Chapter 10

afferent (AFF-eh-rent)

Moving toward a center; for example, nerve fibers conducting impulses to the spinal cord and brain

efferent (EFF-eh-rent)

Moving away from a center; for example, conducting nerve impulses away from the brain or spinal cord

electroencephalogram, EEG (ee-LEK-troh-en-SEF-ah-low-gram)

Record of the electrical activity of the brain

electroencephalograph (ee-LEK-troh-en-SEF-ah-low-graf)

Device used to record the electrical activity of the brain

electroencephalography (ee-LEK-troh-en-SEF-ah-LOG-rah-fee)

The process of recording the electrical activity of the brain

-gram

suffix: record, recording

electr-

root: electricity

encephal-

root: brain, head

-graph

suffix: to write, record

-graphy

suffix: process of recording

electroneurodiagnostic (ee-LEK-troh-NYUR-oh-die-ag-NOS-tik); adjective

Pertaining to the use of electricity in the diagnosis of neurologic disorder

neur-

root: nerve

diagnost-

root: decision

-ic

suffix: pertaining to

epilepsy (EP-ih-LEP-see)

chronic brain disorder due to paroxysmal excessive neuronal discharges

epileptic (EP-ih-LEP-tik-SEE-zhur)

pertaining to or suffering from epilepsy

epilept-

root: seizure

motor (MOH-tor)

Structures of the nervous system that send impulses out to cause muscles to contract or glands to secrete

nerve (NERV)

A cord of nerve fibers bound together by connective tissue

nervous system (NER-vus SIS-tem)

The whole, integrated nerve apparatus

-ous

suffix: pertaining to

nerv-

root: nerve

neurology (nyu-ROL-oh-jee)

Medical specialty of disorders of the nervous system

neurologist (nyu-ROL-oh-jist)

Medical specialist in disorders of the nervous system

neurologic (NYU-roh-LOJ-ik); adjective

pertaining to the nervous system

neurosurgeon (NYU-roh-SUR-jun)

One who performs surgery on the nervous system

neurosurgery (NYU-roh-SUR-jer-ee)

Operating surgically on the nervous system

-logy

suffix: study of

-logist

suffix: one who studies/treats, specialist

log-

root: to study

-eon

suffix: one who does

surg-

root: operate

-ery

suffix: process of

parasympathetic (par-ah-sim-pah-THET-ik)

Division of the autonomic nervous system; has opposite effects to the sympathetic division

para-

prefix: beside, abnormal

sym-

prefix: together

pathet-

root: suffering

sensory (SEN-soh-ree)

Pertaining to sensation; structures of the nervous system that carry impulses to the brain

-ory

suffix: having the function of

sens-

root: feel

somatic (soh-MAT-ik)

A division of the peripheral nervous system serving the skeletal muscles OR relating to the body in general

somat-

root: body

sympathetic (sim-pah-THET-ik)

Division of the automatic nervous system operating at an unconscious level

visceral (VISS-er-al); adjective

Pertaining to the internal organs

viscus (VISS-kus)

Any single internal organ

viscera (VISS-er-ah); plural

Any single internal organ

-al

suffix: pertaining to

viscer-

root: internal organs

autonomic (awe-toh-NOM-ik)

Self-governing visceral motor division of the peripheral nervous system

auto-

prefix: self

nom-

root: law

axon (ACK-son)

Single process of a nerve cell carrying nervous impulses away from the cell body

dendrite (DEN-dright)

Branched extension of the nerve cell body that receives nervous stimuli

dopamine (DOH-pah-meen)

Neurotransmitter in some specific small areas of the brain

glia (GLEE-ah)

Connective tissue that holds a structure together

glial (GLEE-al); adjective

Pertaining to glia or neuroglia

neuroglia (nyu-roh-GLEE-ah)

Connective tissue holding nervous tissue together

-glia

root: glue

myelin (MY-eh-lin)

Material of the sheath around the axon of a nerve

-in

suffix: substance, chemical compound

myel-

root: spinal cord

neuron (NYUR-on)

Technical term for a nerve cell, consists of cell body with its dendrites and axons

neurotransmitter (NYUR-oh-trans-MIT-er)

Chemical agent that relays messages from one nerve cell to the next

-er

suffix: agent

trans-

prefix: across

mitt-

root: send

synapse (SIN-aps)

Junction between two nerve cells, or a nerve fiber and its target cell, where electrical impulses are transmitted between the cells

apse-

root: clasp

cerebellum (ser-eh-BELL-um)

The most posterior area of the brain located between the midbrain and the cerebral hemispheres

-um

suffix: structure

cerebell-

root: little brain

cerebrospinal (SER-ee-broh-SPY-nal); adjective

Pertaining to the brain and spinal cord

cerebrospinal fluid, CSF

Fluid formed in the ventricles of the brain; surrounds the brain and spinal cord

cerebr-

root: brain, cerebrum

spin-

root: spinal cord, spine

cerebrum (SER-ee-brum)

Cerebral hemispheres

cerebral (SER-ee-bral); adjective

Pertaining to the cerebral hemispheres of the brain

corpus callosum (KOR-pus kah-LOW-sum)

bridge of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

corpus-

root: body

callos-

root: thickening

frontal lobe (FRUNT-al LOBE)

Front area of the cerebral hemisphere

front-

root: front of

gyrus (JI-rus)

Rounded elevation on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres

gyri (JI-ree); plural

Rounded elevation on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres

hypothalamus (high-poh-THAL-ah-muss)

An endocrine gland in the floor and wall of the thrid ventricle of the brain

hypothalamic (high-poh-thah-LAM-ik); adjective

pertaining to the hypothalamus

hypo-

prefix: below

-us

suffix: pertaining to

-thalam

root: thalamus

occipital lobe (ock-SIP-it-al LOBE)

Posterior area of the cerebral hemisphere

occipit-

root: back of head

parietal lobe (pah-RYE-eh-tal LOBE)

Area of the brain under the parietal bone

pariet-

root: wall

sulcus (SUL-cuss)

Groove on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres that separates gyri

sulci (SUL-sigh); plural

Groove on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres that separates gyri

temporal lobe (TEM-pore-al LOBE)

Posterior two-thirds of the cerebral hemispheres

tempor-

root: time, temple

thalamus (THAL-ah-mus)

Mass of gray matter under the ventricle in each cerebral hemisphere

analgesia (an-al-JEE-zee-ah)

State in which pain is reduced

-ia

suffix: condition