Nervous System and Mental Health Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering nervous system fundamentals, anatomy, brain regions, medical terminology, neurological disorders, and protective structures.

Neurotransmitters

Electrical impulses used to control and coordinate body functions.

Neuron

The nerve cell that serves as the functional unit of the nervous system.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Structural division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Structural division consisting of all nervous tissue outside the CNS, specifically cranial and spinal nerves.

Somatic Nervous System

Functional division of the nervous system that controls skeletal (voluntary) muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

Functional division of the nervous system that controls glands, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle (involuntary).

Sympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system associated with 'Fight or Flight'; increases heart rate and respiration.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system associated with 'Rest and Digest'; returns the body to a steady state.

Dendrite

Neuron structure that carries impulses toward the cell body.

Axon

Neuron structure that carries impulses away from the cell body.

Myelin Sheath

Structure that insulates the neuron cell and increases the velocity of electrical impulses.

Afferent (Sensory) Neuron

Type of neuron that transmits impulses toward the CNS.

Efferent (Motor) Neuron

Type of neuron that transmits impulses away from the CNS.

Interneuron

Type of neuron that connects sensory and motor cells within the CNS.

White Matter

Nervous tissue composed of myelinated axons.

Gray Matter

Nervous tissue composed of cell bodies and unmyelinated fibers.

Tract

A bundle of central axons.

Ganglion

A collection of cell bodies along a nerve pathway.

Cerebral Cortex

The thin outer layer of gray matter of the cerebrum involved in mental processing, memory, and voluntary movement.

Cerebrum

Brain region responsible for mental processing, memory, and voluntary movement, featuring the cerebral cortex.

Thalamus

Brain region acting as a relay station for sensory info and producing emotions of pleasantness or unpleasantness.

Hypothalamus

Major center for the Autonomic Nervous System that links the nervous and endocrine systems, controlling temperature and appetite.

Medulla

Brainstem component responsible for controlling heart rate and respiration.

Midbrain

Brainstem component involved in vision and hearing.

Pons

Brainstem component that functions as a connection between regions.

Cerebellum

Brain region known as the 'little brain'; responsible for balance, coordination, and posture.

Neur/o

Combining form meaning nerve.

Encephal/o

Combining form meaning brain.

Myel/o

Combining form meaning spinal cord (or bone marrow).

Radicul/o

Combining form meaning spinal nerve root.

-phasia

Suffix meaning speech.

-plegia

Suffix meaning paralysis.

-paresis

Suffix meaning weakness.

-lepsy

Suffix meaning seizure.

Ischemic Stroke

Stroke caused by a blockage of blood flow, accounting for $87\%$ of cases.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Stroke caused by bleeding into the brain due to a rupture.

TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)

Condition whose symptoms resolve within $24\text{ hours}$ without permanent damage.

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

Neurodegenerative disease affecting motor nerve cells, leading to the brain losing its ability to initiate and control muscle movement.

Parkinson’s Disease

Neurodegenerative disease affecting the substantia nigra, caused by a deficiency of dopamine.

Multiple Sclerosis

Neurodegenerative disease characterized by the deterioration of the myelin sheath.

Bacterial Meningitis

Infection diagnosed via lumbar puncture (LP).

Shingles

Infection caused by herpes zoster (the chicken pox virus).

Epidural Hematoma

Head injury characterized by bleeding between the dura mater and skull.

Subdural Hematoma

Head injury characterized by bleeding between the dura mater and arachnoid.

Dura Mater

The first (outermost) protective layer of the brain and spinal cord.

Arachnoid

The second (middle) protective layer of the brain and spinal cord.

Pia Mater

The third (innermost) protective layer of the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Fluid housed in the central canal of the spinal cord and ventricles that cushions and protects the brain.