Conductivity
The ability to transmit nerve impulses
Neurons
Nerve cells that transmit information in the
form of a nerve impulse throughout the body
Dendrites (DEHN-drights)
Collect stimuli and transport them to the cell
body
Axons (AK-sahns)
Transmit impulses away from the cell body
Myelin sheath
Fatty bands of insulation around axon fibers;
increases the rate of neural impulse
transmission
Synapse
The intersection between a neuron and
another cell; transmits a chemical signal
using neurotransmitters
Cerebral palsy (CP)
A group of nervous system disorders caused by damage to the
brain before or during birth (congenital defect), or in early
infancy
Dementia (deh-MEHN-shee-a)
A condition involving loss of function in two or more areas of
cognition including memory, thinking, judgment, behavior,
perception, and language
Meningitis (mehn-in-JIGH-tis)
An inflammation of the meninges (protective tissue)
surrounding the brain and spinal cord
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
An autoimmune disease in which inflammation destroys the
myelin sheath of nerve cell axons
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Violent impact to the head; symptoms range widely from
dizziness, confusion, ringing in ears to problems with basic
functions, sensations, and behaviors