Word Parts of the Nervous System

what does the sensory system do

collects data from one’s surroundings and sends information to the brain by wires (aka nerves)

peripheral nervous system

nerves that send and receive signals from the brain

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

what is the largest portion of the brain

cerebrum

where and does the cerebellum do

under the cerebrum that controls things like coordination of movement

what is meninges

protective membrane to protect the central nervous system

what is the dura

the tough outer layer

cerebr/o - cerebrophathy

encephal/o - encephalitis

notes: encephalo root comes from en (inside) and cephalus (head), literally “the stuff inside the head”

brain

cerebell/o - cerebellar

cerebellum

notes: the word cerebrum plus diminutive suffix, it means “little brain,” referring to the region of the brain that controls voluntary movements and looks somewhat like a mini version of the whole brain

lob/o - lobotomy

lobe

notes: lobes are smaller subdivisions of any organ

cephal/o - microcephaly

head

crani/o - craniometer

head, skull

mening/o - meningitis

meningi/o - meningophathy

meninges (membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord)

dur/o - epidural

dura (tough outer membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord)

neur/o - neuralgia

notes: neuron comes from a Greek word meaning “tendon” or “string” because they thought neurons looked like string

nerve

gangli/o - ganglion

notes: according to Galen, ganglion means “knot” and could refer to anything gathered up into a ball

nerve bundle

myel/o - myelitis

notes: the notes come from the Greek word “the innermost part” and refers to the bone marrow and spinal cord

spinal cord, bone marrow

what does neurology focus on

actions

what does psychiatry and psychology study

study of human perceptions, emotions, and behavior

esthesi/o - anesthesia

feeling, sensation

phas/o - aphasia

speech

phren/o - phrenetic

psych/o - psychology

notes: phren/o, comes from Greek, can also refer to the diaphragm

mind

somn/o - somnography

somn/i - insomnia

hypn/o - hypnosis

sleep

gnosi/o - agnosia

know

-mania — pyromania

excessive desire

-phobia — photophobia

excessive fear or sensitivity

-paresis — hemiparesis

notes: paresis comes from the Greek word “to let go” or “to slacken”

slight or partial paralysis

ton/o - dystonia

muscle tone, tension, pressure

tax/o - ataxia

arrangement, order, coordination

-plegia — quadriplegia

notes: plegia comes from the Greek word “to strike”

paralysis

-asthenia — myasthenia

weakness