acetylcholine
a neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction
afferent nerves
also called sensory nerves; carry impulses toward the brain and spinal cord
akinetic
loss of movement
analgesia
a lessening of pain without loss of consciousness
anencephaly
a defect in brain development resulting in small or missing brain hemispheres
anesthesia
loss of feeling or sensation resulting from ether, chloroform, novocaine, etc.
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness
apraxia
inability to perform purposeful acts or manipulate objects
arachnoid membrane
the second layer of the meninges and is located between the dura mater and the pia mater
astrocyte
type of glial (neurologic) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries
ataxia
lack of muscle coordination
autonomic nervous system
the part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands
axon
long fiber that carries impulses away from the cell body of a neuron
blood brain barrier
protects the brain by preventing substances from entering its tissues
bradykinesia
extreme slowness in movement
brainstem
the part of the brain that controls many body functions that occur automatically
cauda equina
horse's tail", a fan of nerve fibers below the spinal cord
causalgia
burning pain
cell body
part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
cephalgia
headache
cerebellar
pertaining to cerebellum
cerebellopontine
pertaining to the cerebellum and the pons
cerebellum
region of the brain that coordinates body movements
cerebral cortex
the layer of unmyelinated neurons (the gray matter) forming the cortex of the cerebrum
cerebrospinal fluid
fluid in the space between the meninges that acts as a shock absorber that protects the central nervous system
cerebrum
largest part of the brain
coma
a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness
comatose
in a coma; extremely sleepy
cranial nerves
12 pairs of nerves arising from the brain
dendrite
fiber that carries messages from other neurons to the nerve cell body
dura mater
outer covering of brain and spinal cord
dyslexia
a learning disability that results in difficulty reading and writing
dyskinesia
difficult or painful movement
efferent nerve
motor nerve that carries the appropriate response from the brain or spinal cord to the appropriate area of action.
encephalitis
inflammation of brain
encephalopathy
disease condition of the brain
ependymal cell
produces and circulates CSF
epidural hematoma
collection of blood below the dura mater
ganglion
nerve cells
glial cell
cell in the nervous system that is supportive and connective in function
glioblastoma
malignant tumor of the glial cells in the brain
gyrus
convolutions of the cerebrum
hemiparesis
partial or incomplete paralysis in one half of the body
hemiplegia
paralysis on one side of the body
hypalgesia
diminished susceptibility to pain
hyperesthesia
increased touch sensation
hyperkinesis
condition of excessive movement (muscular activity)
hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion
intrathecal
within a sheath; injection of a substance through the spinal cord and into the subarachnoid space
leptomeningeal
pertaining to the pia mater and arachnoid membranes of the meninges
medulla oblongata
Part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion.
meningeal
pertaining to meninges
meninges
three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, consisting of the dura mater, pia mater, and arachnoid mater
meningioma
tumor of the meninges
microglial cells
extremely small glial cells that remove cellular debris from injured or dead cells
migraine
severe headache
motor nerves
conduct impulses away from the central nervous system
myelin sheath
a layer of fatty tissue encasing a neuron's axon that speeds transmission
myelogram
x-ray of the spinal cord
myelomeningocele
nerural tubal defect
myoneural
pertaining to muscle and nerve
nacrolepsy
seizure of sleep
nerve
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
neuralgia
pain in a nerve
neurasthenia
condition of lack of nerve strength; nervous exhaustion and weakness
neuroglia
non-conducting cells of nervous tissue with supportive and metabolic functions
neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
neuropathy
any disease of the nerves
neurotransmitter
chemical used by a neuron to transmit an impulse across a synapse to another cell
oligondendroglial cell
glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering the axons.
paraplegia
paralysis from the waist down
parasympathetic nerves
involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.
parenchyma
essiential distinguishing tissue of the nervous system includes the brain and the spinal cord
paresis
muscle weakness or partial paralysis
paresthesia
abnormal sensation of numbness and tingling without objective cause
peripheral nervous system
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
pia mater
innermost meningeal layer; bound firmly to the underlying neural tissue
plexus
large, interlacing network of nerves
poliomyelitis
inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord
polyneuritis
inflammation of many nerves
pons
part of the brain, works with the cerebellum in coordinating voluntary movement; neural stimulation studied in activation synthesis theory may originate here
quadriplegia
paralysis of all four limbs
radiculitis
inflammation of the nerve roots
radiculopathy
disease of the nerve roots
receptor
a cellular structure that is postulated to exist in order to mediate between a chemical agent that acts on nervous tissue and the physiological response
sciatic nerve
nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot
sensory nerves
carry messages to the brain & spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerves
spinal nerves
31 pairs of nerves arising from spinal cord
stimulus
something that causes a response
stroma
the supporting tissue of an organ (as opposed to parenchyma)
subdural hematoma
collection of blood below the dura mater
sulcus
shallow groove
sympathetic nerves
Autonomic nerves that activate responses in times of stress; heartbeat, respiration, and blood pressure are affected.
synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
syncopal
pertaining to syncope (fainting)
syncope
a sudden, and generally temporary, loss of consciousness and postural tone, due to inadequate flow of oxygenated blood to the brain (fainting)
thalamic
pertaining to thalmus
thalamus
the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
trigeminal neuralgia
a condition characterized by sudden, intense, severe lightning-like pain due to an inflammation of the fifth cranial nerve
vagal
pertaining to the vagus nerve
vagal nerves
stimulates digestive tract system.
ventricles of the brain
canals in the brain the contains cerebrospinal fluid
absence seizure
minor form of a seizure consisting of momentary clouding of conciousness.
Alzheimer disease
disease of structural changes in the brain resulting in an irreversible deterioration that progresses from forgetfulness and disorientation to loss of all intellectual functions, total disability, and death
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
progressive muscle atrophy caused by hardening of nerve tissue on the lateral columns of the spinal column (Lou Gehrig disease)
aneurysm
ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall
astrocytoma
A tumor composed of star-shaped neuroglial cells
aura
a sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright light) that precedes the onset of certain disorders such as a migraine attack or epileptic seizure
bell palsy
Paralysis of the facial nerve
cerebral angiography
radiographic imaging of the blood vessels in the brain (after an injection of contrast medium)
cerebral concussion
temporary brain dysfunction; loss of consciousness that usually clears within 24 hours
cerebral contusion
the bruising of brain tissue as the result of a head injury that may also cause swelling of the brain
cerebral hemorrhage
bleeding in the brain
cerebral palsy
a loss or deficiency of motor control with involuntary spasms caused by permanent brain damage present at birth
cerbrospinal fluid
protects brain and spinal cord from surrounding bone
cerebrovascular accident
damage to the brain that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted; also known as a stroke
computed tomography
computed tomographic x-ray images of the head used to visualize abnormalities, such as brain tumors and malformations
dementia
a slowly progressive decline in mental abilities, including memory, thinking, and judgment, that is often accompanied by personality changes
demyelination
destruction or removal of myelin sheath
dopamine
neurotransmitter that influences voluntary movement, attention, alertness; lack of dopamine linked with Parkinson's disease; too much is linked with schizophrenia
Doppler ultrasound studies
Sound waves measure movement of blood flow
electroencephalography
process of taking a picture of the brain using electricity
embolus
a clot that breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream. When it causes sudden closure of a blood vessel, this dangerous event is an embolism.
epilepsy
a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions
gait
manner of walking
glioblastoma multiforme
most common and most aggressive type of primary brain tumor in humans, involving glial cells
herpes zoster
shingles
HIV encephalopathy
brain disease (dementia and encephalitis) caused by infection with AIDS virus
Huntington disease
hereditary disease of the central nervous system
hydrocephalus
abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain as a result of developmental anomalies, infection, injury, or tumor
ictal event
pertaining to sudden, acute onset, as the convulsions of an epileptic seizure
lumbar puncture
removal by centesis of fluid from the subarachnoid space of the lumbar region of the spinal cord for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes
magnetic resonance imaging
a process that uses radio waves to form pictures of the inside of the human body
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges
meningocele
hernia of the meninges
multiple sclerosis
a chronic progressive nervous disorder involving loss of myelin sheath around certain nerve fibers
myasthenia gravis
autoimmune disease characterized by muscle weakness,chronic fatigue and drooping eyelids
occlusion
the act of blocking
palliative
relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disease or disorder without effecting a cure
palsy
paralysis
Parkinson disease
slowly progressive degeneration of nerves in the brain characterized by tremor, rigidity of muscles, and slow movements (bradykinesia), usually occurring later in life
positron emission tomography
using a computerized radiographic technique to examine the metabolic activity in various tissues (especially in the brain)
shingles
eruptions along a nerve path often accompanied by severe neuralgia
spina bifida
congenital defect in the spinal column characterized by the absence of vertebral arches, often resulting in pouching of spinal membranes or tissue
stereotactic radiosurgery
radiation treatment to inactivate malignant lesions, using multiple, precise external radiation beams focused on target with the aid of a stereotactice frame and imaging such as CT, MR, or angiography, used to treat inoperable brian tumors and other lesio
thrombosis
abnormal condition of clotting
tic
spasmodic muscular contractions
tonic clonic seizure
grand mal seizure
Tourette syndrome
involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words
transient ischemic attack
brief interruption of circulation to a portion of the brain owing to vascular spasm, causing temporary loss of function.