Med Term Chapt 9/10 Exam 4

AD

Alzheimer disease

AFP

alpha

ALS

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

AVM

arteriovenous malformation

BBB

blood brain barrier

CNS

central nervous system

CT

computed tomography

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CVA

cerebrovascular accident

EEG

electroencephalogram

GABA

gamma

ICP

intracranial pressure

LP

lumbar puncture

MAC

monitored anesthetic care

MG

myasthenia gravis

MRA

magnetic resonance angiography

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

1/2 P

hemiparesis

PCA

patient

PNS

peripheral nervous system

PET

positron emission tomography

Sz

seizure

TBI

traumatic brain injury

TENS

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

TIA

transient ischemic attack

TLE

temporal lobe epilepsy

tPA

tissue plasminogen activator

cerebell/o

cerebellum

cerebr/o

cerebrum

dur/o

dura mater

encephal/o

brain

gli/o

glial cells

lept/o

thin, slender

mening/o, meningi/o

meninges

my/o

muscle

myel/o

spinal cord

neur/o

nerve

pont/o

pons

radicul/o

nerve root

thalam/o

thalamus

thec/o

sheath (refers to meninges)

vag/o

vagus nerve

alges/o, algesia

excessive sensitivity to pain

algia

pain

caus/o

burning

comat/o

deep sleep

esthesi/o, esthesia

feeling, nervous sensation

kines/o, kinesia

movement

kinesis, kinetic

movement

lepsy

seizure

lex/o

word, phrase

paresis

slight paralysis

phasia

speech

plegia

paralysis

praxia

action

sthenia

strength

syncop/o

cut off

tax/o

order, coordination

acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter chemical released at ends of nerve cells

afferent nerve

Carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord

arachnoid membrane

Middle layer of the three membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

astrocyte

Glial cell that transports water and salts from capillaries

autonomic nervous system

Nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs

axon

Microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell

blood

brain barrier

brainstem

Posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord

cauda equina

Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord

cell body

The part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus

central nervous system

The brain and spinal cord

cerebellum

The posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance

cerebral cortex

Outer region of the cerebrum; contains sheets of nerve cells; gray matter

cerebrospinal fluid

Circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord

cerebrum

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

cranial nerves

Twelve pairs; carry messages to and from the brain with regard to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve)

dendrite

Microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell; the first part to receive the nervous impulse

dura mater

The thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord

efferent nerve

Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve

ependymal cell

Glial cell that lines the membranes within the brain and spinal cord; helps form cerebrospinal fluid

ganglion

Collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system

glial cell

Supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses; can reproduce itself

gyrus

Sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution

hypothalamus

The portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and pituitary gland secretions

medulla oblongata

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

meninges

Three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

microglial cell

Phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system

motor nerve

Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve

myelin sheath

Covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell; speeds impulse conduction

nerve

Macroscopic cord

neuron

Nerve cell that carries impulses throughout body; parenchyma of the nervous system

neurotransmitter

Chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell; stimulates or inhibits another cell

oligodendroglial cell

Glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons; oligodendrocyte

parasympathetic nerves

Involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract

parenchyma

Essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system; for the nervous system, neurons and nerves that carry impulses

peripheral nervous system

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

pia mater

The thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges

plexus

A large, interlacing network of nerves

pons

The part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain

receptor

An organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves; the skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds are receptors

sciatic nerve

The nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot

sensory nerve

Carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from receptor; afferent nerve