Medterms Module IX

central nervous system (CNS)

the brain and spinal cord

brain

part of the CNS contained within the cranium

basal ganglia

group of nerve cell bodies linked to the thalamus, involved with coordination and movement

brainstem

connects the brain to the spinal cord; assists in breathing, heart rhythm, vision, and consciousness; composed of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

midbrain

part of brainstem that contains reflex centers associated with eye and head movements

pons

part of brainstem between medulla and midbrain that is a relay station from the PNS to the brain

medulla oblongata

part of the brainstem that connect the brain and the spinal cord and contains reflex centers for the heart, blood vessels, and breathing

cerebellum

posterior portion of the brain that coordinates the voluntary muscles and maintains balance and muscle tone

cerebrum

largest and uppermost portion of the brain; divided into right and left halves (cerebral hemispheres) and subdivided into lobes

cerbral cortex

outer layer of the cerebrum; controls higher mental function

frontal lobe

front portion of cerebrum that is involved with voluntary muscle movement and emotions

gyrus

elevated ridge (raised convolution) on surface of cerebrum

occipital lobe

posterior portion of cerebrum involved with vision

parietal lobe

middle-top portion of the cerebrum; involved in perception of touch, temperature, and pain

sulcus

groove or depression on the surface of the brain

temporal lobe

portion of the cerebrum below the frontal love; involved with the senses of hearing and smell as well as memory, emotion, speech, and behavior

diencephalon

area deep within the brain that contains the thalamus and hypothalamus and is the link between the cerebral hemispheres and the brainstem; responsible for directing sensory information to the cortex

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

colorless liquid that circulates in and around the brain and spinal cord and transports nutrients

meninges

three membranous coverings of the brain and spinal cord

dura mater

tough, fibrous membrane forming middle later of meninges

arachnoid mater

delicate fibrous membrane forming middle layer of meninges

pia mater

thin inner layer of meninges that attaches directly to brain and spinal cord

spinal cord

portion of CNS contained in the vertebral canal that conducts nerve impulses to and from the brain and body

ventricle

one of four interconnected cavities within the brain that secrete CSF

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

part of nervous system external to brain and spinal cord that consists of all other nerves throughout the body

nerve

whitish cord-like structure that transmits stimuli from the CNS to another area of the body or from the body to the CNS

ganglion

group of nerve cell bodies located along the pathway of a nerve

neuroglia

cells that support and protect nervous tissue

neuron

nerve cell; cell that makes up basic structure of nervous system and conducts impulses

cranial nerves

12 pairs of nerves that emerge from brain

spinal nerves

31 pairs of nerves that emerge from spinal cord

cerebell/o

cerebellum (little brain) (combining form)

cerebr/o

brain, cerebrum (combining form)

cortic/o

outer portion of an organ, cortex (combining form)

crani/o

cranium, skull (combining form)

dur/o

hard, dura mater (combining form)

encephal/o

brain (combining form)

esthesi/o

sensation, perception (combining form)

gangli/o, ganglion/o

ganglion (combining form)

gli/o

glue, neuroglia (combining form)

mening/o, meningi/o

meninges (combining form)

myel/o

bone marrow, spinal cord (combining form)

narc/o

stupor, numbness, sleep (combining form)

neur/o

nerve (combining form)

phas/o

speech (combining form)

poli/o

gray matter (combining form)

radicul/o

nerve root (combining form)

somn/o, somn/i

sleep (combining form)

spin/o

spine (combining form)

spondyl/o

vertebra (combining form)

thalam/o

thalamus (combining form)

ventricul/o

ventricle (combining form)

vertebr/o

vertebra (combining form)

anxi/o

fear, worry (combining form)

hallucin/o

to wander in one's mind (combining form)

hypn/o

sleep, hypnosis (combining form)

ment/o, psych/o

mind, metnal

phren/o

mind (combining form)

schiz/o

split (combining form)

soci/o

social, society (combining form)

thym/i, thym/o

mind, soul, emotion (combining form)

epi-

on, upon, following (prefix)

hemi-

half (prefix)

hyper-

above, excessive (prefix)

hypo-

below, deficient (prefix)

para-

beside (prefix)

poly-

many, much (prefix)

quadri-

four (prefix)

bi-

two, twice (prefix)

de-

away from, cessation, without (prefix)

eu-

good, normal (prefix)

-al, -ar

pertaining to (suffix)

-gram

record recording (suffix)

-ia

condition of (suffix)

-ictal

relating to or caused by a stoke or seizure (suffix)

-lepsis, -lepsy

seizure (suffix)

-paresis

partial or incomplete paralysis (suffix)

-phrenia

the mind (suffix)

-plegia

paralysis (suffix)

-tomy

incision (suffix)

-iatrist

one who specializes in (suffix)

-mania

excited state, obsession (suffix)

-phile, -philia

attraction to (suffix)

-phobia

abnormal fear of, aversion to, sensitivity to (suffix)

bipolar

having two ends or extremes

cerebral

pertaining to cerebrum

cranial

pertaining to cranium or skull

dural

pertaining to dura mater

epidural

pertaining to on or outside dura mater

ictal

pertaining to or caused by a stroke or seizure

ischemia

pertaining to a lack of blood flows

meningeal

peratining to meninges

postictal

following a seizure

radicular

pertaining to a nerve root

subdural

deep in the dura mater

aphasia

impaired comprehension or formulation of speech, reading, or writing caused by damage to the brain

ataxia

lack of muscle coordination; may involve limbs, head, or trunk

bell palsy

paralysis of facial muscles, usually on one side of space caused by dysfunction of facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)

cerebral aneurysm

widening of a blood vessel in the brain, usually due to a weakness in the wall of the artery

cerebral embolism

obstruction or occlusion of a vessel in the brain by an embolus