Nervous System & Nervous System Disorders

Multiple sclerosis

A disease in which the myelin sheath is attacked by the patient's own immune system. This causes slower nerve impulse speeds and sometimes leads to a short circuit of the impulse.

Meningitis

This disease is caused by a viral or bacterial infection of the membrain covering the brain.

Hydrocephaly

excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain

Concussion

This can occur as a result of a blow in which the brain ricochets off the opposite end of the cranium. Dizziness or a brief loss of consciousness may result.

CVA/stroke

This is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. It occurs when blood circulation to a brain area is blocked, as by a blood clot or a ruptured blood vessel, and vital brain tissue dies

Alzheimer's disease

degeneration of neurons in the brain causing progressive memory loss.

Parkinson's disease

This disease typically affects people in their fifties and sixties. It results from a degeneration of the dopamine-releasing neurons of the substantia nigra. Afflicted individuals have a persistent tremor at rest, a forward walking posture, and a stiff facial expression.

Cerebral Palsy

This disease is a neuromuscular disability in which the voluntary muscles are poorly controlled and spastic because of a brain damage.

Spina Bifida

parts of the spinal cord protrude from the spine causing possible paralysis and incontinence

Encephalitis

An inflammation of the brain.

Nervous system

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Peripheral nervous system

A division of the nervous system consisting of all nerves that are not part of the brain or spinal cord.

Central nervous system

The brain and spinal cord

Synapse

A junction or space where information is transmitted from one neuron to the next.

Neuron

Another name for nerve cell

Axon

A threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.

Dendrite

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

Impulses

Electrical messages

Sensory neuron

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

Motor neuron

a neuron that sends an impulse to a muscle or gland, causing the muscle or gland to react

Cerebrum

Area of the brain responsible for all voluntary activities of the body

Cerebellum

part of the brain that deals with Balance and coordination

Brain Stem

Allows the transfer of information between the brain and the body.

Temporal Lobe

Assists with the perception and interpretation of sound.

Frontal Lobe

Plays a role in the choice between good and bad actions.

Parietal Lobe

Assists with the interpretation of touch.

Occipital Lobe

Processes and makes sense of visual information.

paraplegia

paralysis of the lower extremeties

hemiplegia

paralysis of one side of the body

quadriplegia

paralysis from the neck down

neuron

basic structural unit of the nervous system

dendrite

part of the neuron that carries impulses toward the cell body

Tourette's syndrome

neurological disorder that causes client to make sounds and twitch uncontrollably

Myasthenia Gravis

overproduction of antibodies causing muscle weakness

medulla oblongata

regulates heartbeat, respiration, swallowing, coughing, and blood pressure

glossopharyngeal

controls tongue movements and sensations

vagus

autonomic control of heart, lungs, digestion

trochlear

eye movement; ask patient to follow finger with eyes

trigeminal

Sensations of the head and face, chewing movements, and muscle sense; ask patient to smile, frown and show teeth

optic

vision; check visual acuity using Snellen chart

vestibulocochlear nerve

hearing and balance; use a tuning fork to test patient's hearing