Language of Medicine- Chapter 10

acetylcholine

neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells

afferent nerve

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve)

arachnoid membrane

middle layer of the three membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

astrocyte

type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries

autonomic nervous system

nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs

axon

microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulses along a nerve cell

blood-brain barrier

blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out.

brainstem

lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the pons and medulla oblongata

cauda equina

collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord

cell body

part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus

central nervous system (CNS)

brain and the spinal cord

cerebellum

posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.

cerebral cortex

outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord

cerebrum

largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory

cranial nerves

twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain with regard to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve)

dendrite

microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse

dura mater

thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord

efferent nerve

carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve

ependymal cell

glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid

ganglion

collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system

glial cell (neuroglial cell)

supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses.

gyrus

sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution

hypothalmus

portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland

medulla oblongata

part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here

meninges

three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

microglial cell

phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system

motor nerve

carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve

myelin sheath

covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.

nerve

macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons and dendrites) that carry electrical impulses.

neuron

nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body

neurotransmitter

chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell.

oligodendroglial cell

glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons.

parasympathetic nerves

involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.

parenchyma

essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system. Includes the brain, spinal cord and neurons.

peripheral nervous system

nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves

pia mater

thin, delicate, inner membrane of the meningers

plexus

large, interlacing network of nerves

pons

part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain. It is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain.

receptor

organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves. examples: skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds

sciatic nerve

nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot

sciatica

pain or inflammation along the course of the sciatic nerve

sensory nerve

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve

spinal nerves

thirty-one pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord

stimulus

agent of change (light, sound, touch) in the internal or external environment that evokes a response

stroma

connective ans supporting tissue of an organ

sulcus

depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure

sympathetic nerves

autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress

synapse

space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells

thalamus

main relay center of the brain. It conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum; incoming sensory messages are relayed through the ________ to the appropriate centers in the cerebrum

vagus nerve

tenth cranial nerve; its branches reach to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach

ventricles of the brain

canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid

cerebell/o

cerebellum (root)

cerebr/o

cerebrum (root)

dur/o

dura mater (root)

encphal/o

brain (root)

gli/o

glial cells (root)

lept/o

think, slender (root)

mening/o, meningi/o

membranes, meninges (root)

my/o

muscle (root)

myel/o

spinal cord (means bone marrow in other contexts) (root)

neur/o

nerve (root)

pont/o

pons (root)

radicul/o

nerve root (of spinal nerves) (root)

thalam/o

thalamus (root)

thec/o

sheath (refers to the meninges) (root)

vag/o

vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve) (root)

alges/o

excessive sensitivity to pain (root)

-algesia

excessive sensitivity to pain (suffix)

-algia

pain (suffix)

caus/o

burning (root)

comat/o

deep sleep (coma) (root)

esthesi/o

feeling, nervous sensation (root)

-esthesia

feeling, nervous sensation (suffix)

kines/o, kinesi/o

movement (root)

-kinesia, -kinesis, -kinetic

movement (suffix)

-lepsy

seizure (suffix)

lex/o

word, phrase (root)

-paresis

weakness (suffix)

-phasia

speech (suffix)

-plegia

paralysis (loss or impairment of the ability to move parts of the body) (suffix)

-praxia

action (suffix)

-sthenia

strength (suffix)

syncop/o

to cut off, cut short (root)

tax/o

order, coordination (root)

hydrocephalus

abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain

spina bifida

congenital defects in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts (neural tube defect)

alzheimer disease (AD)

brain disorder marked by gradual and progressive mental deterioration (dementia), personality changes, and impairment of daily functioning

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem

epilepsy

chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity

huntington disease

hereditary disorder marked by degenerative changes in the cerebrum leading to abrupt involuntary movements and mental deterioration

multiple sclerosis (MS)

destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the CNS and its replacement by plaques of sclerotic (hard) tissue

myasthenia gravis (MC)

autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles

palsy

paralysis (partial or complete loss of motor function)

parkinson disease (parkinsonism)

degeneration of neurons in the basal ganglia, occurring in later life and leading to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement

tourette syndrome

involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements: uncontrollable vocal sounds: and inappropriate words

herpes zoster (shingles)

viral infection affecting the peripheral nerves

meningitis

inflammation of the meninges: leptomeningitis

human imunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalopathy

brain disease and dementia occurring with AIDS

brain tumor

abnormal growth of brain tissue and meninges