Med Term Chapter 10 - Nervous System and Mental Health

afferent

moving toward a center; for example, nerve fibers conducting impulses to the spinal cord and brain

efferent

moving away from the center; for example, conducting nerve impulses away from the brain or spinal cord

electroencephalogram (EEG)

record of the electrical activity of the brain

electroencephalograph

device used to record the electrical activity of the brain

electroencephography

the process of recording the electrical activity of the brain

electroneurodiagnostic (adj)

pertaining to the use of electricity in the diagnosis of a neurologic disorder

epilepsy

chronic brain disorder due to paroxysmal excessive neuronal discharges

epileptic (adj)

pertaining to or suffering from epilepsy

motor

structures of the nervous system that send impulses out of the cause muscles to contract or glands to secrete

nerve

a cord of nerve fibers bound together by connective tissue

nervous system

the whole, integrated nerve apparatus

neurology

medical specialty of disorders of the nervous system

neurologist

medical specialist in disorders of the nervous system

neurologic (adj)

pertaining to the nervous system

neurosurgeon

one who performs surgery on the nervous system

neurosurgery

operating surgically on the nervous system

parasympathetic

division of the autonomic nervous system; has opposite effects to the sympathetic division

sensory

pertaining to sensation; structures of the nervous system that carry impulses to the brain

somatic

a division of the peripheral nervous system serving the skeletal muscles OR relating to the body in general

sympathetic

division of the autonomic nervous system operating at an unconscious level

visceral (adj)

pertaining to the internal organs

viscus

any single internal organ

viscera (pl_

(pl) any single internal organ

autonomic

self-governing visceral motor division of the peripheral nervous system

axon

single process of a nerve cell carrying nervous impulses away from the cell body

dendrite

branched extension of the nerve cell body that receives nervous stimuli

dopamine

neurotransmitter in some specific small areas of the brain

glia

connective tissue that holds a structure together

glial (adj)

pertaining to glia or neuroglia

neuroglia

connective tissue holding nervous tissue together

myelin

material of the sheath around the axon of a nerve

neuron

technical term for a nerve cell; consists of cell body with its dendrites and axons

neurotransmitter

chemical agent that relays messages form one nerve cell to the next

synapse

junction between two nerve cells, or a nerve fiber and its target cell, where electrical impulses are transmitted between the cells

cerebellum

the most posterior area of the brain located between the midbrain and the cerebral hemispheres

cerebrospinal (adj)

pertaining to the brain and spinal cord

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

fluid formed in the ventricles of the brain; surrounds the brain and spinal cord

cerebrum

cerebral hemispheres

cerebral (adj)

pertaining to the cerebral hemispheres of the brain

corpus callosum

bridge of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

frontal lobe

front area of the cerebral hemisphere

gyrus

rounded elevation on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres

gyri (pl)

(pl) rounded elevation on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres

hypothalamus

an endocrine gland in the floor and wall of the third ventricle of the brain

hypothalamic (adj)

pertaining to the hypothalamus

occipital lobe

posterior area of the cerebral hemisphere

parietal lobe

area of the brain under the parietal bone

sulcus

groove on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres that separates gyri

sulci (pl)

(pl) groove on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres that separates gyri

temporal lobe

posterior two-thirds of the cerebral hemispheres

thalamus

mass of gray matter under the ventricle in each cerebral hemisphere

analgesia

state in which pain is reduced

anesthesia

complete loss of sensation

arachnoid mater

weblike middle layer of the three meninges

dura mater

hard, fibrous outer layer of the meninges

epidural

above the dura

epidural space

space between the dura mater and the wall of the vertebral canal

meninges

three-layered covering of the brain and spinal cord

meningitis

inflammation of the meninges

pia mater

delicate inner layer of the meninges

subarachnoid space

space between the pia mater and the arachnoid membrane

Alzheimer disease

common form of dementia

cognition

process of acquiring knowledge through thinking, learning, and memory

confusion

mental state in which environmental stimuli are not processed appropriately

delirium

acute altered state of consciousness with agitation and disorientation

dementia

chronic, progressive, irreversible loss of the mind's cognitive and intellectual functions

empathy

ability to place yourself into the feelings, emotions, and reactions of another person

sympathy

appreciation and concern for another person's mental and emotional state

sedative

agent that calms nervous excitement

sedation

state of being calmed

senile

characteristic of old age

stroke

acute clinical event caused by impaired cerebral circulation

grand mal

previous name for generalized tonic-clonic seizure

narcolepsy

involuntary falling asleep

petit mal

previous name for absence seizures

postictal (adj)

transient neurologic deficit after a seizure

ictal (adj)

pertaining to, or condition caused by, a stroke or epilepsy

tic

sudden, involuntary repeated contraction of muscles

tonic

state of muscular contractions

tonic-clonic seizure

the body alternates between excessive muscular rigidity (tonic) and jerking muscular contractions (clonic)

Tourette syndrome

disorder of multiple motor and vocal tics

aneurysm

small, circumscribed dilation of an artery or cardiac chamber

arteriography

x-ray visualization of an artery after injection of contrast material

autism

a disorder with severely abnormal social and communication skills

autistic

pertaining to autism

bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)

disease of cattle (mad cow disease) that can be transmitted to humans, causing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

carotid endarterectomy

surgical removal of diseased lining from the carotid artery to leave a smooth lining and restore blood flow

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)

progressive, incurable, neurologic disease caused by infectious prions

encephalitis

inflammation of brain cells and tissues

migraine

paroxysmal severe headache confined to one side of the head

Parkinson disease

disease of muscular rigidity, tremors, and mask-like facial expression

prion

small, infection protein particle

syncope

temporary loss of consciousness and postural tone due to diminished cerebral blood flow

tremor

small, shaking, involuntary, repetitive movements of hands, extremities, neck, or jaw

acoustic

pertaining to hearing

analgesia

state in which pain is reduced

analgesic (adj)

substance that produces analgesia

Bell palsy

paresis, or paralysis, of one side of the face

concussion

mild brain injury

contrecoup

injury to the brain at a point directly opposite the point of contact