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| CNS (central nervous system) | consists of the brain and spinal cord |
| peripheral nervous system (PNS) | consists of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves and the 31 pairs of spinal nerves |
| ANS (autonomic nervous system | consists of the peripheral nerves and ganglia on either side of the spinal cord |
| nerve | one or more bundles of neuron cells (impulse carrying fibers) that connect the brain and the spinal cord with other parts of the body |
| tract | bundle or group of nerve fibers located within the brain or spinal cord |
| Ascending tracts | carry nerve impulses toward the brain |
| Descending tracts | carry nerve impulses away from the brain |
| ganglion | knotlike mass or group of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system |
| plexus | network of intersecting nerves and blood or lymphatic vessels |
| Innervation | supply of nerves to a body part; also means the stimulation of a body part thru the action of nerves |
| Receptors | sites in the sensory organs (eyes, ears, skin, nose, and taste buds) that receive external stimulation |
| stimulus | anything that excites or activates a nerve and causes an impulse |
| impulse | wave of excitation transmitted thru nerve fibers and neurons |
| reflex | an automatic, involuntary response to some change, either inside or outside the body; examples are maintenance of heart rate, breathing rate, and BP, and coughing sneezing,and reactions to painful stimuli |
| neuron | the basic cell of the nervous system |
| Afferent | sending' emerge from the skin or sense organs and carry impulses toward the brain and spinal cord |
| Connecting | associative; carry impulses from one neuron to another |
| Efferent | motor; carry impulses away from the brain and spinal cord and toward the muscles and glands |
| Each neuron consists of: | a cell body, several dendrites, a single axon, and terminal end fibers |
| dedrites | rootlike structures that receive impulses and conduct them to the cell body |
| axon | extends away from the cell body and conducts impulses away from the nerve cell |
| terminal end fibers | the branching fibers of the neuron that lead the nervous impulse away from the axon and toward the synapse |
| synapse | space between two neurons or between a neuron and a receptor organ |
| neurotransmitter | chemical messenger that tyransmits messages between nerve cells by making it possilble for the nerve impulse to jump across the synapse from one neuron to another |
| neuroglia (glial cells) (nerve glue) | are the supportive and connective cells of the nervous system |
| glial | pertaining to glue |
| myelin sheath | white protective covering over some nerve cells including parts of the spinal cord, white matter of the brain, and most peripheral nerves |
| white matter | myelin sheath gives nerve fibers a white color, and the myelinated axons of nerves are referred to as white matter |
| gray matter | those portions of nerves that do not have a myelinb sheath are gray and make up the gray matter of the brain and spinal cord |
| meninges | three layers of connective tissue membrane that enclose the brain and spinal cord; dura mater, arachnoid membrane, and pia mater |
| dura mater | the thick, tough, outermost membrane of the meninges |
| epidural space | located above the dura mater and within the surrounding bone walls; contains fat and supportive connective tissues to cushion the dura mater |
| subdural space | located below the dura membrane and above the arachnoid membrane |
| arachnoid membrane | resembles a spider web, is the second layer surrounding the brain and spinal cord; is loosely attached to the other meninges to allow space for fluid between the layers |
| subarachnoid space | located below the arachnoid membrane and above the ia mater and contains cerebrospinal fluid |
| pia mater | third layer of the meninges; is located nearest to the brain and spinal cord; consists of delicate connective tissue with a rich supply of blood vessels |
| Cerebrum | uppermost and least protected layer of the brain; is responsible for the highest level of thought including judgement, memory, association, and critical thinking |
| Thalamus | located below the cerebrum; monitors sensory stimuli by suppressing some and magnifying others |
| Hypothalamus | located below the thalamus; controls vital bodily functions |
| Cerebellum | located in the lower back of the cranium below the cerebrum; coordinates muscular activity for smooth and steady movements |
| Pons | located in the brainstem at the base of the brain; nerves cross over so that one side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body |
| Medulla oblongata | most protected part of the brain; controls the basic vital functions of life |
| Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) | is a clear, colorless, watery fluid produced by special capillaries within the ventricles of the brain; flows throughout the brain and around the spinal cord, and its functions are to nourish, cool, and cushion these organs from shock or injury |
| Cerebrum | largest and uppermost portion of the brain; is responsible for all thought, judgement , memory, association, and discrimination |
| Cerebrum | is divided into the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere (left and right brain) |
| Each hemisphere of the cerebrum is divided into four lobes and each lobe is named for the bone of the cranium | frontal (controls motor functions); parietal lobe (receives and interprets nerve impulses from the sensory receptors); occipital lobe (controls eyesight); temporal lobe (controls the senses of hearing and smell) |
| ventricles | located within the middle region of the cerebrum contain CSF |
| thalamus | located below the3 cerebrum, produces sensations by relaying impulses to and from the cerebral cortex and the sense organs of the body |
| hypothalamus | located below the thalamus, has seven major regulatory functions; 1. regulates and integrates the autonomic nervous system thereby controlling heart rate, BP, respiratory rate, and digestive tract activity; 2. regulates emotional responses and behavior; 3. regulates body temp; 4. regulates food intake by controlling hunger sensations; 5. regulates water balance and thirst; 6. regulates sleep-wakefulness cycles; 7. regulates endocrine system activity |
| Cerebellum | second largest part of the brain; located at the back of the head below the posterior part of the cerebrum; receives incoming messages regarding movement within joints, muscle tone, and positions of the body |
| Brainstem | stalklike portion of the brain that connects the cerebral hemispheres with the spinal cord; made up of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata |
| Midbrain | extends from the lower surface of the cerebrum to the pons; is short narrow segment that provides conduction pathways to and from higher and lower centers |
| Pons (means bridge) | is situated at the base of the brain; where nerve cells cross from one side of the brain to control the opposite side of the body |
| Medulla oblongata | located at the lowest part of the brainstem; controls basic life functions including the muscles of respiration, heart rate, and BP |
| spinal cord | is the pathway for impulses going to and from the brain; contains all the nerves that affect the limbs and lower part of the body; is protected by CSF and is surrounded by meninges |
| Peripheral nervous system (PNS) | consists of the cranial nerves (extending from the brain) and the spinal nerves (extending from the spinal cord) |
| Cranial Nerves | originate from the undersurface of the brain; each nerve of a pair serves half of the body, and the two nerves are identical in function and structure; are identified by Roman numerals and are named for the area or function they serve |
| spinal nerves (31 pairs) | are usually named for the artery they accompany or the body part they innervate |
| autonomic nervous system (ANS) | controls the involuntary actions of the body; is subdivided into 2 divisions; the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous |
| homeostasis | process of maintaining the constant internal environment of the body |
| frontal lobe | controls motor functions |
| parietal lobe | receives and interprets nerve impulses from the sensory receptors |
| occipital lobe | controls eyesight |
| temporal lobe | controls the senses of hearing and smell |
| anesthesiologist | physician who specializes in administering anesthetic agents before and during surgery |
| sympathetic nervous system | prepares the body for emergency and stressful situations by increasing the breathing rate, heart rate, and blood flow to muscles |
| parasympathetic nervous system | returns the body to normal after a stressful response; also maintains normal body functions during ordinary circumstances that are not emotionally or physically stressful |
| anesthetist | person trained in administering anesthesia but who is not necessarily a physician (nurse anesthetist) |
| esthet | feeling |
| ist | specialist |
| neurologist | specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the nervous system |
| neurosurgeon | physician who specializes in surgery of the nervous system |
| psychiatrist | holds a Medical Doctor (MD) degree and specializes in diagnosing and treating chemical dependencies, emotional problems, and mental illness |
| psych | mind |
| psychologist | holds an advanced degree, other than a medical degree, and specializes in evaluating and treating emotional problems |
| Cephalagia (headache) | pain in the head |
| migraine headache | syndrome characterized by sudden, severe, sharp headache usually present on only one side |
| encephalocele (craniocele) | congenital gap in the skull with herniation of brain substance |
| cele | hernia |
| hydrocephalus | abnormally increased amt of CSF within the brain |
| meningocele | protrusion of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord thru a defect in the skull or spinal column |
| Meningitis | inflammation of the meninges of the brain or spinal cord |
| Alzheimer's disease (AD) | group of disorders associated with degenerative changes in the brain structure that lead to characteristic symptoms including progressive memory loss, impaired cognition, and personality changes |
| Cognition | describes the mental activities associated with thinking, learning, and memory |
| Encephalitis | inflammation of the brain |
| encelphal | brain |
| Parkinson's disease (PD) | chronic, slowly progressive, degenerative CNS disorder characterized by fine muscle tremors, a masklike facial expression, and a shuffling gait |
| Gait | manner of walking |
| Tetanus (lockjaw) | acute and potentially fatal bacterial infection of the CNS caused by the tetanus bacillus; can be prevented thru immunization |
| Amnesia | disturbance in the memory marked by a total or partial inability to recall past experiences; the cause may be a brain injury, illness, or psychological disturbance |
| conscussion (cerebral concussion) | violent shaking up or jarring of the brain |
| cerebral contusion | bruising of brain tissue as a result of a head injury |
| cranial hematoma | collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain; hematomas are named for their locations: epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, and intracerebral hematoma |
| Conscious (alert) | being awake, aware, and respinding appropriately |
| Syncope (fainting) | brief loss of consciousness caused bya abrief lack of oxygen in the brain |
| Lethargy | lowered level of consciousness marked by listlessness, drowsiness, and apathy |
| apathy | indifference and a reduced level of activity |
| stupor | state of impaired consciousness marked by a lack of responsiveness to invironmental stimuli |
| coma | profound (deep) state of unconsciousness marked by the absence of spontaneous eye movements, no response to painful stimuli and no vocalization (speech) |
| Delirium | potentially reversible condition often associated with a high fever that comes on suddently |
| delirious pt | confused, disoriented, and unable to think clearly |
| Dementia | slowly progressive decline in mental abilities including memory, thinking, judgment, and the ability to pay attention |
| brain tumor | abnormal growth within the brain that may be either benign (not life threatening) or malignant (life threatening) |
| malignant brain tumor | may originate in the brain as the primary site, or it may spread from a secondary site in another part of the body |
| Any abnormal growth in the brain can cause damage in 2 ways: | 1. if the tumor is invasive, it destroys brain tissue, and 2. because the skull is hard, the tumor can damage the brain by causing pressure on it |
| stroke (cerebrovascular accident) (CVA) | damage to the brain that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted because a blood vessel supplying it either is blocked or has ruptured |
| transient ischemic attack (TIA) | temporary interruption in the blood supply to the brain |
| Symptoms of TIA | weakness, dizziness, or loss of balance; these usually pass within a few minutes; TIA can be a warning of an impending stroke |
| most common type of stroke in older people is | ischemic stroke where the flow of blood in the brain is blocked; can be caused by a narrowing of the carotid artery or by a cerebral thrombosis where a clot blocks the artery; this disruption of blood flow usually affects the cerebrum and damages the controls of movement, language, and senses |
| Aphasia | loss of the ability to speak, write, or comprehend the written or spoken word; often due to brain damage associated with a stroke |
| phasia | speech |
| hemorrhagic stroke (bleed) | a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures; this type is less common than ischemic strokes, but is more deadly |
| Insomnia | prolonged or abnormal inability to sleep; usually a symptom of another problem such as depression, pain, or excessive caffeine |
| Narcolepsy | syndrome characterized by recurrent uncontrollable seizures of drowsiness and sleep |
| Somnambulism (noctambulism or sleepwalking) | condition of walking without awakening |
| Somnolence | condition of unnatural sleepiness or semiconsciousness approaching coma; a somnolent person usually can be aroused by verbal stimuli |
| Myelitis | inflammation of the spinal cord |
| myelosis | tumor of the spinal cord |
| Multiple sclerosis | progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by scattered patches of demyelination of nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord which disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses and causes symptoms including tremors, paralysis, and speech disturbances |
| Poliomyelitis (polio) | viral infection of the gray matter of the spinal cord that may result in paralysis; can be prevented thru immunization |
| poli/o | gray |
| Postpolio syndrome | recurrence later in life of some polio symptoms in individuals who have had poliomyelitis and have recovered from it |
| Radiculitis (pinched nerve) | inflammation of the root of a spinal nerve |
| radicul | root or nerve root |
| Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (Lou Gehrig's disease) | degenerative disease of the motor neurons in which pts become progressively weaker til they are completely paralyzed; intellect, eye motion, bladder function and sensations are spared |
| Bell's palsy | paralysis of the facial (7th cranial) nerve that causes drooping only on the affected side of the face |
| Guillain-Barre syndrome (acute ascending polyneuritis) | characterized by rapidly worsening muscle weakness that may lead to temporary paralysis; presumed to be an autoimmune reaction that may occur after a mild infection, surgery, or an immunization |
| Peripheral neuropathy (peripheral neuritis) | painful condition of the nerves of the hands and feet due to peripheral nerve damage that may be caused by disease such as diabetes, alcoholism, autoimmune diseases, and exposure to toxic substances |
| Tic douloureux (trigeminal nerualgia) | inflammation of the trigeminal (5th cranial) nerve; characterized by sudden, intense, sharp pain on one side of the face |
| Sciatica | inflammation of the sciatic nerve that results in pain along the course of the nerve thru the thigh and leg |
| Causalgia | an intense burning pain after an injury to a sensory nerve |
| caus | burning |
| Hyperesthesia | condition of excessive sensitibity to stimuli |
| Paresthesia | abnormal sensation, such as burning, tingling, or numbness for no apparent reason |
| Cerebral palsy (CP) | condition characterized by poor muscle control, spasticity, and other neurologic deficiencies caused by an injury to the part of the brain that controls muscle movements; occurs during pregnancy, birth, or soon after birth; most often occurs in premature or low-birthweight infants |
| convulsion/seizure | sudden, violent, involuntary contraction of a group of muscles caused bya disturbance in brain function; have many causes including brain injury, lesions, or extreme high fever |
| generalized seizure (generalized tonic-clonic seizure) | characterized by a loss of consciousness with tonic convulsions followed by clonic convulsions |
| tonic convulsion | state of continuous muscular contraction that results in rigidity and violent spasms |
| clonic convulsion | state marked by the alternate contraction and relaxation of muscles, resulting in jerking movements of the face, trunk, or extremities |
| partial sizure (localized seizure) | begins with specific motor, sensory, or psychomotor phenomena without loss of consciousness |
| Epilepsy | group of neurologic disorders characterized by recurrent episodes of seizures |
| Grand mal epilepsy | more severe form characterized by generalized tonic-clonic seizures |
| Petit mal epilepsy (absence epilepsy) | milder form; with sudden, temporary loss of consciousness, lasting only a few seconds; seizures are very mild, do not include convulsive movements, and may not be noticed |
| epileptic aura | manifestation such as particular smell or light and mey be experienced just before a seizure |
| Mental retardation | significantly below average general intellectual functioning that is accompanied by a signficant limitation in adaptive functioning |
| autistic disorder (autism) | disorder where a young child cannot develop normal social relationships, behaves in compulsive and ritualistic ways, and frequently has poor communication skills |
| Attention deficit disorder (ADD) | short attention span and impulsiveness that is inappropriate for the child's developmental age |
| attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | pattern of inattention and hyperactivity that is inappropritate for the child's developmental age; condition may persist into adulthood |
| Dyslexia (reading disorder) | learning disability characterized by reading achievement that falls sustantially below that wxpected given the individual's chronological age, measured intelligence, and age-appropriate education |
| addiction | compulsive and overwhelming involvement with a spcific activity despite the fact that it causes significant health hazards plus recurrent legal and social problems; may be to actions such as gambling or smoking, alcohol, medications, and illegal drugs |
| alcoholism | chronic alcohol dependence or abuse with specific signs and symptoms of withdrawal |
| withdrawal | psychological or physical syndrome (or both) caused by the abrupt cessation (stopping) of the use of a drug in a habituated individual |
| Delirium tremens (DTs) | form of acute organic brain syndrome due to alcohol withdrawal and is characterized by sweating, tremor, restlessness, anxiety, mental confusion, and hallucinations |
| psychotic disorder | characterized by the derangement of personality, loss of contact with reality, and deterioration of normal social functioning |
| Schizophrenia | psychotic disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech that is often incoherent, and diruptive or catatonic behavior |
| delusion | false personal belief that is maintained despite obvious prrof or evidence to the contrary |
| hallucination | sense perception (sight, touch, sound, smell, or taste) that has no basis in external stimulation |
| Catatonic behavior | marked by a lack of responsivieness, stupor, and a tendency to remain in a fixed posture |
| manic episode | distinct period during which there is an abnormally, and persistently elevated, expansive and irritable mood |
| major depressive episode | prolonged period during which there is either a depressed mood or the loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities |
| bipolar disorder (manic-depressive episode) | clinical course characterized by the occurrence of manic episodes alternating with depressive episodes |
| Panic disorders | characterized by the sudden, unanticipated recurrence of a group of symptoms known as a panic attack |
| panic attack symptoms | intense feelings of apprehension, fearfulness, terror, and impending doom; physical symptoms are shortness of breath, profuse sweating, heart palpitations, chest pain, and choking sensations |
| anxiety state | feeling of apprehension, tension, or uneasiness that stems from the anticipation of danger, the source of which is largley unknown or unrecognized |
| obsessive-compulsive disorder | pattern of specific behaviors such as repeated hand washing |
| obsessions | persistent ideas, thoughts, or images that cause the individual anxiety or distress |
| compulsions | repetitive behavors the goal of which is to prevent or reduce anxiety or stress |
| Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | the development of characteristic symptoms after a psychologically traumatic event such as witnessing a shooting, surviving a natural disaste, or being held as a hostage |
| Symptoms of PTSD | numbed responsiveness to external stimuli, anxiety, sleep disorders, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and depression |
| phobia | persistent irrational fear of a specific thing or situation; strong enough to cause avoidance of that thing or situation |
| Acrophobia | excessive fear of being in high places |
| Agoraphobia | overwhelming and irrational fear of leaving the familiar setting of home or venturing into the open |
| Claustrophobia | abnormal fear of being in narrow or enclosed spaces |
| Somatoform | term used to describe the presence of physical symptoms that suggest general medical conditions not explained by the pts actual medical condition |
| Conversion disorder | characterized by a change in function that suggests a physical disorder but has no physical cause; these symptoms are an expression of the pts psychological problems that he has converted into physical symptoms |
| Hypochondriasis | characterized by a preoccupation with fears of having or the idea that one does have, a serous disease based on misinterpretation of one or more bodily signs or symptoms |
| Kleptomania | disorder characterized by a recurrent failure to resist impulses to steal objects not for immediate use or their moneyary value |
| Pyromania | disorder characterized by a recurrent failure to resist impulses to set fires |
| personality disorder | enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture; has an onset in adolescence or early adulthood; is stable over time, and leads to distress or impairment |
| antisocial personality disorder | pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others; brings the individual into continuous conflict with society |
| narcissistic personality disorder | pattern of an exaggerated need for admiration and complete lack of empathy |
| empathy | the ability to understand another person's mental and emotional state without becoming personally involved |
| Malingering | characterized by the intentional creation of false or grossly exaggerated physical or psychological symptoms, motivated by external incentives such as avoiding work |
| Munchausen syndrome | condition where the pt repeatedly makes up clinically convincing simulations of disease for the purpose of gaining medical attention |
| Munchausen syndrome by proxy | form of child abuse; although the parent seems very concerned about the child's well-being, the abusive parent will falsify an illness in a child by making up or creating symptoms and then seeking medical treatment for the child |
| Computed tomography (CT scan) and MRI magnetic resonance imaging | important diagnostic tools because they can image the soft tissue structures of the brain and spinal cord |
| Echoencephalography | use of ultrasound imaging to diagnose a shift in the midline structures of the brain |
| Electroencephalography (EEG) | process of recording the electrical activity of the brain thru the use of electrodes attached to the scalp |
| Encephalography | radiographic study demonstrating the intracranial fluid-containing spaces of the brain |
| Myelography | radiographic study of the spinal cord afte the injection of a contrast medium |
| level of consciousness (LOC) | important part of a neurologic evaluation; is established by observing the pt and evaluating his or her reactions to stimuli |
| Tranquilizers (antianxiety drugs) | suppress anxiety and relax muscles |
| antidepressants | prevents or relieves depression |
| antipsychotics | treats symptoms of severe psychiatric disorders |
| Psychotropic drugs | capable of affecting the mind, emotions, and behavior and are used in the treatment of mental illnesses |
| Transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) | method of pain control by the application of electronic impulses to the nerve endings thru the skin |
| analgesic | drug that relives pain without affecting consciousness |
| Nonnarcotic analgesics | used for mild to moderate pain such as aspirin |
| Narcotic analgesics | used to relieve severe pain; may cause physical dependence or addiction; example is morphine |
| sedative | depresses the CNS to produce calm and diminished responsiveness without producing sleep; sedation is the effect produced by a sedative |
| hypnotic | depresses the CNS and usually produces sleep |
| barbiturate | class of drugs whose major action is a calming or depressed effect on the CNS |
| Amobarbital | barbiturate used as a sedative and hyponic |
| Phenobarbital | barbiturate used as a sedative and as and anticonvulsant |
| anticonvulsant | prevents seizures and convulsions |
| Anesthesia | absence of normal sensation, especially sensitivity to pain |
| anesthetic | medication used to induce anesthesia; may be topical, local, regional, or general |
| Topical anesthesia | numbs only the tissue surface and is applied as a liquid, ointment, or spray |
| Local anesthesia | loss of sensation in a limited area and is produced by injecting an anesthetic solution near that area |
| Regional anesthesia | temporary interruption of nerve conduction and is produced by injecting an anesthetic solution near the nerves to be blocked |
| Epidural anesthesia | regional anesthesia produced by injecting a local anesthetic into the epidural space of the lumbar or sacral region of the spine |
| Spinal anesthesia | produced by injecting an anesthetic into the subarachnoid space that is located below the arachnoid membrane and above the pia mater that surrounds the spinal cord |
| General anesthesia | involves the total loss of body sensation and consciousness as induced by various anesthetic agents, given primarily by inhalation or intravenous injection |
| Electroshock therapy (electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) | controlled convusion produced by the passage of an electric current thru the brain; is used primarily in the treatment of depression and mental disorders that do not respond to other forms of therapy |
| lobectomy | surgical removal of a portion of the brain to treat brain cancer or seizure disorders that cannot be controlled with medication |
| thalamotomy | surgical incision into the thalamus; destroys brain cells; is performed to quiet the tremors of Parkinson's disease, to treat some psychotic disorders or to stop intractable pain |
| neurectomy | surgical removal of a nerve |
| Neuroplasty | surgical repair of a nerve or nerves |
| Neurorrhaphy | suturing together of the ends of a severed nerve |
| neurotomy | surgical incision of the dissection of a nerve |
