Nervous System (Ch. 8)

Blood-brain barrier

Capillaries are linked by tight junctions that prevent passage of wan wanted substances unto others brain through this

Annulus fibrosus

Tough outer covering of the brain

Nucleus pulposus

Pulpy center of the brain

Meningocele

When only the meninges protrude; treated surgically 

Myelocele

Protrusion of the spinal cord minus it’s meningeal coverings

Meningomyelocele

Most common open neural tube defect and is the most serious conditions. Protrusion of both the meninges and the spinal cord through the ventral defect with a visible lesion on the back

Hydrocephalus

Excessive accumulation of CSF within the ventricles and can be either congenital or acquired

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meningeal coverings of then rain and spinal cord

Encephalitis

An infection of the brain tissue

Brain abscess

Encapsulated accumulation of pus within the cranium resulting from a cranial infection, a penetrating head wound, or an infection that has spread through the bloodstream

Subdural empyema

When pus from the access accumulates within the meningeal layers between the dura mater and the arachnoid

Degenerative disc disease (DDD)

The progressive degeneration of the nucleus pulpous and the annulus fibrosis of the IVD leads to this

Herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP)

A weakened or torn annulus fibrosis is subject to rupture, which alls the nucleus pulpous to protrude and compress spinal nerve roots

Cervical spondylosis

Degenerative changes of the neck; osteoarthritic condition may also affect the vertebral column, leading to neuropathy caused by chronic nerve root compression 

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Chronic, progressive, demyelinating disease of the nervous system, characterized by exacerbations and remissions 

Parkinson disease (PD)

Common neurodegenerative disease occurring in approximately two per 1000 adults over age 65. Results from the degeneration of the basal ganglia and dopamine secreting pathways affecting both motor and nonvoter neurological functions 

Dementia

Group of conditions characterized by a decline in several higher cortical functions (memory, language, reasoning skills) as a result of changes within the brain

Alzheimer disease (AD)

Most prevalent dementia; 6th leading cause of death in the U.S involves the prefrontal cortex, medial temporal lop, and hippocampus of the cerebrum

Lewy bodies

Abnormal cellular inclusions in the cytoplasm of cortical neurons composed of aggregates with a function called a-synuclein

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by the blockage of blood flow rupture of an artery to the brain, aka stroke

Ischemic stroke

Inadequate blood supply not a region of therein causing death or infection of brain tissue 

Atherothrombotic brain infection (ABI)

Infarct caused by thrombosis of a cerebral artery

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Type of CVA that may be preceded by a temporary episode of neurological dysfunction 

Lacunar infarction

Occurs when blood flow to a very small arterial vessel is blocked

Hemorrhagic stroke

Caused by a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain 

Gliomas

Account for about half of all primary brain tumors; their growth occurs through infiltration, making them difficult to treat surgically 

Astrocytoma

A diffuse infiltrating tumor found in young adults; most common glioma and accounts for about a third or gliomas

Glioblastoma

Most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults and is found in subcortical white matter with extension along the subependymal tissues that evenly spread to the entire brain