A nerve impulse; governed by “all or none” principle.
What is an Action Potential?
100
Partial or total loss of the ability to communicate verbally; involves an injury to an area of the brain in the left cerebral hemisphere called the Broca’s area.
What is Aphasia?
100
The single process of a nerve cell that conducts nervous impulses away from the cell body (soma).
What is the axon?
100
Use of a computer to generate three-dimensional images. Especially effective in diagnosing disorders of the brain and spinal cord also used to visualize tumors, abscesses hemorrhage, and trauma. Produces an image of a single plane (a slice of the body). Does not require the use of contrast chemicals.
What is Computed Tomography (CT)?
100
REVIEW: Surgical removal of the sac (bulge) of an aneurysm.
What is an Aneurysmectomy?
200
Generic term embracing the mental activities associated with thinking, learning, and memory
What is cognition?
200
Inflammation of the brain, usually caused by direct viral infection. The inflammation is a reaction of the body's immune system to infection or invasion. During the inflammation, the brain's tissues become swollen.
What is encephalitis?
200
One of the two main divisions of the nervous system, consisting of the brain and the spinal cord.
What is the Central Nervous System?
200
A electrical recording of a muscle activity that aids in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disease.
What is electromyography (EMG)?
200
The loosening of scar tissue surrounding a nerve.
What is neurolysis?
300
An involuntary and nearly instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus; is built into the nervous system and does not need the intervention of conscious thought to take effect.
What is a reflex?
300
A partial or complete impairment of the ability to communicate and/or understand communication resulting from aberrant brain development.
What is dysphasia?
300
The three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
OUTERMOST LAYER: Dura Mater
MIDDLE LAYER: Arachnoid Mater
INNERMOST LAYER: Pia Mater
What are the meninges?
300
Imaging procedure that records metabolic activity. Use of a tracer that emits positively charged molecules. Commonly used in conjunction with Computed Tomography (CT). Used to scan brain and nervous tissue. Identifies areas of abnormal activity that occur in schizophrenia, tumors, epilepsy, stroke, and Alzheimer Disease.
What is Positron Emission Tomography (PET)?
300
Surgical removal of part of the skull to expose the brain; often done to perform brain surgery or reduce pressure on the brain from intracranial swelling and/or inflammation.
What is a craniotomy?
400
A chemical compound that influences the human psyche.
What is a Psychotropic Agent/Drug?
400
Loss of mental ability, severe enough to interfere with daily activities such as feeding yourself, clothing yourself, and personal hygiene activities. Is a chronic condition (must persist for more than 6 months).
What is dementia?
400
Extension of cytoplasm of a neuron. Composes most of the receptive surface of the neuron.
What are the dendrites?
400
Neurological test that uses an electronic monitoring device to measure and record electrical activity in the brain. It is a superficial exam in the sense that the electrodes are placed on the skull - they are not implanted in the brain.
What is electroencephalography (EEG)?
400
The injection of anesthetic solution or other medicines into the space outside the dura mater of the spinal cord.
What is an Epidural Injection?
500
A substance (e.g., norepinephrine, acetylcholine, dopamine) that is released from the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron on excitation, and that travels across the synaptic cleft to either excite or inhibit the target cell.
What is neurotransmitter?
500
A learning disorder characterized by a difficulty processing words into meaningful information. This is most strongly reflected in difficulty in learning to read.
What is dyslexia?
500
Nerves that arise from the brain itself (rather than the spinal cord). They pass through the openings of the skull. There are 12 pair. These nerves carry impulses from brain to muscles, skin, and organs of head and neck.
What are the Cranial Nerves?
500
REVIEW: A record of the electrical activity of the heart, consisting of waves called P, Q, R, S, T, and sometimes U.
What is an Electrocardiogram (EKG)?
500
REVIEW: Artificially induced loss of ability to feel pain, done to permit the performance of surgery or other painful procedures