Medical Terminology Chapter 7

Somatic Nervous System

controls skeletal muscles

Autonomic Nervous System

-controls involuntary muscles and glands

-regulates responses to stress

-maintains homeostasis

-visceral nervous system

Sensory Neurons

transmit impulses toward central nervous system

Motor Neurons

transmit impulses away from central nervous system

Ganglion

collection of cell bodies along nerve pathway

“neuro/i”

nervous system, nervous tissue, nerve

“gli/o”

neuroglia

“mening”

meninges

“myelo”

spinal cord (bone marrow)

“radical/o”

spinal nerve root

-phasia

speech

-lalia

speech/babble

-laxia

reading

-plegia

paralysis

-paresis

partial paralysis

-lepsy

seizure

-mania

excited state/obsession

Cerebrum

-largest part of the brain

-mainly white matter

-cerebral cortex (thin outer layer of grey matter)

-higher brain functions

-divided into two hemispheres by a longitudinal fissure

Diencephalon

-thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland

Thalamus

-receives sensory information

-directs info to proper portion of cortex

Hypothalamus

-controls pituitary gland

-serves as link between endocrine and nervous systems

Midbrain

contains reflex centers for improved vision and hearing

Pons

contains fibers that connect different regions of the brain

Medulla Oblongata

-connects brain with spinal cord

-controls heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure

Cerebellum

-located under cerebrum

-controls/maintains voluntary muscle movements, posture, coordination, and balance

Meninges

set of three protective layers covering the brain and spinal cord

Dura Mater

tough outermost layer

Arachnoid Mater

web-like middle layer

Pia Mater

-thin, vascular inner layer

-attached directly to brain and spinal cord tissue

“encephal/o”

brain

“cortic/o”

cerebral cortex/outer portion

“narc”

stupor, unconsciousness

Cervical Spinal Nerves

8 pairs

Thoracic Spinal Nerves

12 pairs

Lumbar Spinal Nerves

5 pairs

Sacral Spinal Nerves

5 pairs

Coccygeal Spinal Nerves

1 pair

Sympathetic Nervous System

-stimulates fight or flight (increased heart rate/respiration rate, activates adrenal gland, delivers more blood to skeletal muscles)

Parasympathetic Nervous System

-returns body to steady state

-stimulates maintenance activities

Afferent

carrying toward a given point

Axon

fiber of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the cell body

Cerebral Cortex

cerebrum’s thin surface layer of grey matter

Dendrite

fiber of a neuron that conducts impulses through the body

Efferent

carrying away from a given point

Grey Matter

unmyelinated tissue of the nervous system

Gyrus

raised convolution of the surface of the cerebrum

Myelin

white fatty substance that surrounds certain axons of the nervous system

Neuroglia

supportive cells of the nervous system (glial cells)

Pons

-rounded area on the ventral surface of the brainstorm

-contains fibers that connect regions of the brain

Sulcus

shallow groove on the surface of the cerebrum

Thalamus

-receives all sensory impulses (except smell) and directs them to portions of the cerebral cortex

White Matter

myelinated tissue of the nervous system

Cerebrovascular Accident

-stroke

-lack of oxygen to brain tissue

Thrombosis

-formation of blood clot in vessel

-sudden blockage caused by traveling obstruction (embolism)

-treated with a carotid endarterectomy and diagnosed with radiograph techniques

Aneurysm

-localized dilation of vessel that may rupture and cause hemorrhage

Epidural Hematoma

-bleeding between dura mater and arachnoid

-usually results from blow to front or back of head

Bacterial Meningitis

-inflammation of meninges

-stiff neck —> diagnosed with lumbar puncture

Viral Meningitis

-inflammation of the brain, rabies, polio, HIV, etc.

Shingles

-nerve infection

Neoplasms

-tumors originating in nervous system usually involving neuroglia

Multiple Sclerosis

loss of myelin sheath in CNS

Parkinson’s Disease

failure of midbrain to secrete dopamine

Dyssomnia

general term for sleep disorders

Narcolepsy

brief, uncontrollable “attacks” of sleep

Polysomnography

study of sleep in a lab

Dysthmia

form of depression triggered by a serious event

Psychosis

mental state with gross misperception of reality (delusions, paranoia, hallucinations)

Austim

-self-absorption

-lack of response to social contact and affection

-may have low intelligence

-poor language skills

-correspond to stimuli

-may show self-destructive behavior

High Functioning Autism

-often highly intelligent and verbal

-trouble with social interactions

-repetitive behaviors/special interests may develop

-treated with psychotropic drugs

Amyloid

starch-like substance that accumulates in the brain in Alzheimers’/other diseases

Aphasia

loss of speech communication

Astrocytoma

neurological tumor composed of astrocytes

Centrecoup Injury

damage to the brain on the side opposite the point of blow as a result of the brain hitting the skull

Epidural Hematoma

chronic disease involving periodic bursts of electric activity from the brain, resulting in seizures

Glioma

tumor of neurological cells

Hydrocephalus

increased accumulation of CSF in/around the brain as a result of obstruction to flow

Multi-Infarct Dementia

dementia caused by chronic cerebral ischemia after multiple small strokes

Neurilemmoma

tumor of the sheath or a peripheral nerve

Flaccid Paralysis

loss of muscle tone and reflexes, degeneration of muscles

Spastic Paralysis

loss of muscle tone and reflexes, no degeneration

Carotid Endarterectomy

surgical removal of the lining of the carotid artery 

Cerebral Angiography

radiographic study of the blood vessels of the brain after injection of a contrast medium

Electroencephalography

amplification, recording, and interpretation of the brian’s electrical activity

Basal Ganglia

4 masses of grey matter in the cerebrum and upper brain stem that are involved in movement and coordination

Broca Area

left frontal lobe, controls speech production

Corpus Callosum

band of connecting fibers between cerebral hemispheres

Dermatome

area of skin supplied by a spinal nerve

Leptomeninges

neurotransmitter similar to epinephrine

Plexus

network

Pyramidal Tracts

group of motor tracts involved in fine coordination

Reticular Activating System

maintains wakefulness

Schwann Cells

produce myelin sheath around peripheral axons

Wernicke Area

temporal lobe, speech comprehension

Apraxia

inability to move with purpose/use objects properly

Ataxia

loss of muscle coordination

Bell Palsy

facial nerve paralysis

Caratonia

phase of schizophrenia where patient is unresponsive

Cerebral Palsy

non-progressive neuromuscular disorder caused by damage to the CNS near time of birth

Chorea

involuntary twitching of limbs/facial muscles

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

slow-growing degenerative disease caused by an infectious protein