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Chapter 37/38 vocab words

Dermatome-area of skin supplied by a single sensory nerve

Dysphagia-difficult or painful swallowing

Fissures-deep grooves that separate the hemispheres and separate the cerebrum

from the cerebellum

Flaccidity-decreased muscle tone

Meninges-protective membrane covering the brain and spinal cord

Myelin sheath-white fatty substance that insulates and protects some axons

Neuron-basic cell of the nervous system

Neurotransmitter-chemical released during the transmission of an electrical

impulse that assists or inhibits the impulse in crossing the synapse

Nystagmus-involunary eye movement

Presbyopia-condition in which the lens of the eye becomes les elastic in older adults,

causing decreased near vision.

Ptosis-drooping eyelid

Reflex-involuntary motor response to a stimulus

Reflex arc-the neural pathway between the stimulus and the response organ.

Refraction-bending of light rays to focus on the retina

Spasticity-increased muscle tone

Synapse-space between two neurons across which an electrical impulse passes.

Tympanic membrane-eardrum

Aneurysm-localized dilation of a blood vessel

Anoxia-lack of oxygen to the body tissues

Aura-warning sign of a seizure or migraine headache, may be bright ight unusual

sound, or abnormal taste or odor.

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Automatisms-repetitive, no purposeful actions such as lip smacking or aimlesswalking

Brain abscess-collection of purulent material within the brain

Carotid endarterectomy-surgical procedure to remove plaque from the carotidartery

Cerebrovascular accident-sudden loss of neurological function due to a blood clot or

rupture of a cerebral artery, brain attack or stroke

Clonic contractions-alternate contractions and relaxation of muscles, causing jerky

movements

Concussion-brain injury resulting from violent shaking or impact with an object

Contralateral-opposite side

Contusion-bleeding into soft tissue resulting from a blunt force

Convulsions-involuntary muscle contractions and relaxation

Debulking-surgery to remove a large part of a tumor when complete removal is

impossible

Emotional lability-extreme emotional mood swings from crying to laughing

Encephalitis-an acute inflammation of the white and gray matter of the brain and

spinal cord

Epilepsy-chronic pattern of seizure activity; seizure disorder

Epileptogenic focus-group of neurons that fire abnormally, causing a seizure

Hematoma-collection of blood within a tissue, organ, or space caused by a break in

blood vessels

Hemiplagia-paralysis on one side of the body

Homonymous hemianopia-loss of vision in half of the visual field

Intracranial pressure-pressure exerted within the cranium by the brain blood, and

cerebrospinal fluid

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Jacksonian march-seizure activity that may spread from one part of the body to

another