Medical Terminology CNS

axon

microscopic fiber leading from the cell body that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell

plexus

large, interlacing network of nerves

meninges

three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

dendrite

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

cerebral cortex

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

astrocyte

glial cell that transports water and salts between capillaries and nerve cells

oligodendroglial cell

glial cell that produces myelin

neuron

a nerve cell that transmits a nerve impulse

cauda equina

collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord at the level of the second lumbar vertebra

myelin sheath

fatty tissue that surrounds the axon of a nerve cell

dura mater

outermost meningeal layer surrounding the brain and spinal cord

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

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

arachnoid membrane

middle meningeal membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord

hypothalamus

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

synapse

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

sympathetic nerves

autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress

medulla oblongata

part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels

pons

part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain, connects these parts of the brain

cerebellum

posterior part of the brain that coordinates voluntary muscle movements

thalamus

part of brain below the cerebrum; relay center, conducts impulses between spinal cord and cerebrum

ventricles of the brain

canals in the interior of the brain that are filled with CSF

brainstem

lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord.

cerebrum

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

ganglion

collection of nerve cell bodies outside the brain and spinal cord (CNS)

encephalopathy

disease of the brain

cerebellum

part of the brain that controls muscular coordination and balance

epidural hematoma

collection of blood above the dura mater

leptomeningitis

inflammation of the pia and arachnoid membranes

anencephaly

condition of absence of a brain

poliomyelitis

inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord

meningeal

pertaining to the membranes around the brain and spinal cord

radioculopathy

disease of the spinal nerve roots

myelomeningocele

hernia of the spinal cord and meninges

vagal

pertaining to the tenth cranial nerve

dyslexia

reading disorder

ataxia

condition of decreased coordination

bradykinesia

condition of slow movement

hyperesthesia

condition of increased sensation

narcolepsy

seizure of sleep; uncontrollable compulsion to sleep

aphasia

difficulty with speech

motor apraxia

inability to perform a task

hemiparesis

weakness on one side of the body

causalgia

severe burning pain due to nerve injury

paraplegia

paralysis of the lower half of the body

syncope

fainting

neurasthenia

nervous exhaustion and fatigue

analgesia

lack of sensitivity to pain

motor aphasia

difficulty speaking

paresis

weakness and partial loss of movement

quadriplegia

paralysis of all four extremities

asthenia

no strength

comatose

pertaining to a coma

paresthesia

condition of abnormal sensations

hyperkinesis

excessive movement

anesthesia

condition of no sensation or nervous feeling

causalgia

severe burning pain in a limb caused by injury to a peripheral nerve

akinetic

pertaining to without movement

hypalgesia

diminished sensation to pain

dyskinesia

impairment of the ability to perform voluntary movements

migraine

recurrent vascular headache with severe pain of unilateral onset and photophobia (sensitivity to light)

aura

peculiar sensation experienced by patient before onset of seizure

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

blood flow to the brain stops for a brief period of time

tonic-clonic seizure

major epileptic seizure; ictal event

herpes zoster

virus that causes chickenpox and shingles

palliative

relieving but not curing symptoms

dopamine

neurotransmitter

occlusion

blockage

absence seizure

minor epileptic seizure

glioblastoma multiforme

malignant brain tumor of immature glial cells

pia mater

innermost meningeal membrane

motor nerves

carry messages away from (efferent) the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands

sensory nerves

carry messages toward (afferent) the brain and spinal cord from receptors

sulci

grooves in the cerebral cortex

subarachnoid space

contains cerebrospinal fluid

gyri

elevations in the cerebral cortex

neurotransmitter

chemical that is released at the end of a nerve cell and stimulates or inhibits another cell

parenchymal cell

essential cell of the nervous system; a neuron

glial cells

connective and supportive (stromal) tissue

Chemical and Electrical

Nervous system mechanism

cephalgia

head pain

Cerebellar

pertaining to cerebellum

cerebellitis

inflammation of cerebellum

cerebral

pertaining to cerebrum-spin/o

cerebrospinal

pertaining to cerebrum and spine

Anesthesiology

the use of anesthesia for surgical procedures, resuscitation, and pain management

Neurology

diagnosis and treatment of diseases of nervous system

Neurosurgery

treating nervous system disease by surgical means

abnormalities in the brain

Can develop in utero

teratogen

an agent or factor that causes malformation of an embryo

brain development

Development begins shortly after conception

the brain is almost adult sized

at 2 years old

synaptogenesis

the formation of synapses, the points of contact where information is transmitted between neurons

synaptic pruning

a natural process that occurs in the brain between early childhood and adulthood, eliminates extra synapses

functions of nervous system

Coordinates and controls body function

Receives sensory input

Makes decisions

Orders body responses

Organs of nervous system

Brain

Spinal cord

Nerves

Central nervous system

Brain, Spinal Cord

Receives impulses from all over body, Processes this information, Responds with action, Bundles of nerve fibers interconnecting different parts of CNS are called tracts

peripheral nervous system

Cranial nerves

Spinal nerves

Anatomy and physiology

Coordinates all activity of body

Receives information from both external and internal sensory receptors

Uses that information to adjust activity of muscles and glands to match needs of body

Aura

sensations occurring prior to epileptic seizure or migraine; such as seeing colors