin sheath where nerve impulses jump during saltatory conduction.

Schwann Cell

Cell responsible for producing myelin in the peripheral nervous system.

Central Nervous System

Division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Somatic Division

Division of the nervous system that controls voluntary skeletal muscle movement.

Synapse

Junction where neurotransmitters carry a nerve impulse from one neuron to the next cell.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction that triggers skeletal muscle contraction.

Depolarization

Reversal of the neuron membrane charge caused by the rapid inflow of sodium ions.

Repolarization

Restoration of the negative resting membrane potential of a neuron primarily caused by potassium moving out of the cell.

CN I (Olfactory Nerve)

Purely sensory cranial nerve responsible for the sense of smell.

CN III, IV, and VI

Oculomotor (CN III), trochlear (CN IV), and abducens (CN VI) nerves that work together to control extraocular eye movements.

CN V (Trigeminal Nerve)

Cranial nerve responsible for facial sensation and motor innervation to the muscles of chewing.

CN VII (Facial Nerve)

Cranial nerve controlling the muscles of facial expression.

CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear Nerve)

Purely sensory cranial nerve responsible for carrying hearing and equilibrium (balance) information.

CN IX and CN X

Glossopharyngeal (CN IX) and vagus (CN X) nerves that control gagging and swallowing, assessed via the gag reflex.

CN XI (Spinal Accessory Nerve)

Cranial nerve supplying the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles for shoulder shrugging and head turning.

CN XII (Hypoglossal Nerve)

Cranial nerve responsible for controlling tongue movement.

CN X (Vagus Nerve)

Cranial nerve providing widespread parasympathetic control to the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.

Bell's Palsy

Condition involving impairment of CN VII causing one-sided facial drooping including the forehead, requiring eye protection due to risk of corneal dryness.

Frontal Lobe

Cerebral lobe responsible for reasoning, judgment, personality, impulse control, speech production, and voluntary motor movement.

Occipital Lobe

Cerebral lobe that processes and interprets visual information.

Parietal Lobe

Cerebral lobe that interprets somatic sensations such as touch, pain, and temperature.

Temporal Lobe

Cerebral lobe responsible for processing hearing and language comprehension.

Cerebellum

Brain structure that coordinates balance, posture, and smooth motor movement.

Medulla Oblongata

Brainstem structure containing vital centers for breathing, heart rate, vasomotor control, swallowing, coughing, and vomiting.

Hypothalamus

Brain structure regulating homeostasis (temperature, hunger, thirst) and controlling the pituitary gland.

Thalamus

Brain structure acting as the main relay station for sensory input to the cerebral cortex (except smell).

Anterior Gray Horn

Region of the spinal cord containing the cell bodies of motor neurons.

Posterior (Dorsal) Root

Spinal cord pathway through which sensory nerve fibers enter.

Dermatome

An area of skin supplied by sensory fibers of a single spinal nerve.

Cervical Plexus

Nerve plexus originating from roots C3–C5 that gives rise to the phrenic nerve driving the diaphragm.

Brachial Plexus

Nerve plexus formed by C5–T1 roots supplying the shoulder, arm, and hand.

Median Nerve

Nerve compressed at the wrist in carpal tunnel syndrome, causing thumb-side numbness and nighttime pain.

Sciatic Nerve

Largest nerve in the body, originating from the sacral plexus and supplying the posterior leg.

Reflex Arc

Neural pathway consisting of receptor, sensory neuron, integration center in the spinal cord, motor neuron, and effector, allowing rapid response before conscious brain processing.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Autonomic division producing fight-or-flight responses such as increased heart rate, bronchodilation, and pupil dilation.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Autonomic division producing rest-and-digest responses such as slowed heart rate, increased digestion, and pupil constriction.

Norepinephrine

Primary neurotransmitter released at most sympathetic target organs.

Cushing's Triad

Late sign of increased intracranial pressure characterized by bradycardia, widened pulse pressure, and irregular respirations.

Glasgow Coma Scale

Neurological tool scoring eye opening, verbal response, and motor response (total score 3 to 15); a score of 8 or less indicates coma.

PERRLA

Clinical acronym for pupil assessment meaning Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation.

FAST Acronym

Stroke recognition acronym standing for Face, Arms, Speech, and Time.

Expressive Aphasia

Broca's aphasia in which language comprehension is intact but the client has difficulty producing spoken words.

Receptive Aphasia

Wernicke's aphasia characterized by fluent but meaningless speech and impaired language comprehension.

Postictal State

Phase immediately following a seizure characterized by drowsiness and confusion.

Status Epilepticus

Medical emergency characterized by a seizure lasting longer than five minutes without recovery.

Parkinson's Disease

Neurological disorder caused by a deficiency of dopamine in the substantia nigra, presenting with resting pill-rolling tremor, shuffling gait, and bradykinesia.

Multiple Sclerosis

Autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by relapses, remissions, and symptom worsening in heat.

Myasthenia Gravis

Neuromuscular disorder causing muscle weakness that worsens late in the day, with potential life-threatening respiratory failure.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Disorder characterized by ascending weakness or paralysis that can reach the diaphragm and impair breathing.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

Hypertensive emergency in spinal cord injuries at T6 or above, characterized by sudden pounding headache, severe hypertension, bradycardia, and facial flushing.

Phenytoin

Antiseizure drug requiring strict oral hygiene to manage gingival hyperplasia and strict avoidance of abrupt withdrawal.

Mannitol

Osmotic diuretic used to reduce increased intracranial pressure, monitored via urine output, neurologic status, and electrolytes.