Vocabulary

afferent (AF er uhnt)    Pertaining to carrying toward a structure.
amygdala (ah MIG dah lah)    A small mass of gray matter found in each temporal lobe of the cerebrum involved with memories, emotions, and activating the fight-or-flight response; part of the limbic system.
amyloid plaques    Masses or clumps of proteins that form between neurons and disrupt cellular function.
analgesic (an ahl JEE zik)    A drug that reduces or eliminates pain.
aneurysm (AN yeh rizm)    An abnormal blood-filled sac formed by a localized dilation of the wall of a vein, artery, or heart.
aphasia (ah FAY zhah)    Partial or complete loss of the ability to articulate ideas or understand written or spoken language.
ataxia    Loss of the ability to coordinate muscular movement.
autoimmune    An immune response against a person’s own tissues, cells, or cell parts, as in autoimmune disease, leading to the deterioration of tissue.
axon (AK son)    A long extension of a nerve fiber that conducts the impulse away from the nerve cell body; white matter.
biomarkers    Detectable cellular indicators used as a marker for a substance or disease process.
cataplexy (KAT ah PLEK see)    A sudden loss of muscle strength and tone associated with an emotional stimulus.
choroid plexus (KOR oid PLEK sus)    A network of capillaries found in the lateral ventricles and the third and fourth ventricles that secrete cerebrospinal fluid.
coma    A state of deep, often prolonged unconsciousness, usually the result of a head injury, neurologic disease, intoxication, or metabolic abnormalities.
concussion    A type of traumatic brain injury resulting from a hit to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth.
efferent (EF er uhnt)    Pertaining to carrying away from a structure.
evoked potential test    A nerve response test that uses electrodes, which are placed on the scalp to measure brain reaction to a stimulus.
fissure (FISH er)    A groove that divides an organ into lobes or parts.
fontanel (fon tah NEL)    A soft membranous gap between the incompletely formed cranial bones of an infant; also called a soft spot.
foramen magnum (for AY men MAG num)    A large opening in the base of the skull. It forms a passageway for the spinal cord.
Glasgow Coma Scale    A scale used to measure the level of consciousness and severity of a head injury; the ability to open the eyes, verbal response, and motor response are evaluated, and the score is determined based on the findings.
gray matter    Nerve tissue that lacks the insulation that causes a white appearance to other nerves; thus, gray matter looks gray.
gyri (JIE rie)    Folds or convolutions on the surface of the cerebral hemisphere, which increase the gray matter surface area. Gyrus (JIE rus) is the singular form.
hallucination (hah LOO si nae shun)    A sensory experience (e.g., a smell, sound, sight, touch, or taste) involving something that is not present.
hematoma    A localized collection of blood, usually clotted, caused by a break in a blood vessel wall.
hippocampus (hip oh KAM pus)    A ridge in the floor of the lateral ventricle; composed of gray matter. Involved with the limbic system and with creating and filing new memories.
homeostasis (hoh mee oh STAY sis)    The internal environment of the body that is compatible with life. A steady state that is created by all the body systems working together to provide a consistent and unvarying internal environment.
hydrocephalus (hi droe SEF ah luhs)    An abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid that causes enlargement of the skull and compression of the brain.
limbic system    Consists of several structures, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus; plays an important role in behavior, memories, and emotions.
meninges (meh NIN jeez)    A protective covering around the brain and spinal cord.
myelin sheath (MIE uh lin sheeth)    A protective insulation that covers the axons and helps with the transmission of nerve impulses.
neuralgia (noo RAL jah)    Sharp, spasm-like pain in a nerve or along the course of one or more nerves.
neurofibrillary tangles    Abnormal structures composed of twisted protein fibers within nerve cells.
neurotransmitter    A chemical that helps a nerve cell communicate with another nerve cell or muscle.
paralysis    A loss of muscle function or sensation causing the inability to move or use a body part.
pineal gland    A small organ in the brain that secretes melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep/awake cycle.
shaken baby syndrome    A condition resulting from internal head injuries that occur when a baby or young child is violently shaken.
sulci (SUL sie)    Grooves or depressions on the surface of the brain between the gyri. Sulcus (SUL kus) is the singular form.
syncope    Loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by diminished blood flow to the brain.
target tissue    The destination, or intended tissue, in the nervous impulse (e.g., a muscle).
tract    A system of tissues (e.g., neuronal axons) or organs (e.g., intestines) that function together.