W4 Nervous System Terminology 2024 PDF

# Medical Terminology ## Nervous System ### Learning Objectives - Define anatomy of Nervous system - Recognize, the main functions of the nervous system - Identify main medical terminology of the nervous system - Interpret main abbreviations and terms. ### **Select the best correct answer:** 1...

# Medical Terminology ## Nervous System ### Learning Objectives - Define anatomy of Nervous system - Recognize, the main functions of the nervous system - Identify main medical terminology of the nervous system - Interpret main abbreviations and terms. ### **Select the best correct answer:** 1. The basic cell of the nervous system is a(n): - myofiber - **neuron** - osteoblast - chondrocyte 2. Involuntary responses are controlled by the: - somatic nervous system - voluntary nervous system - **autonomic nervous system** - diaphragm 3. An extreme, persistent fear is a(n): - palliative - prognosis - analgesic - **phobia** 4. A disorder, often of unknown cause, characterized by seizures is called: - cystic fibrosis - spina bifida - **epilepsy** - thyrotoxicosis ### Overview of the Nervous System - The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). - The nervous system controls and coordinates body activities by transmitting signals between different parts of the body. - The peripheral nervous system is divided into the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary movements, and the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary activities. ### Anatomic divisions of the nervous system - **Peripheral nervous system** - Cranial nerves - Spinal nerves - **Central nervous system** - Brain - Cerebrum (memory, reasoning) - Diencephalon (sensory relay, hormone control) - Brainstem (vital functions) - Cerebellum (coordination, balance) - Spinal Cord - Extends from the brainstem to the lower back - Connects to 31 pairs of nerves for sensory and motor control. ### THE NEURON - Neurons are the building blocks of the nervous system with a cell body, dendrites, and an axon. - Dendrites bring signals to the cell body; axons send them away. - Myelin covers some axons, helping signals travel faster; myelinated axons make up white matter, and unmyelinated ones form gray matter. - Sensory neurons send signals to the CNS, while motor neurons send them away from the CNS. - A synapse is where two neurons connect to pass signals using chemicals called neurotransmitters. ### Nerves - Nerves are bundles of neuron fibers in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). - A ganglion is a collection of neuron cell bodies along a nerve pathway. - Some nerves carry only sensory or motor signals, but most are mixed nerves, carrying both types of signals. ### Autonomic Nervous System - The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions. #### Sympathetic Division - Brain, brainstem, and spinal cord #### Parasympathetic Division - Brain, brainstem, and spinal cord *Diagram of the nervous system showing sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions with their effectors.* ### Terminology of Nervous System *A picture showing a neuron with its dendrites and axon* ### Normal structure and function | Lesion | Description | |---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | afferent | Carrying toward a given point, such as the sensory neurons and nerves that carry in toward the CNS (root fer means "to carry") | | efferent | Carrying away from a given point, such as the motor neurons and nerves that carry away from the CNS (root fer means “to carry") | | autonomic nervous system | The division of the nervous system that regulates involuntary activities, controlling muscles, cardiac muscle, and glands; the visceral nervous system | | central nervous system | The brain and spinal cord | | cerebrospinal fluid | The watery fluid that circulates in and around the brain and spinal cord for protecting the brain and spinal cord. | | synapse | The junction between two neurons; also the junction between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber or gland | | reflex | A simple, rapid, and automatic response to a stimulus | | neurotransmitter | A chemical that transmits energy across a synapse; examples are norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and GABA. | ### Root Meaning & Example | Root | Meaning | Example | Definition of Example | |-----------------|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | neur/o, neur/i | nervous system, nervous tissue, nerve | neurotrophin | factor that promotes nerve growth (troph/o means "nourish") | | gli/o | neuroglia | Glial | pertaining to neuroglia | | gangli/o, ganglion/o | ganglion | Ganglioma | tumor of a ganglion | | mening/o, meninge/o | meninges | meningocele | hernia of the meninges | | myel/o | spinal cord (also bone marrow) | hematomyelia | hemorrhage into the spinal cord | | encephal/o | brain | anencephaly | absence of a brain | | narc/o | stupor, unconsciousness | narcosis | state of stupor induced by drugs | | -phobia | persistent, irrational fear | agoraphobia | fear of being in a public place (from Greek agora, meaning "marketplace") | ### Some related terms - **Amyloid:** A starch-like substance of unknown composition that accumulates in the brain in Alzheimer 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; a tonic convulsion involves prolonged muscle contraction - **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 originating in the brain's basal ganglia (nuclei) and characterized by slow movements, tremor, rigidity, and mask-like face; also called Parkinson disease - **Paralysis:** Temporary or permanent loss of function, movement or reflexes - **Alzheimer disease:** A form of dementia caused by atrophy of the cerebral cortex; presenile dementia - **Tremor:** A shaking or involuntary movement - **Anxiety:** A feeling of fear, worry, uneasiness, or dread - **Schizophrenia:** A poorly understood group of severe mental disorders with features of psychosis, delusions, hallucinations, and withdrawn or bizarre behavior (schizo means "split," and phren/o means “mind") - **Depression:** A mental state characterized by profound feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, and lack of interest or pleasure in activities ### Diagnostics and treatment terms - **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 ### Test your knowledge 1. What is the basic functional unit of the nervous system? - Myocyte - **Neuron** - Osteocyte - Synapse 2. Which structure is responsible for controlling involuntary activities in the body? - Somatic nervous system - **Autonomic nervous system** - Sensory neurons - Motor neurons 3. What is the junction between two neurons called? - Ganglion - Myelin - **Synapse** - Dendrite 4. What part of the brain is responsible for coordination and balance? - Cerebrum - Brainstem - Diencephalon - **Cerebellum** ### Match the following terms with definitions | Medical Term | Definition | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Synapse | **b) Junction between two neurons** | | Afferent | **e) Carrying impulses toward the CNS** | | Myelin | **d) Fatty substance that insulates axons** | | Reflex | **c) Involuntary response to a stimulu**s | | Efferent | **a) Carrying impulses away from the CNS** | ### Study the case and answer the following questions A 52-year-old male presents with sudden weakness on the right side of his body, slurred speech, and difficulty understanding spoken language. A CT scan reveals a blockage in one of the blood vessels supplying the brain. **What is the most likely diagnosis for this patient?** - Epilepsy - **Stroke** - Alzheimer's disease - Parkinson's disease **Which part of the nervous system is primarily affected in this case?** - Peripheral nervous system - Autonomic nervous system - **Central nervous system** - Somatic nervous system *An image of a building with palm trees in front of it*