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Functions of Brain
Thinking, personality, sensations, movements, memory
Cerebrum
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Functions of Brain
Relay station ("triage center") for sensory impulses; control of awareness and consciousness
Thalamus
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Functions of Brain
Body temperature, sleep, appetite, emotions, control of pituitary gland
Hypothalamus
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Functions of Brain
Coordination of voluntary movements and balance
Cerebellum
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Functions of Brain
Connection of nerves (to the eyes and face)
Pons
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Functions of Brain
Nerve fibers cross over, left to right and right to left; contains centers to regulate heart, blood vessels, and respiratory system
Medulla oblongata
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neurotransmitter chemcial released at ends of nerve cells
acetylcholine
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carries messages toward brain and spinal cord
afferent nerve
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middle layer of the 3 membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord
arachnoid membrane
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type of glial cell that transports water and salts from capillaries
astrocyte
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nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs
autonomic nervous system
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microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell
axon
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blood vessles (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out
blood-brain barrier
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lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord (includes pons and medulla oblongata)
brainstem
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collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord
cauda equina
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part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus
cell body
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brain and spinal cord
central nervous system (CNS)
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outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain
cerebral cortex
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circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
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twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain with regard to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve)
crainal nerves
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microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse
dendrite
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thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord
dura mater
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carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve
efferent nerve
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glial cell that lines membraines within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid
ependymal cell
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collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
ganglion (ganglia)
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supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses
glial cell (neuroglial cell)
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sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution
gyrus (gyri)
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three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
meninges
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phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from teh central nervous system
microglial cell
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carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve
motor nerve
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covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell; speeds impulse conduction along axons
myelin sheath
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macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons and dendrites) that carry electrical impulses
nerve
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nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body
neuron
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chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell; stimulates or inhibits another cell
neurotransmitter
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glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons
oligodendroglial cell
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involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract
parasympathetic nerves
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essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system; of nervous system includes: brain, spinal cord, and neurons
parenchyma
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nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves
peripheral nervous system
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thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges
pia mater
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large, interlacing network of nerves
plexus (plexuses)
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organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves
receptor
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nerves extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot
sciatic nerve
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carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve
sensory nerve
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31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord
spinal nerves
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agent of change (light, sound, touch) in the internal or external environment that evokes a response
stimulus (stimuli)
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connective and supporting tissue of an organ (glial cells to brain)
stroma
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depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure
sulcus (sulci)
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autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress
sympathetic nerves
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space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells
synapse
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tenth cranial nerve (cranial nerve X); its branches reach to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach
vagus nerve
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canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid
ventricles of the brain`
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mening/o, meningi/o
membranes, meninges
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radicul/o
nerve root (of spinal nerves)
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thec/o
sheath (refers to the meninges)
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alges/o, -algesia
excessive sensitivity to pain
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comat/o
deep sleep (coma)
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esthesi/o, -esthesia
feeling, nervous sensation
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kines/o, kinesi/o, -kinesia, -kinesis, -kinetic
movement
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syncop/o
to cut off, cut short
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tax/o
order, coordination
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abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain
hydrocephalus
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congenital defects in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts (neural tube defect)
spina bifida
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vertebral defect is covered with skin and evident only on x-ray
spina bifida occulta
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more severe form of spina bifida with cyst-like protrusions
spina bifida cystica
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spina bifida case where the meninges protrudes to the outside of the body
meningocele
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both spinal cord and meninges protrude outside of the body (form of spina bifida)
myelomeningocele
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brain disorder marked by gradual and progressive mental deterioration (dementia), personality changes, and impairment of daily functioning
Alzheimer disease (AD)
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degenerative disorder or motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); also known as Lou Gehrig Disease
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chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity
epilepsy
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seizures characterized by a sudden loss of consciousness, falling down, and then tonic contractions (stiffening of muscles) followed by clonic contractions (twitching and jerking movements of limbs)
Tonic-clonic seizures; Grand mal; Ictal events
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minor form of seizure consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awareness of the person's surroundings
Absence seizures; Petit mal seizures
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seizures that begin in the temporal lobe of the brain
temporal lobe epilepsy
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most common type of seizure; cause a person to pause in whatever they are doing, become confused, and have memory problems
Complex partial seizure
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hereditary disorder marked by degenerative changes in teh cerebrum leading to abrupt involuntary movements and mental deterioration
Huntington disease
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destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the CNS and its replacement by plaques of sclerotic (hard) tissue
multiple sclerosis (MS)
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autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles
myasthenia gravis (MG)
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paralysis (partial or complete loss of motor function)
palsy
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degeneration of neurons in the basal ganglia, occurring in later life and leading to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement
Parkinson disease
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involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words
Tourette syndrome
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viral infection affecting peripheral nerves
herpes zoster (shingles)
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inflammation of the meninges; leptomeningitis
meningitis
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brain disease and dementia occurring with AIDS
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalopathy
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abnormal growth of brain tissue and meninges
brain tumor
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temporary brain dysfunction (brief loss of consciousness) after injury, usually clearing within 24 hours
cerebral concussion
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bruising of brain tissue as a result of direct trauma to the head; neurologic deficits persist longer than 24 hours
cerebral contusion
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disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
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type of stroke; blood clot (thrombus) in arteries leading to brain resulting in occlusion of the vessel
Thrombotic
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type of stroke; an embolus (dislodged thrombus) travels to cerebral arteries and occludes a small vessel
Embolic
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type of stroke; a blood vessel breaks and bleeding occurs
Hemorrhagic
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severe, recurring, unilateral, vascular headache
migraine
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enlarged, weakened area in an arterial wall, which may rupture, leading to hemorrhage and CVA
aneurysm
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malignant tumor of stroctyes (glial brain cells)
astrocytoma
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peculiar symptom or sensation occurring before the onset (prodomal) of an attack of migraine or an epileptic seizure
aura
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CNS neurotransmitter (deficient in Parkinson disease)
dopamine
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relieving symptoms but not curing them
palliative
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removal of the thymus gland (a lymphocyte-producing gland in the chest); used as treatment for myasthenia gravis
thymectomy
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samples of CSF are examined
cerebrospinal fluid analysis
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x-ray imaging of the arterial blood vessel in the brain after injection of contrast material
cerebral angiography
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x-ray technique that generates computerized multiple images of the brain and spinal cord
computer tomography (CT) of the brain
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x-ray imgaing of the spinal canal after injection of contrast medium into the subarachnoid space
myelography
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magnetic field and pulses of radiowave energy create images of the brain and spinal cord
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
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radioactive glucose is injected and then detected in the brain to image the metabolic activity of the cells
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
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sound waves detect blood flow in the carotid and intracranial arteries
Doppler ultrasound studies
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recording of the electrical activity of the brain
electroencephalography (EEG)
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CSF is withdrawn from between two lumbar vertebrae for analysis
lumbar puncture (LP)
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use of a specialized instrument to locate and treat targets in the brain
stereotactic radiosurgery
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