Medical Terminology: Chapter 17 The Nervous System Flashcards

nervous system, nervous tissue, nerve

Ex. Neurotrophin
factor that promotes nerve growth (troph/o = nourish)

neuroglia

Ex. glial
pertaining to neuroglia

ganglion

Ex. ganglioma
tumor of a ganglion

meninges

Ex. meningocele
hernia of the meninges

spinal cord (also bone marrow)

Ex. hematomyelia
hemorrhage into the spinal cord

spinal nerve root

Ex. radiculopathy
any disease of a spinal nerve root

brain

Ex. anencephaly
absence of a brain

cerebrum (loosely, brain)

Ex. infracerebral
below the cerebrum

cerebral cortex, outer portion

Ex. corticospinal
pertaining to the cerebral cortex and spinal cord

cerebellum

Ex. supracerebellar
above the cerebellum

thalamus

Ex. thalamotomy
incision of the thalamus

cavity, ventricle

Ex. intraventricular
within a ventricle

medulla oblongata (also spinal cord)

Ex. medullary
pertaining to the medulla

mind

Ex. psychogenic
originating in the mind

stupor, unconsciousness

Ex. narcosis
state of stupor induced by drugs

sleep

Ex. Somnolence
sleepiness

speech

Ex. heterophasia
uttering words that are different from those intended

speech, babble

Ex. coprolalia
compulsive use of obscene words (copro- means “feces”)

reading

Ex. bradylexia
slowness in reading

paralysis

Ex. tetraplegia
paralysis of all four limbs

partial paralysis

Ex. hemiparesis
partial paralysis of one side of the body

seizure

Ex. narcolepsy
condition marked by sudden episodes of sleep

persistent, irrational fear

Ex. agoraphobia
fear of being in a public place (from Greek agora, meaning “marketplace”)

excited state, obsession

Ex. megalomania
exaggerated self-importance; “delusions of grandeur”

Carrying toward a given point, such as the sensory neurons and nerves that carry impulses toward the CNS (root fer means “to carry”)

The middle layer of the meninges (from the Greek word for spider, because this tissue resembles a spider web)

The division of the nervous system that regulates involuntary activities, controlling smooth muscles, cardiac muscle, and glands; the visceral nervous system

The fiber of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the cell body

The nervous tissue contained within the cranium; consists of the cerebrum, diencephalon, brainstem, and cerebellum (root: encephal/o)

The part of the brain that consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

The brain and spinal cord

The posterior portion of the brain dorsal to the pons and medulla; helps to coordinate movement and to maintain balance and posture (cerebellum means “little brain”) (root: cerebell/o)

The cerebrum's thin surface layer of gray matter (the cortex is the outer region of an organ) (root: cortic/o)

The large upper portion of the brain; it is divided into two hemispheres by the longitudinal fissure (root: cerebr/o)

The watery fluid that circulates in and around the brain and spinal cord as a protection

The 12 pairs of nerves that are connected to the brain

A fiber of a neuron that conducts impulses toward the cell body

The part of the brain that contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland; located between the cerebrum and the brainstem

The strong, fibrous outermost layer of the meninges

Carrying away from a given point, such as the motor neurons and nerves that carry impulses away from the CNS (root fer means “to carry”)

A collection of nerve cell bodies outside the CNS (plural: ganglia) (root: gangli/o, ganglion/o)

Unmyelinated tissue of the nervous system

A raised convolution of the surface of the cerebrum (plural: gyri)

The part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland and maintains homeostasis

Any neuron located between a sensory and a motor neuron in a neural pathway, such as the neurons that transmit impulses within the CNS

The portion of the brain that connects with the spinal cord. It has vital centers for control of respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure (root: medull/o). Often called simply medulla

The three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord (singular: meninx) (root: mening/o, meninge/o)

The part of the brainstem between the diencephalon and the pons; contains centers for coordination of reflexes for vision and hearing

Producing movement; describes neurons that carry impulses away from the CNS

A whitish, fatty substance that surrounds certain axons of the nervous system

The supportive cells of the nervous system; also called glial cells (from glia meaning “glue;” root: gli/o)

The basic unit of the nervous system; a nerve cell

A chemical that transmits energy across a synapse. Examples are epinephrine, acetylcholine (a-sē-til-KŌ-lēn), serotonin (ser-ō-TŌ-nin), and dopamine (DŌ-pa-mēn)

A bundle of nerve cell fibers outside the CNS (root: neur/o)

The part of the automatic nervous system that reverses the response to stress and restores homeostasis. It slows heart rate and respiration rate and stimulates activity of the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.

The portion of the nervous system outside the CNS

The innermost layer of the meninges

A rounded area on the ventral surface of the brainstem; contains fibers that connect regions of the brain; adjective: pontine (PON-tēn)

A simple, rapid, and automatic response to a stimulus

A branch of a spinal nerve that connects with the spinal cord; the dorsal (posterior) root joins the dorsal gray horn of the spinal cord; the ventral (anterior) root joins the ventral gray horn of the spinal cord (root: radicul/o)

Describing neurons that carry impulses toward the CNS

The division of the nervous system that controls skeletal (voluntary) muscles

The nervous tissue contained within the spinal column; extends from the medulla oblongata to the second lumbar vertebra (root: myel/o)

The 31 pairs of nerves that connect with the spinal cord

A shallow furrow or groove, as on the surface of the cerebrum (plural: sulci)

The part of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes a response to stress; increases heart rate and respiration rate and delivers more blood to skeletal muscles

The junction between two neurons; also the junction between a motor neuron and a muscle or gland

The part of the brain that receives all sensory impulses, except those for the sense of smell, and directs them to the proper portion of the cerebral cortex (root: thalam/o)

A bundle of nerve cell fibers within the CNS

A small cavity, such as one of the cavities in the brain in which CSF is produced (root: ventricul/o)

The autonomic nervous system

Myelinated tissue of the nervous system

A form of dementia caused by atrophy of the cerebral cortex; presenile dementia

A starchlike substance of unknown composition that accumulates in the brain in Alzheimer and other diseases

A localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel that results from weakness of the vessel wall; an aneurysm may eventually burst

Specifically, loss or defect in speech communication (from Greek phasis, meaning “speech”). In practice, the term is applied more broadly to a range of language disorders, both spoken and written. May affect ability to understand speech (receptive aphasia) or the ability to produce speech (expressive aphasia). Both forms are combined in global aphasia

A neuroglial tumor composed of astrocytes

A bruise to the surface of the brain following a blow to the head

Sudden damage to the brain resulting from reduction of cerebral blood flow; possible causes are atherosclerosis, thrombosis, or a ruptured aneurysm; commonly called stroke

State of deep unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused

Injury resulting from a violent blow or shock; a concussion of the brain usually results in loss of consciousness

A state of reduced comprehension, coherence, and reasoning ability resulting in inappropriate responses to environmental stimuli

Damage to the brain on the side opposite the point of a blow as a result of the brain's hitting the skull (from French, meaning “counterblow”)

A series of violent, involuntary muscle contractions. A tonic convulsion involves prolonged contraction of the muscles; in a clonic convulsion there is alternation of contraction and relaxation. Both forms appear in grand mal epilepsy

A gradual and usually irreversible loss of intellectual function

Obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot or other material carried in the circulation

Inflammation of the brain

Accumulation of blood in the epidural space (between the dura mater and the skull)

A chronic disease involving periodic sudden bursts of electric activity from the brain, resulting in seizures

A tumor of neuroglia cells

Partial paralysis or weakness of one side of the body

Paralysis of one side of the body

Increased accumulation of CSF in or around the brain as a result of obstruction to flow. May be caused by tumor, inflammation, hemorrhage, or congenital abnormality

Insufficient or nonrestorative sleep despite ample opportunity to sleep

Tumor of the meninges

Inflammation of the meninges

Dementia caused by chronic cerebral ischemia (lack of blood supply to the tissues) as a result of multiple small strokes. There is progressive loss of cognitive function, memory, and judgment as well as altered motor and sensory function

A chronic, progressive disease involving loss of myelin in the CNS

Brief, uncontrollable episodes of sleep during the day

A tumor of the sheath (neurilemma) of a peripheral nerve; schwannoma

Temporary or permanent loss of function. Flaccid paralysis involves loss of muscle tone and reflexes and degeneration of muscles. Spastic paralysis involves excess muscle tone and reflexes but no degeneration

A disorder originating in the basal ganglia and characterized by slow movements, tremor, rigidity, and masklike face. Also called Parkinson disease

A sudden attack, as seen in epilepsy. The most common forms of seizure are tonic–clonic, or grand mal (gran mal) (from French, meaning “great illness”); absence seizure, or petit mal (pet-Ē mal), meaning “small illness;” and psychomotor seizure

An acute viral infection that follows nerve pathways causing small lesions on the skin. Caused by reactivation of the virus that also causes chickenpox (varicella–zoster virus). Also called herpes zoster (HER-pēz ZOS-ter)

Brief periods of breathing cessation during sleep

Sudden interference with blood flow in one or more cerebral vessels leading to oxygen deprivation and necrosis of brain tissue; caused by a blood clot in a vessel (ischemic stroke) or rupture of a vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Accumulation of blood beneath the dura mater

Development of a blood clot within a vessel

A shaking or involuntary movement

Surgical removal of the lining of the carotid artery, the large artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain

Radiographic study of the blood vessels of the brain after injection of a contrast medium

Amplification, recording, and interpretation of the brain’s electric activity

A drug used in the treatment of parkinsonism; levodopa

Puncture of the subarachnoid space in the lumbar region of the spinal cord to remove spinal fluid for diagnosis or to inject anesthesia; spinal tap

Simultaneous monitoring of a variety of physiologic functions during sleep to diagnose sleep disorders

A feeling of fear, worry, uneasiness, or dread

A behavioral condition on a continuum with autism that may include difficulty with social interactions and understanding, strong specific interests, and repetitive behaviors

A condition that begins in childhood and is characterized by attention problems, easy boredom, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity

A disorder of unknown cause consisting of self-absorption, lack of response to social contact and affection, preoccupations, stereotyped behavior, and resistance to change (from auto-, “self” and -ism, “condition of”)

A form of depression with episodes of mania (a state of elation); manic depressive illness

A false belief inconsistent with knowledge and experience

A mental state characterized by profound feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, and lack of interest or pleasure in activities

A mild form of depression that usually develops in response to a serious life event (from dys- and Greek thymos, meaning “mind, emotion”)

A false perception unrelated to reality or external stimuli

A state of elation, which may include agitation, hyperexcitability, or hyperactivity (adjective: manic)

A condition associated with recurrent and intrusive thoughts, images, and repetitive behaviors performed to relieve anxiety

A form of anxiety disorder marked by episodes of intense fear

A mental state characterized by jealousy, delusions of persecution, or perceptions of threat or harm

An extreme, persistent fear of a specific object or situation

Persistent emotional disturbances that follow exposure to life-threatening, catastrophic events, such as trauma, abuse, natural disasters, and warfare

A mental disorder extreme enough to cause gross misperception of reality with delusions and hallucinations

A poorly understood group of severe mental disorders with features of psychosis, delusions, hallucinations, and withdrawn or bizarre behavior (schizo means “split” and phren means “mind”)

A neurotransmitter; activity involving acetylcholine is described as cholinergic

Four masses of gray matter in the cerebrum and upper brainstem that are involved in movement and coordination

A special membrane between circulating blood and the brain that prevents certain damaging substances from reaching brain tissue

An area in the left frontal lobe of the cerebrum that controls speech production

An interconnection (anastomosis) of several arteries supplying the brain, located at the base of the cerebrum; cerebral arterial circle

Affecting the opposite side of the body

A large band of connecting fibers between the cerebral hemispheres

The area of the skin supplied by a spinal nerve; term also refers to an instrument used to cut skin for grafting (see Chapter 21)

On the same side; unilateral

The pia mater and arachnoid together

A neurotransmitter very similar in chemical composition and function to the hormone epinephrine; also called noradrenalin

A collection of nerve cells within the central nervous system

A network, as of nerves or blood vessels

A group of motor tracts involved in fine coordination. Most of the fibers in these tracts cross in the medulla to the opposite side of the spinal cord and affect the opposite side of the body. Fibers not included in the pyramidal tracts are described as extrapyramidal.

A widespread system in the brain that maintains wakefulness

Cells that produce the myelin sheath around peripheral axons

An area in the temporal lobe concerned with speech comprehension

A disorder marked by muscular weakness, spasticity, and exaggerated reflexes caused by degeneration of motor neurons; Lou Gehrig disease

Loss of memory

Inability to move with purpose or to use objects properly

Lack of muscle coordination; dyssynergia

Involuntary, slow, twisting movements in the arms, especially the hands and fingers

Paralysis of the facial nerve

A small saclike aneurysm of a cerebral artery

A phase of schizophrenia in which the patient is unresponsive; there is a tendency to remain in a fixed position without moving or talking

A nonprogressive neuromuscular disorder usually caused by damage to the CNS near the time of birth. May include spasticity, involuntary movements, or ataxia

A nervous condition marked by involuntary twitching of the limbs or facial muscles

Fear of being shut in or enclosed (from Latin claudere, “to shut”)

A repetitive, stereotyped act performed to relieve tension

A slow-growing degenerative brain disease caused by a prion (PRĪ-on), an infectious protein. Related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, “mad cow disease”) in cattle

A sudden and temporary state of confusion marked by excitement, physical restlessness, and incoherence

Defect in speech articulation caused by lack of control over the required muscles

Disturbance in the path or placement of a limb during active movement. In hypometria, the limb falls short; in hypermetria, the limb extends beyond the target

An exaggerated feeling of well-being; elation

A malignant astrocytoma

An acute polyneuritis with progressive muscular weakness that usually occurs after a viral infection; in most cases recovery is complete, but may take several months to years

Hemorrhage of blood into the spinal cord, as from an injury

Jerking, twitching movements of one side of the body

A hereditary disease of the CNS that usually appears between ages 30 and 50. The patient shows progressive dementia and chorea, and death occurs within 10 to 15 years

Abnormal anxiety about one's health

A blow or sudden attack, such as an epileptic seizure

A state of sluggishness or stupor

Chronic intense, throbbing headache that may result from vascular changes in cerebral arteries. Possible causes include genetic factors, stress, trauma, and hormonal fluctuations. Headache might be signaled by visual disturbances, nausea, photophobia, and tingling sensations

A condition involving multiple tumors of peripheral nerves

An emotional disorder caused by unresolved conflicts, with anxiety as a main characteristic

Paralysis of the legs and lower part of the body

Condition of having undesirable phenomena, such as nightmares, occur during sleep or become worse during sleep

Paralysis of all four limbs; tetraplegia

A rare acute encephalopathy occurring in children after viral infections. The liver, kidney, and heart may be involved. Linked to administration of aspirin during a viral illness

Neuritis characterized by severe pain along the sciatic nerve and its branches

Conditions associated with symptoms of physical disease, such as pain, hypertension, or chronic fatigue, with no physical basis

Walking or performing other motor functions while asleep and out of bed; sleepwalking

A state of unconsciousness or lethargy with loss of responsiveness

A progressive disease marked by formation of fluid-filled cavities in the spinal cord

Involuntary, spasmodic, recurrent, and purposeless motor movements or vocalizations

Episodes of extreme pain in the area supplied by the trigeminal nerve; also called trigeminal neuralgia

Destruction of the dorsal (posterior) portion of the spinal cord with loss of sensation and awareness of body position, as seen in advanced cases of syphilis

A tic disorder with intermittent motor and vocal manifestations that begins in childhood. There also may be obsessive and compulsive behavior, hyperactivity, and distractibility

A sudden, brief, and temporary cerebral dysfunction usually caused by interruption of blood flow to the brain

Degeneration of a nerve distal to an injury

Cervical injury caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration resulting in damage to muscles, ligaments, disks, and nerves

A spreading of the outer toes and extension of the big toe over the others when the sole of the foot is stroked. This response is normal in infants but indicates a lesion of specific motor tracts in adults

Record of the electric activity of the brain after sensory stimulation. Included are visual evoked potentials (VEPs), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), obtained by stimulating the hand or leg. These tests are used to evaluate CNS function

A system for assessing level of consciousness by assigning a score to each of three responses: eye opening, motor responses, and verbal responses

Use of radioactive glucose or other metabolically active substances to produce images of biochemical activity in tissues. Used for study of the living brain, both healthy and diseased, and also in cardiology

Inability to maintain balance when the eyes are shut and the feet are close together

Interruption of sympathetic nerve transmission either surgically or chemically

Cutting a piece of bone out of the skull; the instrument used is a trepan (tre-PAN) or trephine (tre-FIN)

Relieves anxiety by means of a calming, sedative effect on the CNS; for example, chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax); anxiolytic

Block the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, alone or in combination; for example, bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), venlafaxine (Effexor XR), atomoxetine (Strattera)

Block an enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine and serotonin, thus prolonging their action; for example, phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), isocarboxazid (Marplan)

Drugs used to treat psychosis, including schizophrenia; for example, clozapine (Clozaril), haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal), olanzapine (Zyprexa); antipsychotic. Action mechanism unknown, but may interfere with neurotransmitters

Block the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, thus increasing levels; for example, fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft)

Promote activity and a sense of well-being; for example, methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), amphetamine + dextroamphetamine (Adderall)

Block the reuptake of norepinephrine, serotonin, or both; for example, amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafril), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), trimipramine (Surmontil)

Acetylcholine

Alzheimer disease

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Autonomic nervous system

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials

Cerebral blood flow

Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease

Central nervous system

Cerebral palsy

Cerebrospinal fluid

Cerebrovascular accident

Cerebrovascular disease

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Deep tendon reflexes

Electroencephalogram; electroencephalograph(y)

Generalized anxiety disorder

Intracranial pressure

Lower motor neuron

Level of consciousness

Lumbar puncture

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor

Multiinfarct dementia

Multiple sclerosis

Neurological intensive care unit; also neonatal intensive care unit

Normal pressure hydrocephalus

Non–rapid eye movement (sleep)

Obsessive–compulsive disorder

Pervasive developmental disorder

Positron emission tomography

Peripheral nervous system

Posttraumatic stress disorder

Reticular activating system

Rapid eye movement (sleep)

Somatosensory evoked potentials

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Tricyclic antidepressant

Transient ischemic attack

Upper motor neuron

Visual evoked potentials