16 - Chapter 10: Pronunciation [part 1: Vocabulary and Combining Form and Terminology]

acetylcholine (a-seh-til-KO-leen)

A neurotransmitter released at nerve endings, responsible for transmitting nerve impulses across synapses, especially at neuromuscular junctions.

afferent nerves (AH-fer-ent nervz)

Nerves that carry sensory impulses toward the central nervous system.

akinetic (a-kih-NET-ik)

Pertaining to loss or impairment of voluntary movement.

analgesia (ah-nal-JE-ze-ah)

Absence of pain sensation without loss of consciousness.

anencephaly (an-en-SEH-fah-le)

Congenital absence of the brain and spinal cord due to neural tube defect.

anesthesia (an-es-THE-ze-ah)

Loss of sensation, especially of pain, induced by drugs or occurring due to nerve damage.

aphasia (ah-FA-ze-ah)

Impairment of language ability due to brain damage, affecting comprehension, speech, reading, or writing.

apraxia (a-PRAK-se-ah)

Inability to perform purposeful movements despite normal muscle function, due to brain damage.

arachnoid membrane (ah-RAK-noyd MEM-brayn)

Middle layer of the meninges covering the brain and spinal cord, resembling a spider web.

astrocyte (AS-tro-site)

Star-shaped glial cell that supports neurons and maintains the blood-brain barrier.

ataxia (a-TAK-se-ah)

Loss of coordination of voluntary movements, often due to cerebellar disorders.

autonomic nervous system (aw-to-NOM-ik NER-vus SIS-tem)

Part of the nervous system that controls involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing.

axon (AKS-on)

Long projection of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body toward other neurons or muscles.

blood-brain barrier (blud-BRAYN BAH-re-er)

Selective semipermeable membrane that prevents certain substances from entering brain tissue from the blood.

bradykinesia (bra-de-kih-NE-se-ah)

Slowness of movement, characteristic of Parkinson disease.

brainstem (BRAYN-stem)

Part of the brain connecting the cerebrum to the spinal cord; includes midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

cauda equina (KAW-dah eh-KWI-nah)

Bundle of spinal nerves at the lower end of the spinal cord, resembling a horse's tail.

causalgia (kaw-ZAL-jah)

Intense burning pain resulting from injury to a peripheral nerve.

cell body (sel BOD-e)

Part of a neuron containing the nucleus and organelles.

central nervous system (SEN-tral NER-vus SIS-tem)

The brain and spinal cord.

cephalgia (seh-FAL-jah)

Headache.

cerebellar (seh-reh-BEL-ar)

Pertaining to the cerebellum.

cerebellopontine (seh-reh-bel-o-PON-teen)

Relating to the cerebellum and pons.

cerebellum (seh-reh-BEL-um)

Part of the brain responsible for coordination of movement and balance.

cerebral cortex (seh-RE-bral KOR-teks)

Outer layer of the cerebrum responsible for higher brain functions such as thought and memory.

cerebrospinal fluid (seh-re-bro-SPI-nal FLU-id)

Clear fluid that circulates around the brain and spinal cord, providing cushioning and nutrients.

cerebrum (seh-RE-brum)

Largest part of the brain, responsible for conscious thought, sensation, and voluntary movement.

coma (KO-mah)

State of profound unconsciousness from which a person cannot be aroused.

comatose (KO-mah-tohs)

In a state of coma.

cranial nerves (KRA-ne-al nervz)

Twelve pairs of nerves that emerge directly from the brain, not the spinal cord.

dendrite (DEN-drite)

Branch-like projection of a neuron that receives signals from other neurons.

dura mater (DUR-ah MAH-ter)

Tough outermost layer of the meninges covering the brain and spinal cord.

dyskinesia (dis-kih-NE-ze-ah)

Abnormality or impairment of voluntary movement.

dyslexia (dis-LEK-se-ah)

Learning disorder characterized by difficulty reading despite normal intelligence.

efferent nerves (EH-fer-ent nervz)

Nerves that carry motor impulses away from the central nervous system to muscles and glands.

encephalitis (en-seh-fah-LI-tis)

Inflammation of the brain, usually due to viral infection.

encephalopathy (en-seh-fah-LOP-ah-the)

Any diffuse disease of the brain that alters brain function or structure.

ependymal cell (eh-PEN-dih-mal sel)

Glial cell that lines the ventricles of the brain and central canal of the spinal cord, producing cerebrospinal fluid.

epidural hematoma (ep-eh-DU-ral he-mah-TO-mah)

Collection of blood between the dura mater and the skull, often due to arterial bleeding.

ganglion (GANG-le-on); pl. ganglia (GANG-le-ah)

Collection of nerve cell bodies outside the central nervous system.

glial cell (GLE-al sel)

Supportive cell of the nervous system that provides nutrition, insulation, and protection for neurons.

glioblastoma (gli-o-blah-STO-mah)

Highly malignant brain tumor arising from glial cells, also called glioblastoma multiforme.

gyrus (JI-rus); pl. gyri (JI-re)

Ridge or fold on the surface of the cerebral cortex.

hemiparesis (hem-e-pah-RE-sis)

Weakness on one side of the body.

hemiplegia (hem-e-PLE-jah)

Paralysis on one side of the body.

hypalgesia (hi-pal-GE-ze-ah)

Decreased sensitivity to pain.

hyperesthesia (hi-per-es-THE-ze-ah)

Increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli such as touch or pain.

hyperkinesis (hi-per-kih-NE-sis)

Excessive involuntary movement.

hypothalamus (hi-po-THAL-ah-mus)

Brain region that controls autonomic functions, temperature, hunger, thirst, and the pituitary gland.

intrathecal injection (in-trah-THE-kal in-JEK-shun)

Injection of medication into the subarachnoid space of the spinal canal.

leptomeningitis (lep-to-men-in-JE-al)

Inflammation of the pia mater and arachnoid membrane.

medulla oblongata (meh-DUL-ah ob-lon-GAH-tah)

Part of the brainstem that controls vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.