Nervous System Anatomy & Function Quiz

Study Notes

### Nervous System Anatomy & Function

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord.
The PNS connects the CNS to the rest of the body, including muscles, glands, and organs.
The PNS is further divided into the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary movements, and the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary activities such as heart rate, breathing, and digestion.

The basic functional unit of the nervous system is the neuron.
Neurons have a cell body, dendrites, and an axon.
Dendrites receive signals from other neurons and transmit them to the cell body.
The axon carries signals away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands.
Myelin, a fatty substance, covers some axons, which helps signals travel faster.

Neurotrophin: A factor that promotes nerve growth.
Glial: Pertaining to neuroglia, which are cells that support and protect neurons.
Ganglioma: A tumor of a ganglion.
Meningocele: Hernia of the meninges.
Hematomyelia: Hemorrhage into the spinal cord.
Anencephaly: Absence of a brain.
Narcosis: State of stupor induced by drugs.
Agoraphobia: Fear of being in a public place.

Amyloid: A starch-like substance that accumulates in the brain in Alzheimer's and other diseases.
Coma: State of deep unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused.
Concussion: Injury resulting from a violent blow or shock; a brain concussion usually results in loss of consciousness.
Convulsion: A series of violent, involuntary muscle contractions.
Dementia: A gradual and usually irreversible loss of intellectual function.
Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain.
Epilepsy: A chronic disease involving periodic sudden bursts of electric activity from the brain, resulting in seizures.

Parkinsonism: A disorder of the basal ganglia characterized by slow movements, tremor, rigidity, and a mask-like face.
Paralysis: Temporary or permanent loss of function, movement, or reflexes
Alzheimer disease: A form of dementia caused by atrophy of the cerebral cortex.
Tremor: A shaking or involuntary movement.
Anxiety: A feeling of fear, worry, uneasiness, or dread.
Schizophrenia: A group of severe mental disorders with features of psychosis, delusions, hallucinations, and withdrawn or bizarre behavior.
Depression: A mental state characterized by profound feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, and lack of interest or pleasure in activities.

Electroencephalography (EEG): Amplification, recording, and interpretation of the brain’s electric activity.
Cerebral angiography: Radiographic study of the brain’s blood vessels after injection of a contrast medium.