Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology Notes on the Nervous System and Special Senses

A series of flashcards for vocabulary related to the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the nervous system and special senses.

Embryonic Development

Described by trimesters or anatomical periods, focusing on organ foundations, development, and growth.

Neurulation

The process where the ectoderm thickens to form the neural plate, which invaginates to form the neural groove and ultimately the neural tube.

Somites

Blocks of mesoderm located adjacent to the neural tube that develop into skin, skeletal muscles, and vertebrae.

Gray Matter

Region comprised of neuronal cell bodies, embedded within neuroglial cells, and responsible for processing information in the spinal cord and brain.

White Matter

Region consisting of myelinated axons that transmit nerve impulses between different parts of the nervous system.

Dorsal Horn

Part of the spinal cord that receives sensory input and processes pain information.

Spinal Nerve

A mixed nerve that carries sensory and motor fibers to and from the spinal cord.

Cranial Nerves

Twelve pairs of nerves that emerge directly from the brain and brainstem, involved in sensory and motor functions.

Blood-Brain Barrier

A selective permeability barrier that protects the brain from potentially harmful substances while allowing essential nutrients to pass.

Parkinson’s Disease

A degenerative neurological disorder characterized by tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and non-motor symptoms related to dopamine deficiency.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disease characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of voluntary muscles due to the destruction of acetylcholine receptors.

Multiple Sclerosis

A chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system leading to various neurological symptoms due to nerve damage.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to cognitive decline and memory loss due to the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

Neuronal Action Potential

A rapid rise and fall in the voltage across a neuron's membrane, allowing for nerve impulse propagation.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals from one neuron to another across synapses.

Somatosensory Processing

The method by which sensory information is received from the body, processed, and perceived.

Autonomic Nervous System

A component of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions, comprising the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Epinephrine

A hormone and neurotransmitter involved in the body's fight or flight response, released by the adrenal glands.

Ischemic Stroke

A type of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed.

Intracranial Pressure (ICP)

The pressure inside the skull, increased by factors like trauma or swelling, potentially leading to neurological damage.

Chronic Pain

Pain that persists over a long time, often resistant to treatment and without an identifiable cause.

Cerebellar Ataxia

A disorder causing lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, due to damage in the cerebellum.

Pain Gate Mechanism

A theory explaining how non-painful inputs can suppress pain; incorporates the role of Aβ fibers influencing pain perception.

Cognitive Dysfunction

 impairments in attention, memory, problem-solving, and other executive functions commonly observed in neurological disorders.