- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- a progressive neurological disorder that affects motor neurons
- anterior horn
- gray-matter region of the spinal cord that contains multipolar motor neurons, sometimes referred to as the ventral horn
- appendicular skeleton
- consists of the limbs, which are attached to the axial skeleton
- ascending tract
- a column of nervous system fibers that carry sensory information up to the brain
- aspiration
- the process of food or other foreign particles entering the airway
- autonomic nervous system (ANS)
- component of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary physiologic responses and includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
- axial skeleton
- consists of 80 bones that form the head and trunk of the body
- bone
- hard, dense connective tissue that form most of the adult skeleton, the primary support structure of the body
- brain
- contained within the cranial cavity of the skull is the central organ of the nervous system responsible for controlling bodily functions, processing sensory information, and enabling cognitive processes such as learning and memory
- brain stem
- region of the adult brain that includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata, which develops from the mesencephalon, metencephalon, and myelencephalon of the embryonic brain
- cardiac muscle
- muscle specifically related to cardiac tissue
- cartilage
- type of connective tissue that provides structural support and flexibility and helps reduce friction during joint movement
- cauda equina
- a bundle of nerve roots located at the end of the spinal cord that resembles a horse’s tail
- central nervous system (CNS)
- the primary processing center of the body; includes the brain and spinal cord
- cerebellum
- an area of the brain largely responsible for comparing information from the cerebrum with sensory feedback from the periphery through the spinal cord
- cerebral cortex
- the outer gray matter covering the forebrain, marked by wrinkles and grooves known as gyri and sulci
- cerebral hemisphere
- one half of the bilaterally symmetrical cerebrum
- cerebral palsy (CP)
- an umbrella term for a group of disorders caused by damage to the brain during pregnancy, childbirth, or in early infancy that affect the ability to move and stay balanced
- cerebrum
- the region of the brain responsible for higher neurological functions such as memory, emotion, consciousness, and voluntary muscle movement
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease
- a progressive genetic neuromuscular disorder that affects the peripheral nerves, most often those of the arms, hands, legs, and feet
- congenital myopathy
- a genetic muscle deformity that is present from birth resulting in a lack of muscle tone and severe muscle weakness
- connective tissue
- cartilage, ligaments, and tendons that connect tissues and organs
- corpus callosum
- the large white matter structure that connects the cerebrum to the rest of the nervous system and provides the major pathway for communication between the right and left cerebral hemispheres
- cranial nerve
- one of twelve nerves connected to the brain that are responsible for sensory and motor functions of the head and neck
- deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- the formation of a blood clot in the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs
- descending tract
- a column of nervous system fibers that carry motor commands from the brain
- diencephalon
- the region of the adult brain that retains its name from embryonic development and includes the thalamus and hypothalamus
- diplopia
- double vision
- electromyography (EMG)
- a diagnostic procedure involving small needles that record electrical activity in the muscles
- excitability
- the ability of muscle plasma membranes to change electrical states and send action potentials along the entire length of a membrane to cause contraction
- gray matter
- the butterfly-shaped structure consisting of neuronal cell bodies that is subdivided into regions called horns and is involved in processing information in the brain.
- gyri
- a wrinkle or fold formed by convolutions in the surface of the cerebral cortex
- hypothalamus
- a collection of nuclei that are largely involved in regulating homeostasis
- hypotonia
- decreased muscle tone
- incontinence
- the involuntary expulsion of urine or feces from the body
- joint
- a location where bones come into contact, allowing for movement
- lateral horn
- the region of the spinal cord gray matter in the thoracic, upper lumbar, and sacral regions that is the central component of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system
- ligament
- tough but flexible fibrous tissue that connects bones or holds joints together
- longitudinal fissure
- the separation of tissue in the cerebrum that divides the brain into two distinct halves (cerebral hemispheres)
- medulla
- the connection point between the brain stem and spinal cord
- motor neuron
- a nerve cell that receive signals from the brain and spinal cord to cause voluntary skeletal muscle movements and breathing
- multiple sclerosis (MS)
- a neurological disorder that causes immune system cells to attack myelin; subtypes of MS include relapsing-remitting, secondary-progressive, primary-progressive, and progressive-relapsing
- muscle atrophy
- the wasting and breakdown of muscle tissue
- muscular dystrophy
- a genetic muscular disorder that results in progressive muscle weakness
- myasthenia gravis
- an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies attack the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscles, resulting in progressive muscle weakness (e.g., arms, hands, fingers, legs, neck) and fatigue
- myelin
- the protective coating on nerves
- negative feedback
- a mechanism that reverses a deviation from the set point
- nerve conduction velocity (NCV) testing
- a diagnostic procedure involving placement of electrodes over nerves to determine how fast nerve signals are sent to skeletal muscles
- neuromuscular junction (NMJ)
- the site where a motor neuron’s terminal meets the muscle fiber and responds to motor signals
- paralysis
- a complete loss of sensation and mobility
- paraplegia
- paralysis of the legs and portions of the trunk but not the arms
- parasympathetic nervous system
- the part of the ANS that results in involuntary “rest and digest” types of reactions
- peripheral nervous system (PNS)
- the portion of the nervous system located on the periphery of the central nervous system containing peripheral structures including ganglia and nerves
- pons
- the connection point between the medulla and the thalamus
- posterior horn
- the gray-matter region of the spinal cord in which sensory input arrives
- ptosis
- eyelid drooping
- set point
- the physiological value around which the normal range fluctuates
- skeletal muscle
- muscle that attaches to bone and creates intentional movement as it contracts and relaxes, causing the bones to move
- skeletal system
- the bones, joints, and other structures that allow for movement, form the body, make blood cells, and shield organs
- smooth muscle
- muscle in the walls of hollow organs such as the urinary bladder, uterus, stomach, and intestines
- somatic nervous system
- the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscle
- spinal cord
- a long, thin, tube-shaped bundle of nerves that extends from the base of the brain through the vertebral column; contained within the vertebral cavity of the vertebral column
- spinal cord injury
- damage to the spinal cord, often as a result of trauma (e.g., a motor vehicle accident, a fall) or cancer
- spinal nerve
- one of thirty-one peripheral nerves connected to the spinal cord; each is named for the level of the spinal cord at which it emerges
- sulci
- grooves formed by convolutions in the surface of the cerebral cortex
- sympathetic nervous system
- the part of the ANS that causes involuntary reactions in the body to help combat a perceived threat resulting in “fight or flight” types of reactions
- tendon
- a tough connective tissue located on each side of a joint that controls joint movement
- tetraplegia
- paralysis from the neck down
- thalamus
- a collection of nuclei that relay information between the cerebral cortex and the brain stem, spinal cord, and periphery
- tracheostomy
- an opening in the trachea into which a tube is placed that allows for mechanical ventilation to be delivered
- white matter
- myelinated nerve fibers that facilitate communication between different regions of the brain