Nervous System Med terms

a-, an-

absence of, without, no, not

dys-

painful, abnormal, difficult, labored

hemi-

half

hyper-

above, excessive

pan-

all, total

para-

beside, beyond, around, abnormal

pre-

before

post-

after

sub-

below, under

cephal/o

head

cerebell/o

cerebellum

cerebr/o

cerebrum

dur/o

dura mater, hard

encephal/o

brain

esthesi/o

sensation, sensitivity, feeling

gangli/o

ganglion

ganglion/o

ganglion

gil/o

glia, gluey substance

mening/o

meninges

meningi/o

meninges

ment/o

mind

mon/o

one, single

myel/o

spinal cord

neru/o

nerve

phas/o

speech

poli/o

gray matter

psych/o

mind

quadr/i

four

radic/o

nerve root

radicul/o

nerve root

rhiz/o

nerve root

-al, -ic

pertaining to

-algia

pain

-cele

hernia, protrusion

-cyte

cell

-genic

producing, originating, causing

-ictal

seizure, attack

-lysis

loosening, dissolution, separating

-malacia

softening

-oid

resembling

-oma

tumor

-osis

abnormal condition

-paresis

slight paralysis

-plegia

paralysis

-sclerosis

hardening

afferent nerves

nerves that carry sensory signals towards the CNS from the PNS

aphasia

loss of language function

Autonomic Nervous System

fnx division of the nervous system that is responsible for homeostatic reflexes that coordinate control of cardiac and smooth muscle, as well as glandular tissue

Babinski sign

dorsoflextion of the foot w extension and splaying of the toes in response to the plantar reflex, normally suppressed by corticospinal input

Blood-brain Barrier

physiological barrier between the circulatory system and CNS that establishes a privileged blood supply, restricting the flow of substances into CNS

Broca’s area

region of the frontal lobe associated with the motor commands necessary for speech production

central nervous system

anatomical division of the nervous system located within the cranial and vertebral cavities, namely the brain and spinal cord

cephalgia

pain in the head

cerebrum

region of the adult brain that develops from the telencephalon and is responsible for higher neurological fnxs such as memory, emotion, and consciousness

cerebrospinal fluid

a colorless fluid produced by the brain that cushions the brain and spinal cord within the posterior (dorsal) cavity

efferent nerves

nerve tissue that carries impulses away from the CNS towards the peripheral that results in motor response (movement)

electroencephalogram

the record of electrical activity of the brain

embolus

an obstruction such as a blood clot or plaque that blocks the flow of blood in an artery or vein

encephalitis

inflammation of the tissues of the brain

encephalomalacia

softening of the tissues of the brain

ganglionectomy

excision of a ganglion

glioblastoma

a CNS tumor composed of developing glial tissue

glioma

a tumor that begins in the glial tissue

hemiplegia

paralysis on one side of the body

hemorrhagic stroke

disruption of blood flow to the brain caused by bleeding within the cranial vault

hydrocephalus

the abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain

ischemic stroke

disruption of blood flow to the brain because blood cannot flow through blood vessels as a result of a blockage or narrowing of the vessel

lumbar puncture

procedure used to withdraw cerebrospinal fluid from the lower lumbar region of the vertebral column

medulla oblongata

a part of the brain stem responsible for control of heart rate and breathing

meninges

the membranes that surround the CNS

meningioma

a tumor of the meninges

meningitis

inflammation of the meninges, the tough membranes that surround the central nervous system

meningocele

protrusion of the meninges

meningomyelocele

protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord

midbrain

a portion of the brainstem, positioned above the pons, also called mesencephalon, that assists in motor reflexes associated with visual, auditory, and somatosensory stimuli

motor nerves

peripheral, efferent, myelinated nerve tissue that stimulates muscle contraction

neualgia

pain the peripheral or cranial nerves

neuritis

inflammation of a peripheral or cranial nerves

neuroma

tumor made of nerve cells

neruopathy

a nerve problem that causes pain, numbness, tingling, swelling, or muscle weakness in different parts of the body

neurotransmitters

chemicals that are made by nerve cells and used to communicate with other cells, including other nerve cells and muscle cells

paresis

partial paralysis wherein there is still some control of the muscles

paresthesia

abnormal sensation in the extremities

peripheral nervous system

all nervous tissue that is outside of the brain and spinal cord

poliomyelitis

acute infection by the polio virus, especially of the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem

polyneuropathy

disease of multiple peripheral nerves at the same time

pons

the main connection between the cerebellum and the brainstem. it is responsible for regulating several crucial fnxs, including the cardiovascular and respiratory systems

psychosis

a severe mental disorder in which a person loses the ability to recognize reality of relate to others

quadriplegia

paralysis of all four limbs

radiculopathy

disease of the nerve roots

stroke

loss of nerological fnx caused by an interruption of blood flow to a region of the CNS, also called CVA

subdural hematoma

accumulation of blood in the subdural space

sympathetic nervous system (SNS)

the division of the nervous system involved in our flight or fight responses. it continuously monitors body temperature and initiates appropriate motor responses

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain in which symptoms occur rapidly but last only a short time

wernicke’s area

region at the posterior end of the lateral sulcus in which speech comprehension is localized