Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Med Term Nervous System
n/a
41
Other
Undergraduate 2
11/30/2010

Additional Other Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Alzheimer's disease
Definition
Chronic, organic mental disorder consisting from dementia that is more prevalent in adults between 40 and 60. Involves progressive disorientation, apathy, speech and gait disturbances, and loss of memory.
Term
Bell's palsy (facial paralysis)
Definition
One-sided facial paralysis with an unknown cause. The person cannot control salivation, tearing of the eyes, or expression. The patient will eventually recover.
Term
afferent neurons
Definition
erve that carries impulses to the brain and spinal cord from the skin and sense organs. Also called sensory neurons.
Term
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Definition
Disease with muscular weakness and atrophy due to degeneration of motor neurons of the spinal cord. Also called Lou Gehrig's disease, after the New York Yankees' baseball player who died from the disease.
Term
analgesic
Definition
Relieves pain without the loss of consciousness. May be either narcotic or non-narcotic. Narcotic drugs are derived from the opium poppy and act on the brain to cause pain relief and drowsiness.
Term
anesthesia
Definition
Partial or complete loss of sensation with or without a loss of consciousness as a result of a drug, disease, or injury.
Term
aphasia
Definition
Inability to communicate through speech. Often an aftereffect of a stroke (CVA).
Term
ataxia
Definition
Having a lack of muscle coordination as a result of a disorder or disease.
Term
autonomic nervous system
Definition
he portion of the nervous system that consists of nerves to the internal organs that function involuntarily. It regulates the functions of glands (especially the salivary, gastric, and sweat glands), the adrenal medulla, heart, and smooth muscle tissue. This system is divided into two parts: sympathetic and parasympathetic.
Term
ataxia
Definition
Having a lack of muscle coordination as a result of a disorder or disease.
Term
autonomic nervous system
Definition
The portion of the nervous system that consists of nerves to the internal organs that function involuntarily. It regulates the functions of glands (especially the salivary, gastric, and sweat glands), the adrenal medulla, heart, and smooth muscle tissue. This system is divided into two parts: sympathetic and parasympathetic.
Term
autonomic nervous system
Definition
The portion of the nervous system that consists of nerves to the internal organs that function involuntarily. It regulates the functions of glands (especially the salivary, gastric, and sweat glands), the adrenal medulla, heart, and smooth muscle tissue. This system is divided into two parts: sympathetic and parasympathetic.
Term
Bell's palsy (facial paralysis)
Definition
One-sided facial paralysis with an unknown cause. The person cannot control salivation, tearing of the eyes, or expression. The patient will eventually recover.
Term
carotid endarterectomy
Definition
Surgical procedure for removing an obstruction within the carotid artery, a major artery in the neck that carries oxygenated blood to the brain. Developed to prevent strokes but found to be useful only in severe stenosis with TIA.
Term
cerebellum
Definition
The second largest portion of the brain, it is located beneath the posterior portion of the cerebrum. This part of the brain aids in coordinating voluntary body movements and maintaining balance and equilibrium. It is attached to be the brain stem by the pons. The cerebellum refines the muscular movement that is initiated in the cerebrum.
Term
cerebral palsy
Definition
A group of disabilities caused by injury to the brain either before or during birth or very early in infancy. This is the most common permanent disability in childhood.
Term
cerebrospinal fluid
Definition
Watery clear fluid found in the ventricles of the brain. It provides protection from shock or sudden motion to the brain.
Term
cerebrovascular accident
Definition
Also called a stroke. The development of an infarct due to loss in the blood supply to an area of the brain. Blood flow can interrupted by a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhage), a floating clot (embolus), a stationary clot (thrombosis), or compression. The extent of damage depends on the size and location of the infarct and often includes speech problems and muscles paralysis.
Term
cranial nerves (12)
Definition
nerves that arise from the brain.
Term
efferent neurons
Definition
Nerves that carry impulses away from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands. Also called motor neurons.
Term
epilepsy
Definition
Recurrent disorder of the brain in which convulsive seizures and loss of consciousness occur.
Term
hemiplegia
Definition
Paralysis on only one side of the body.
Term
laminectomy
Definition
Removal of a portion of a vertebra in order to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve.
Term
meninges
Definition
Three connective tissue membrane layers that surround the brain and spinal cord. The three layers are dura mater, arachnoid layer, pia mater. The dura mater and arachnoid layer are separated by the subdural space. The arachnoid layer and pia mater are separated by the subarachnoid space.
Term
migraine
Definition
A specific type of headache characterized by severe head pain, photophobia, vertigo, and nausea.
Term
multiple sclerosis (MS)
Definition
Inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Rare in children. Generally strikes adults between the ages of 20 and 40. There is progressive weakness and numbness.
Term
myelin
Definition
Tissue that wraps around many of the nerve fibers. It is composed of fatty material and functions as an insulator.
Term
neurologist
Definition
Physician who specializes in disorders of the nervous system
Term
neuroma
Definition
a Nerve tumor
Term
neurotransmitter
Definition
Chemical messenger that carries an electrical impulse across the gap between two neurons
Term
paraplegia
Definition
Paralysis of the lower portion of the body and both legs.
Term
Parkinson's disease
Definition
Chronic disorder of the nervous system with fine tremors, muscular weakness, rigidity, and a shuffling gait.
Term
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Definition
The portion of the nervous system that contains the cranial nerves and spinal nerves. These nerves are mainly responsible for voluntary muscle movement, smell, taste, sight, and hearing.
Term
poliomyelitis
Definition
Acute viral disease that causes an inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis in some cases. Has been brought under almost total control through vaccinations.
Term
radiculitis
Definition
Nerve root inflammation.
Term
sensory neurons
Definition
Nerves that carry sensory information from sensory receptors to the brain; also called afferent neurons.
Term
sensory receptors
Definition
Nerve fibers that are located directly under the surface of the skin. These receptors detect temperature, pain, touch, and pressure. The messages for these sensations are conveyed to the brain and spinal cord from the nerve endings in the skin.
Term
spina bifida
Definition
Congenital defect in the walls of the spinal canal in which the laminae of the vertebra do not meet or close. Results in membranes of the spinal cord being pushed through the opening. Can also result in other defects, such as hydrocephalus.
Term
spinal nerve
Definition
A nerve that arises from the spinal cord.
Term
synapse
Definition
The point at which the axon of one neuron meets the dendrite of the next neuron.
Term
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Definition
Temporary interference with blood supply to the brain, causing neurological symptoms such as dizziness, numbness, and hemiparesis. May lead eventually to a full-blown stoke (CVA).
Supporting users have an ad free experience!