UNIT 2 “NERVOUS SYSTEM”

LESSON 1

TOPIC: ANATOMICAL TERMS. DIAGNOSTIC TERMS. OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TERMS.

The nervous system and the endocrine system cooperate in regulating and controlling the
activities of the other body systems.

The nervous system may be separated into two divisions: The central nervous system
(CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The central nervous system consists of the
brain and the spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system is made up of cranial nerves (12
pairs) which carry impulses between the brain, neck and head, and spinal nerves (31 pairs)
which carry messages between the spinal cord and abdomen, limbs, and chest.

ANATOMICAL TERMS

ORGANS OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

1- Brain: Major portion of the central nervous system.

a. Cerebrum: Largest portion of the brain, divided into left and right hemispheres.
The cerebrum controls the skeletal muscles, interprets general senses (such as
temperature, pain, and touch), and contains centers for sight and hearing.
Intellect, memory, and emotional reactions also take place in the cerebrum.

(1) Ventricles: Spaces within the cerebrum that contain a fluid called
cerebrospinal fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid flows through the subarachnoid space
around the brain and spinal cord.

b. Cerebellum: Sometimes referred to as the hindbrain. It is located under the

posterior portion of the cerebrum. Its function is to assist in the coordination of
skeletal muscles and to maintain balance.

c. Brain stem: Stemlike portion of the brain, which connects with the spinal cord.

(1) Pons: Literally means bridge. It connects the cerebrum with the cerebellum
and brain stem.
 (2) Medulla oblongata: Located between the pons and spinal cord. It contains
centers that control respiration, heart rate, and the muscles in the blood
vessels walls, which assist in determining blood pressure.

2- Spinal cord: Passes through the vertebral canal extending from the medulla
oblongata to the level of the second lumbar vertebra. It conducts nerve impulses to
and from the brain and initiates reflex actions to sensory information without input
from the brain.

3- Meninges: Three layers of membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

a. Dura mater: Tough outer layer of the meninges.

b. Arachnoid: Delicate middle layer of the meninges. The arachnoid membrane is
loosely attached to the pia mater by weblike fibers, which allow for the
subarachnoid space.
c. Pia mater: Thin inner layer of the meninges.

ORGANS OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

1- Nerve: Cordlike structure that carries impulses from one part of the body to
another. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves.

2- Ganglion (pl. ganglia): Group of nerve cells located outside the central nervous
system.
 EXERCISE 1

Fill in the blanks with the correct terms:

The layer of membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord is called the
____________________________. It is composed of three layers called
____________________________, ________________________________, and
__________________________________. Below the middle layer there is a space called
the _____________________________________________ through which the
____________________________________________flows around the brain and spinal
cord.

EXERCISE 2

Match the definitions in the left column with the correct terms in the right column.

1. ____ maintains balance a. nerve

2. ____ connects the cerebrum with the cerebellum b. ganglion

and brain stem c. pia matter

3. ____ spaces within the cerebrum d. cerebellum

4. ____ contains the control center for respiration e. medulla oblongata

5. ____ carries impulses from one part of the body f. pons

to another g. ventricles

6. ____ conducts impulses to and from the brain h. spinal cord

7. ____ group of nerve cells outside the CNS

DIAGNOSTIC TERMS
1- Cerebellitis: inflammation of the cerebellum
2- Cerebral thrombosis: condition of a blood clot in the cerebrum
3- Duritis: inflammation of the dura mater
4- Encephalitis: inflammation of the brain
5- Encephalomalacia: softening of the brain
6- Encephalomyeloradiculitis: inflammation of the brain, spinal cord and nerve roots
7- Gangliitis: inflammation of the ganglion
8- Meningitis: inflammation of the meninges
9- Meningocele: protrusion of the meninges (through a defect in the skull or vertebral
column)
 10- Meningomyelocele: protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord (through the
vertebral column)
11- Neuralgia: pain in a nerve
12- Neuroarthropathy: disease of nerves and joints
13- Neurasthenia: nerve weakness (nervous exhaustion, fatigue, and weakness)
14- Neuritis: inflammation of the nerve
15- Neuroblast: developing nerve cell
16- Neuroma: tumor made up of nerve cells
17- Poliomyelitis: inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord. This infectious
disease, commonly referred to as polio, is caused by one of the three polio viruses
18- Polyneuritis: inflammation of many nerves
19- Radiculitis: inflammation of the (spinal) nerve roots
20- Rhizomeningomyelitis: inflammation of the nerve root meninges, and spinal cord
21- Subdural hematoma: blood tumor below the dura mater.

EXERCISE 3

Analyze and define the following diagnostic terms

1- Neuritis: ___________________________________________________________
2- Neuroma: __________________________________________________________
3- Neuralgia: __________________________________________________________
4- Neuroarthropathy: ____________________________________________________
5- Neuroblast: _________________________________________________________
6- Neurasthenia: ________________________________________________________
7- Encephalomalacia: ___________________________________________________
8- Encephalitis: ________________________________________________________
9- Encephalomyeloradiculitis: _____________________________________________
10- Meningitis: _________________________________________________________
11- Meningocele: _______________________________________________________
12- Meningomyelocele: ___________________________________________________
13- Radiculitis: _________________________________________________________
14- Cerebilitis: __________________________________________________________
15- Gangliitis: __________________________________________________________
16- Duritis: _____________________________________________________________
17- Polyneuritis: ________________________________________________________
18- Poliomyelitis: _______________________________________________________
19- Cerebral thrombosis: __________________________________________________
20- Subdural hematoma: __________________________________________________
21- Rhizomeningomyelitis: ________________________________________________
 EXERCISE 4

Write each of the diagnostic terms

1. _____________________________
2. ._____________________________
3. ______________________________
4. ______________________________
5. ______________________________
6. ______________________________
7. ______________________________
8. ______________________________
9. ______________________________
10. ______________________________
11. ______________________________
12. ______________________________
13. ______________________________
14. ______________________________
15. ______________________________
16. ______________________________
17. ______________________________
18. ______________________________
19. ______________________________
20. ______________________________
21. ______________________________

OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TERMS

1- Alzheimer’s disease: disease characterized by early senility, confusion, loss of recognition

of persons or familiar surroundings, and restlessness.
2- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): progressive muscle atrophy caused by hardening of
nerves tissue on the lateral columns of the spinal cord. Also called Lou Gehrig’s disease.
3- Cerebral aneurysm: aneurysm in the cerebrum
4- Cerebral palsy (CP): condition characterized by lack of muscle control and partial paralysis,
caused by a brain defect or lesion present at birth or shortly after.
5- Cerebrovascular accident (CVA): interruption of blood supply to the brain caused by a
cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism, or cerebral hemorrhage. The patient may
experience a mild to severe paralysis. Also called a stroke, or apoplexy.
6- Epilepsy: disorder in which the main symptom is recurring seizures.
7- Hydrocephalus: increased amount of cerebral spinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain,
which causes enlargement of the cranium.
8- Multiple sclerosis (MS): degenerative disease characterized by sclerotic patches along the
brain and spinal cord.
 9- Neurosis: emotional disorder that involves an ineffective way of coping with anxiety or
inner conflict.
10- Parkinson’s disease: chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system.
Symptoms include muscular tremors, rigidity, expressionless face, and shuffling gait. It
usually occurs after the age of 50.
11- Psychosis: major mental disorder characterized by extreme derangement, often with
delusions and hallucinations.
12- Reye’s syndrome: disease of the brain and other organs such as the liver. Affects children
and adolescents. The cause is unknown, but typically follows a viral infection.
13- Sciatica: inflammation of the sciatic nerve, causing pain that travels from thigh through leg
to foot and toes.
14- Shingles: viral disease that affects the peripheral nervous and causes blisters on the skin
that follow the course of the affected nerves. Also called herpes zoster.
15- Transient ischemic attack: sudden deficient supply of blood to the brain lasting a shot
time.

EXERCISE 5

Write the definition of the following other diagnostic terms

1- Cerebrovascular accident: ______________________________________________
2- Psychosis: __________________________________________________________
3- Epilepsy: ___________________________________________________________
4- Multiple sclerosis: ____________________________________________________
5- Hydrocephalus: ______________________________________________________
6- Neurosis: ___________________________________________________________
7- Cerebral Palsy: ______________________________________________________

EXERCISE 6

Match the disease listed in first column with the corresponding symptoms in the second
column.
1.____ psychosis a. causes pain from thigh to toes
2.____ sciatica b. derangement, possibly including delusions and
3.____ transient ischemic attack hallucinations.
4.____ Parkinson’s disease c. enlargement of the cranium
5.____ cerebral palsy d. hardened patches along the brain and spinal cord
6.____ hydrocephalus e. inability to cope with anxiety or inner conflict
7.____ neurosis
8.____ cerebrovascular accident
9.____ Alzheimer’s disease
10.____ Reye’s syndrome
11.____ epilepsy
12.____ multiple sclerosis
13.____ shingles
14.____ amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
f. recurring seizures
g. mild to severe paralysis
h. blisters on the skin
i. early senility
j. muscle tremors and rigidity
k. inflammation of spinal cord
l. lack of muscle coordination
m. affects children and adolescents, typically
following viral infection
n. deficient of blood supply to the brain
o. also called Lou Gehrig’s disease

EXERCISE 7

Write each of the other diagnostic terms

1- _____________________________________
2- _____________________________________
3- _____________________________________
4- _____________________________________
5- _____________________________________
6- _____________________________________
7- _____________________________________
8- _____________________________________
9- _____________________________________
10- _____________________________________
11- _____________________________________
12- _____________________________________
13- _____________________________________
14- _____________________________________
15- _____________________________________