Nervous System Study Notes (Chapter 14)

Objectives

  • Describe the nervous system
  • State the description of the organs and structures of the nervous system
  • List the major divisions of the brain
  • Analyze, build, spell, and pronounce medical words
  • Describe diagnostic and lab tests related to the nervous system
  • Identify and define selected abbreviations

Overview

  • The nervous system has 2 divisions – central and peripheral
  • The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of the brain and spinal cord
  • The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is composed of all nervous tissue outside of the brain and spinal cord
  • The autonomic nervous system is a subdivision of the PNS

Combining Forms of the Nervous System

  • Cephal/o
  • Cerebell/o
  • Crani/o
  • Dendr/o
  • Dur/o
  • Encephal/o
  • Esthesi/o
  • Hypn/o; somn/o
  • Mening/o
  • Ment/o
  • Myel/o
  • Neur/o
  • Spondyl/o

Central Nervous System

  • The brain and spinal cord are covered by the meninges
  • Major structures of the brain include the cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, and the brainstem
  • The hypothalamus is associated with behavior and emotional expression and is the primary link between the endocrine system and the CNS
  • The medulla is the vital center
  • Cerebrospinal fluid flows through the CNS

Peripheral Nervous System

  • The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls involuntary body activities
  • The sympathetic division of the ANS is the fight-or-flight division
  • The parasympathetic division of the ANS is the rest and repair division

Building A Medical Vocabulary

Page 7

  • Akinesia — absence or impairment of voluntary movement
  • Amnesia — memory loss
  • Analgesia — absence of pain sensation
  • Aphagia — inability to swallow
  • Aphasia — impairment of language function
  • Ataxia — lack of muscle coordination
  • Cephalgia — headache

Page 8

  • Akathisia — restlessness; inability to stay still
  • Apraxia — inability to perform purposeful movements
  • Bradykinesia — slowness of movement
  • Dyskinesias — abnormal, involuntary movements
  • Dysphagia — difficulty swallowing
  • Dysphasia — impairment of language

Page 9

  • Chorea — involuntary, irregular movements
  • Concussion — minor head injury
  • Dementia — progressive cognitive decline
  • Dyslexia — difficulty reading
  • Encephalitis — inflammation of the brain
  • Hemiparesis — weakness on one side of the body

Page 10

  • Hyperesthesia — increased sensitivity
  • Hyperkinesis — excessive movement
  • Lobotomy — surgical destruction or removal of part of the brain tissue
  • Meningitis — inflammation of the meninges
  • Narcolepsy — sudden sleep attacks
  • Neuralgia — nerve pain
  • Neuroma — tumor of nerve tissue

Page 11

  • Hemiplegia — paralysis of one side of the body
  • Neuropathy — disease of the nerves
  • Quadriplegia — paralysis of four limbs
  • Paraplegia — paralysis of the legs and the lower part of the body
  • Paresis — partial paralysis or weakness
  • Paresthesia — abnormal sensation (tingling or prickling)
  • Somnambulism — sleepwalking

Page 12

  • Meningocele — herniation of meninges through a bony defect
  • Hydrocephalus — accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles
  • Meningioma — tumor of the meninges
  • Meningocele (A) and Meningomyelocele (B) — image references
  • Microcephalus — abnormally small head

Page 13

  • Stroke — cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
  • Subdural — located beneath the dura mater
  • Sundowning — evening confusion in dementia
  • Syncope — fainting
  • Tactile — pertaining to touch; related to touch sensation

Diagnostic and Lab Tests

  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis

  • Electroencephalogram (EEG)

  • Lumbar puncture (LP)

  • Neurological examination

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

  • Positron emission tomography (PET)

  • Computed tomography (CT)

    Notes:

    • CSF analysis evaluates infections, bleeding, or other CNS conditions
    • EEG measures the brain's electrical activity and helps diagnose seizures and other disorders
    • LP is a procedure to collect CSF for analysis; used to diagnose infections or hemorrhage; carries risks such as headaches
    • Neurological examination assesses functions of the nervous system (motor, sensory, reflexes, coordination, mental status)
    • MRI provides detailed images of brain and spinal cord soft tissues; useful for detecting many neurological conditions
    • PET shows metabolic activity and function of tissues, often used in oncology and neurology
    • CT provides rapid cross-sectional imaging of the brain and spine; good for acute bleeding or injury

Abbreviations

  • CP — cerebral palsy
  • CSF — cerebrospinal fluid
  • CNS vs PNS — central nervous system vs peripheral nervous system
  • CVA — cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
  • DDD — degenerative disc disease
  • ICP — intracranial pressure
  • MS — multiple sclerosis
  • REM — rapid eye movement
  • TENS — transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
  • TBI — traumatic brain injury
  • TIA — transient ischemic attack

Connections and practical notes:

  • The CNS and PNS work together to control body functions; autonomic subdivisions (sympathetic vs parasympathetic) balance fight/flight responses with rest/repair.
  • Diagnostic tests complement neurological history and exam to localize and characterize CNS/PNS pathology.
  • Common neurological terms cover motor, sensory, cognitive, and language domains; many terms share roots (neur/o, mening/o, cerebr/o) that aid in building vocabulary for communication and diagnosis.
  • Ethical and practical implications include respecting patient comfort and consent during invasive tests (eg, LP) and balancing speed of diagnosis with radiation exposure and contrast use in imaging.