The Nervous System

Function
- The nervous system coordinates and controls body functions. It
receives sensory input, makes decisions, and then orders body
responses.

Organs
- Spinal Cord, brain, nerves

Word Roots
alges sense of pain

astr star

centr center

cerebell cerebellum

cerebr cerebrum

clon rapid contracting and relaxing

concuss to shake violently

dur dura mater

encephal brain

esthesi sensation, feeling

medull medulla oblongata

mening meninges

meningi meninges

ment mind

myel spinal cord

neur nerve

peripher away from center

poli gray matter

pont pons

radicul nerve root

thalam thalamus

thec sheath (meninges)

tom to cut

ton tone

ventricul ventricle

hydro water
angi vessel

arteri artery

cephal head

crani skull

cutane skin

cyt cell

electr electricity

gli glue

hal to breathe

hemat blood

isch to hold back

later side

lumb low back

my muscle

scler hard

spin spine
topic a specific area

vascul blood vessel

ven vein

vertebr vertebra

Suffixes
-paresis weakness

-phasia speech

-taxia muscle coordination

-oid resembling

-asthenia weakness

-cele protrusion

-algia pain

-ectomy surgical removal

-emic pertaining to a blood condition

-gram record

-graphy process of recording

-ia condition

-ion action

-itis inflammation

-logy study of

-oma tumor, mass

-osis abnormal condition

-otomy cutting into

-pathy disease

-plasty surgical repair

-plegia paralysis

-rrhaphy suture

-trophic pertaining to development

-al pertaining to
-ar
-ary
-eal
-ic
-ical
-ine
-ous
-tic

Prefixes
a- without

an- without

anti- against

bi- two

de- without

dys- abnormal, difficult

endo- within

epi- above

hemi- half

hyper- excessive

in- inward

intra- within

mono- one

para- abnormal, two like parts of a pair

poly- many
quadri- four

semi- partial

sub- under

trans- across

tri- three

un- not

Functions

Brain
- Coordinates body functions

Spinal Cord
- Transmits messages to and from the brain

Nerves
- Transmit messages to and from the central nervous system

Anatomy & Physiology of the Nervous System

To coordinate all activity of the body, it must first receive information from
the internal and external sensory receptors and then use that information to
adjust the activity of muscles and glands to match the needs of the body.
The nervous system can be divided into the;
- central nervous system (CNS)
- peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Central Nervous System

- Brain
- Spinal Cord

● Sensory information comes into the central nervous system, where it is

processed
● Motor messages then exit the central nervous system carrying
commands to muscles and glands

Nerves of the Peripheral System

- Cranial nerves
- Spinal nerves

All portions of the nervous system are made of nervous tissue

Nervous Tissue
Nervous tissue is made of:
- Neurons
- Neuroglial cells

Neurons
- Individual nerve cells.
- Capable of conducting electrical impulse in response to a stimulus

Neurons are Made Of

 - Dendrites
- Nerve Cell Body
- An axon

Dendrites
- Highly branched projections that receive impulses

Nerve Cell Body

- Contains the nucleus
- Other organelles of the cell

Axon
- Projection from the nerve cell body that conducts the electrical impulse
toward its destination

● The point at which the axon of one neuron meets the dendrite of the
next neuron is called a synapse (comes from the Greek word meaning
connection)
● Electrical impulses cannot pass directly across the gap between two
neurons, this is called the synaptic cleft
- They require the help of a chemical messenger, called a
neurotransmitter
● Many different neuroglial cells are found in the nervous tissue. Each of
them have a different function
- Some neuroglial cells produce myelin (a fatty substance that
acts as insulation for many axons so they can conduct electrical impulses
faster)

Neuroglial cells do NOT conduct electrical impulses

Central Nervous System

Since it’s a combo of the brain & spinal cord, it’s able to receive impulses
from all over the body, process this info, and then respond to them with an
action

This system has gray matter and white matter.

Gray matter
- Comprised of unsheathed or uncovered cell bodies and dendrites

White matter
- Myelinated nerve fibers
- The myelin sheath makes the nervous tissue appear white
*Myelin is a lipid and a very white molecule which is why myelinated
neurons are called white matter

Tracts
- Bundles of nerve fibers interconnecting different parts of the central
nervous system

Meninges
- Three membranes that encase and protect the central nervous system

Brain
One of the largest organs of the body and coordinates most body activities.

Center of:
- Thought
- Memory
- Judgment
- Emotion
Each part of the brain controls different body functions (temperature
regulation, blood pressure, and breathing)

There are four sections of the brain:

- Cerebrum
- Cerebellum
- Diencephalon
- Brainstem

The largest section of the brain is the cerebrum, located in the upper portion

The cerebrum processes:

- Thoughts
- Judgements
- Memory
- Problem Solving
- Language

The outer layer of the cerebrum is called the cerebral cortex

- Composed of folds of gray matter

The elevated portions of the cerebrum, or convolutions, are called gyri and
are separated by fissures, or valleys, called sulci.

The cerebrum is subdivided into left and right halves called cerebral
hemispheres
- Each hemisphere has four lobes.

The lobes and their locations and functions are:

- Frontal Lobe
- Most anterior portion of the cerebrum; controls motor function,
personality, and speech
 - Parietal Lobe
- Most superior portion of the cerebrum; receives and interprets
nerve impulses from sensory receptors and interprets language
- Occipital Lobe
- Most posterior portion of the cerebrum; controls vision
- Temporal Lobe
- Left and right lateral portion of the cerebrum; controls hearing and
smell

The diencephalon, located below the cerebrum, contains two of the most
critical areas of the brain, the thalamus and the hypothalamus

Thalamus
- Composed of gray matter
- Acts as a center for relaying impulses from the eyes, ears, and skin to
the cerebrum
- Controls pain perception

Hypothalamus
- Just below the thalamus
- Controls body temp, appetite, sleep, sexual desire, and emotions
- Responsible for controlling the autonomic nervous system,
cardiovascular system, digestive system, and the release of hormones
from the pituitary gland

Cerebellum
- Second largest portion of the brain
- Located beneath the posterior part of the cerebrum
- Aids in coordinating voluntary body movements and maintaining
balance and equilibrium
- Refines the muscular movement that is initiated in the cerebrum
The brainstem has three components:
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Medulla Oblongata

Midbrain
- Pathway for impulses to be conducted between the brain and the spinal
cord

Pons
- A term that means “bridge”
- Connects the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Medulla Oblongata
- Most inferior positioned portion of the brain
- Connects the brain to the spinal cord
- Contains the centers that control respiration, heart rate, temperature,
and blood pressure
- Nerve tracts cross from one side of the brain to control functions and
movement on the other side of the body

The left side of the brain controls the right side of the brain and vice versa

The brain has four interconnected cavities called ventricles

- One in each cerebral hemisphere, one in the thalamus, and one in front
of the cerebellum
- They contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Watery, clear fluid that provides protection from shock or sudden
motion to the brain and spinal cord
 Spinal Cord

Provide a pathway for impulses traveling to and from the brain.

Is a column of nervous tissue extending from the medulla oblongata of the

brain down to the level of the second lumbar vertebra within the vertebral
column

The 33 vertebrae of the backbone line up to form a continuous canal for the
spinal cord called the spinal cavity or vertebral canal

*Some disease processes attack the gry and white matter of the central
nervous system. For example, poliomyelitis is a viral infection of the gray
matter of the spinal cord.

Just like the brain, the spinal cord is also protected by cerebrospinal fluid.
- Flows down the center of the spinal cord with the central canal
- The inner cord consists of cell bodies and dendrites of peripheral nerves
and therefore is gray matter
- The outer portion of the spinal cord is myelinated white matter
- The white matter is either ascending tracts carrying sensory
information up to the brain or descending tracts carrying motor
commands down from the brain to a peripheral nerve

Meninges
The meninges are three layers of connective tissue membranes
surrounding the brain and spinal cord. From external to internal, the
meninges are:

Dura Mater
 - Meaning tough mother; it forms a tough, fibrous sac around the central
nervous system

Subdural Space
- Actual space between the dura mater and arachnoid layer

Arachnoid Layer
- Meaning spiderlike; it’s a thin, delicate layer attached to the pia mater
by weblike filaments

Subarachnoid Space
- Space between the arachnoid layer and the pia mater; it contains
cerebrospinal fluid that cushions the brain from the outside

Pia mater
- Meaning soft mother; it’s the innermost membrane layer and is applied
directly to the surface of the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

The PNS include both the 12 pairs of cranial nerves and the 31 pairs of spinal
nerves.

A nerve is a group of axon fibers located outside the CNS that carries
messages between the central nervous system khl7and the various parts of the
body.

A nerve is cranial or spinal depending on where it originates.

- Cranial nerves arise from the brain (mainly at the medulla oblongata)
- Spinal nerves split off from the spinal cord, and one pair exits between
each pair of vertebrae
Nerve Root
- The point where either type of nerve is attached to the central nervous
system
The names of most nerves reflect either the organ the nerve serves or the
portion of the body the nerve is traveling through

Cranial Nerves

I Olfactory Transports impulses for sense of smell

II Optic Carries impulses for sense of sight

III Oculomotor Motor impulses for eye muscle movement

and the pupil of the eye

IV Trochlear Controls superior oblique muscle of eye on

each side

V Trigeminal Carries sensory facial impulses and controls

muscles for chewing; branches into eyes,
forehead, upper and lower jaw

VI Abducens Controls eyeball muscle to turn eye to side

VII Facial Controls facial muscles for expression,

salivation, and taste on two-thirds of tongue
(anterior)

VIII Vestibulocochlear Responsible for impulses of equilibrium and

hearing; also called auditory nerve

IX Glossopharyngeal Carries sensory impulses from pharynx

(swallowing) and taste on one-third of
tongue
X Vagus Supplies most organs in abdominal and
thoracic cavities

XI Accessory Controls neck and shoulder muscles

XII Hypoglossal Controls tongue muscles

*Because nerve tracts cross from one side of the body to the other side of the
brain, damage to one side of the brain results in symptoms appearing on the
opposite side of the body.

Most nerves carry information to and from the central nervous system,
individual neurons carry information in only one direction.

Afferent Neurons (Sensory Neurons)

- Carry sensory information from a sensory receptor to the central
nervous system.

Efferent Neurons (Motor Neurons)

- Carry activity instructions from the central nervous system to muscles
or glands out in the body

Ganglion
- The nerve cell bodies of the neurons that form the nerve that are
grouped in a knot-like mass; outside the CNS

The nerves of the PNS are subdivided into two divisions:

- Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
- Somatic nerves

Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system is involved with the control of involuntary or
unconscious bodily functions.
- It may increase or decrease the activity of the smooth muscle found in
viscera and blood vessels, cardiac muscle, and glands.

The ANS is divided into two branches:

- Sympathetic Branch
- Parasympathetic Branch

Sympathetic Nerves
- Controls fight-or-flight reaction during times of stress and crisis
- Increase heart rate, dilate airways, increase blood pressure, inhibit
digestion, and stimulate the production of adrenaline during a crisis

Parasympathetic Nerves
- Serve as a counterbalance for the sympathetic nerves, the rest-and-
digest reaction
- Slow down heart rate, lower blood pressure, and stimulate digestion

Somatic Nerves

Serve the skin and skeletal muscles and are mainly involved with the
conscious and voluntary activities of the body

The large variety of sensory receptors found in the dermis layer of the skin
use somatic nerves to:
- Send their info (to the brain)
- Touch
- Temperature
- Pressure
- Pain
- Carry motor commands to skeletal muscles

Terminology
All under word roots, suffixes, and prefixes

Adjective Forms of Anatomical Terms

cephalic
Pertaining to head

cerebellar
Pertaining to cerebellum

cerebral
Pertaining to cerebrum

cerebrospinal
Pertaining to cerebrum and spine

cranial
Pertaining to skull

encephalic
Pertaining to brain

intracranial
Pertaining to within the skull
 intrathecal
Pertaining to within the meninges (sheath encasing central nervous system),
specifically the subdural or subarachnoid space

medullary
Pertaining to medulla oblongata

meningeal
Pertaining to meninges

myelonic
Pertaining to spinal cord

neural
Pertaining to nerves

neuroglial
Pertaining to glial cells that surround and support neurons

pontine
Pertaining to pons

spinal
Pertaining to spine

subdural
Pertaining to under dura mater

thalamic
Pertaining to thalamus

ventricular
 Pertaining to ventricles

vertebral
Pertaining to vertebrae

Pathology
Medical Specialities
anesthesiology
Branch of medicine specializing in all aspects of anesthesia, including for
surgical procedures, resuscitation measures, and management of acute and
chronic pain; physician is anesthesiologist

neurology
Branch of medicine concerned with diagnosis and treatment of diseases and
conditions of the nervous system; physician is neurologist

neurosurgery
Branch of medicine concerned with treating conditions and diseases of the
nervous system by surgical means; physician is neurosurgeon

Signs and Symptoms

absence seizure
Type of epileptic seizure that lasts only a few seconds to half a minute,
characterized by loss of awareness and absence of activity; also known as
petit mal seizure

analgesia
Absence of pain
 anesthesia
Condition in which there is lack of feeling or sensation

aphasia
Inability to communicate verbally or in writing due to damage of speech or
language centers in the brain

ataxia
Lack of muscle coordination

aura
Sensations, such as seeing colors or smelling an unusual odor, that occur just
prior to epileptic seizure or migraine headache

cephalalgia
Headache (HA)

coma
Profound unconsciousness resulting from illness or injury

conscious
Condition of being awake and aware of surroundings

convulsion
Severe involuntary muscle contractions and relaxations; have a variety of
causes, such as epilepsy, fever, and toxic conditions

delirium
Abnormal mental state characterized by confusion, disorientation, and
agitation
 dementia
Progressive impairment of intellectual function that interferes with
performing activities of daily living; patients have little awareness of their
condition; found in disorders such as Alzheimer’s

dysphasia
Difficulty communicating verbally or in writing due to damage of speech or
language centers in the brain

focal seizure
Localized seizure often affecting one limb

hemiparesis
Weakness or loss of motion on one side of the body

hemiplegia
Paralysis on only one side of the body

hyperesthesia
Condition of abnormally heightened sense of feeling, sense of pain, or
sensitivity to touch

monoparesis
Muscle weakness in one limb

monoplegia
Paralysis of one limb

neuralgia
Nerve pain
 palsy
Temporary or permanent loss of ability to control movement

paralysis
Temporary or permanent loss of function or voluntary movement

paraplegia
Paralysis of lower portion of the body and both legs (the two like parts of a
pair)

paresthesia
Abnormal sensation such as burning or tingling

quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs

seizure
Sudden, uncontrollable onset of symptoms, such as in epileptic seizure

semiconscious
State of being aware of surroundings and responding to stimuli only part of
the time

syncope
Fainting

tonic-clonic seizure
ton/o = toneclon/o = rapid contracting and relaxing-ic = pertaining to
Type of severe epileptic seizure characterized by loss of consciousness and
convulsions; seizure alternates between strong continuous muscle spasms
(tonic) and rhythmic muscle contraction and relaxation (clonic); also known
as grand mal seizure

tremor
Involuntary, repetitive, alternating movement of a part of the body

unconscious
State of being unaware of surroundings, with the inability to respond to
stimuli

Brain
Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
Chronic, organic mental disorder consisting of dementia, which is more
prevalent in adults after age 65; involves progressive disorientation, apathy,
speech and gait disturbances, and loss of memory; named for German
neurologist Alois Alzheimer

anencephaly
Congenital defect in which portions of the brain (usually the cerebrum) do
not develop; child born with condition is missing a portion of the brain,
cranium, and scalp; condition usually fatal within a few hours of birth

astrocytoma
Tumor of brain or spinal cord composed of astrocytes, one type of neuroglial
cells that has arms projecting off it like a star

brain tumor
Intracranial mass, either benign or malignant; benign tumor of the brain can
still be fatal since it will grow and cause pressure on normal brain tissue
 cerebellitis
Inflammation of the cerebellum

cerebral aneurysm
Localized abnormal dilation of blood vessel, usually artery; result of
congenital defect or weakness in wall of vessel; ruptured aneurysm is
common cause of hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident

cerebral contusion
cerebr/o = cerebrum-al = pertaining to
Bruising of the brain from blow or impact

cerebral palsy (CP)

Brain damage resulting from defect, trauma, infection, or lack of oxygen
before, during, or shortly after birth

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Development of infarct due to loss in blood supply to area of the brain; blood
flow can be interrupted by ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhage), floating clot
(embolus), stationary clot (thrombosis), or compression; extent of damage
depends on size and location of infarct and often includes dysphasia and
hemiplegia; commonly called stroke

chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

Condition characterized by severe blow or repeated less severe blows to the
head resulting in progressive degeneration of brain tissue; initially recognized
only in boxing, has now been identified in athletes of all contact sports

concussion
Injury to the brain resulting from the brain being shaken inside the skull from
blow or impact; symptoms vary and may include headache, blurred vision,
nausea or vomiting, dizziness, and balance problems; also called mild
traumatic brain injury (TBI)

encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain

epilepsy
Recurrent disorder of the brain in which seizures and loss of consciousness
occur as result of uncontrolled electrical activity of neurons in the brain

hydrocephalus
Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within ventricles of the brain, causing
the head to be enlarged; treated by creating artificial shunt for fluid to leave
the brain; if left untreated, may lead to seizures and intellectual disability

migraine
Specific type of headache characterized by severe head pain, sensitivity to
light, dizziness, and nausea

Parkinson’s disease
Chronic disorder of the nervous system with fine tremors, muscular
weakness, rigidity, and shuffling gait; named for British physician James
Parkinson

Reye’s syndrome
Combination of symptoms first recognized by Australian pathologist R. D. K.
Reye that includes acute encephalopathy and damage to various organs,
especially the liver; occurs in children under age 15 who have had a viral
infection; also associated with taking aspirin; for this reason, it’s not
recommended for children to use aspirin
 shaken baby syndrome (SBS)
Caused by violent shaking of infant or toddler; symptoms may include
subdural hematoma, brain swelling, and bleeding in retina of the eyes;
usually no evidence of external trauma; also called abusive head trauma
(AHT)

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Temporary interference with blood supply to the brain, causing neurological
symptoms such as dizziness, numbness, and hemiparesis; may eventually
lead to full-blown stroke (cerebrovascular accident)

traumatic brain injury(TBI)

Damage to the brain resulting from impact (such as car accident), blast waves
(such as an explosion), or penetrating projectile (such as a bullet); symptoms
may be mild, moderate, or severe and may include loss of consciousness,
headache, vomiting, loss of motorTr coordination, and dizziness

Spinal Cord
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Condition with muscular weakness and atrophy due to degeneration of motor
neurons of the spinal cord; also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, after New York
Yankees baseball player who died from this disease

meningocele
Congenital condition in which the meninges protrude through opening in the
vertebral column ; see spina bifida

myelitis
Inflammation of the spinal cord
 myelomeningocele
Congenital condition in which meninges and spinal cord protrude through
opening in the vertebral column; see spina bifida

poliomyelitis
Viral inflammation of gray matter of the spinal cord; results in varying
degrees of paralysis; may be mild and reversible or may be severe and
permanent; disease has been almost eliminated due to discovery of vaccine in
the 1950s

spina bifida
Congenital defect in walls of the spinal canal in which laminae of the
vertebra do not meet or close ; may result in meningocele or
myelomeningocele—meninges or the spinal cord being pushed through
opening

spinal cord injury (SCI)

Damage to the spinal cord as result of trauma; spinal cord may be bruised or
completely severed

Nerves
Bell’s palsy
One-sided facial paralysis due to inflammation of facial nerve, probably viral
in nature; patient cannot control salivation, tearing of the eyes, or expression,
but most will eventually recover

Guillain-Barré syndrome
Disease of the nervous system in which nerves lose their myelin covering;
may be caused by autoimmune reaction; characterized by loss of sensation
and/or muscle control starting in the legs; symptoms then move toward trunk
and may even result in paralysis of the diaphragm

multiple sclerosis (MS)

Inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in which there is extreme
weakness and numbness due to loss of myelin insulation from around nerves
that result in “hard” patches called plaques to appear

myasthenia gravis
Disease with severe muscular weakness and fatigue due to insufficient
neurotransmitter at a synapse

neuroma
Nerve tumor or tumor of connective tissue sheath around a nerve
neuropathy General term for disease or damage to a nerve

polyneuritis
Inflammation of two or more nerves

radiculitis
Inflammation of a nerve root; may be caused by herniated nucleus pulposus

radiculopathy
Refers to condition that occurs when a herniated nucleus pulposus puts
pressure on a nerve root; symptoms include pain and numbness along path of
affected nerve

shingles
Eruption of painful blisters on body along a nerve path caused by Herpes
zoster virus infection of nerve root; virus initially introduced into body during
 chickenpox infection but becomes dormant in nerve cells; reactivation of
virus later in life results in shingles

trigeminal neuralgia
Chronic disorder characterized by sudden, sharp pain on one side of face in
area served by the trigeminal cranial nerve; usually caused by pressure on
and irritation of nerve or may be sign of multiple sclerosis; also called tic
douloureux

Meninges
epidural hematoma
Mass of blood in space outside the dura mater of the brain and spinal cord

meningioma
Tumor in the meninges

meningitis
Inflammation of the meninges around brain or spinal cord caused by bacterial
or viral infection; symptoms include fever, headache, neck stiffness, lethargy,
vomiting, irritability, and photophobia

subdural hematoma
Mass of blood forming beneath the dura mater if the meninges are torn by
trauma; may exert fatal pressure on the brain if hematoma not drained by
surgery

Diagnostic Procedures
Clinical Laboratory Tests
cerebrospinal fluid analysis
 Laboratory examination of clear, watery, colorless fluid from within brain
and spinal cord; infections and abnormal presence of blood can be detected in
this test

Diagnostic Imaging
brain scan
Image of the brain taken after injection of radioactive isotopes into
circulation

cerebral angiography
X-ray of blood vessels of the brain after injection of radiopaque dye

computed tomography scan (CT scan)

Imaging technique able to produce cross-sectional view of body; X-ray
pictures are taken at multiple angles through body; computer then uses these
images to construct composite cross-section

echoencephalography
Recording of ultrasonic echoes of the brain; useful in determining abnormal
patterns of shifting in the brain

myelogram
X-ray record of the spinal cord

myelography
Injection of radiopaque dye into the spinal canal; X-ray is then taken to
examine normal and abnormal outlines made by dye

positron emission tomography (PET)

Image of the brain cut along a plane produced by measuring gamma rays
emitted from the brain after injecting glucose tagged with positively charged
 isotopes; measurement of glucose uptake by brain tissue indicates
measurement of metabolic activity

Additional Diagnostic Tests

Babinski’s reflex (bah- Reflex test developed by French neurologist Joseph
BIN-skeez) Babinski to determine lesions and abnormalities in the
nervous
system; Babinski’s reflex is present if great toe extends
instead of flexes when lateral sole of the foot is stroked;
normal response to this stimulation is flexion of the toe

electroencephalogram Record of the brain’s electrical patterns

(EEG)

electroencephalography Recording electrical activity of the brain by placing

(EEG) electrodes at various positions on the scalp; also used in
sleep studies to determine if there is a normal pattern of
activity during sleep

lumbar puncture (LP) Puncture with needle into lumbar area (usually fourth
(LUM-bar / PUNK-chur) intervertebral space) to withdraw fluid for examination
and for injection of anesthesia; also called spinal
puncture or spinal tap

nerve Test to determine if nerves have been damaged by recording rate an

conduction electrical impulse is able to travel along a nerve; if nerve is damaged,
 velocity velocity will be decreased

Therapeutic Procedures
Anesthesia
anesthesia
Administering medication to produce loss of feeling or sensation

general anesthesia (GA)

Produces loss of consciousness including absence of pain sensation; patient’s
vital signs (VS)—heart rate, breathing rate, pulse, and blood pressure—are
carefully monitored when using general anesthetic

inhalation anesthesia
Route for administering general anesthesia by breathing it in

intravenous (IV) anesthesia

Route for administering general anesthesia via injection into vein

local anesthesia
Produces loss of sensation in one localized part of body; patient remains
conscious

regional anesthesia
Interrupts patient’s pain sensation in region of body, such as the arm;
anesthetic is injected near nerve that will be blocked from sensation; also
called nerve block
 subcutaneous anesthesia
Method of applying local anesthesia involving injecting anesthetic under the
skin; for example, used to deaden skin prior to suturing a laceration

topical anesthesia
Method of applying local anesthesia involving placing liquid or gel directly
onto specific area of skin; for example, used on the skin, cornea, or gums

Medical Procedures

nerve block
Injection of regional anesthetic to stop passage of sensory or pain impulses
along a nerve path

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Application of mild electrical current by device with electrodes placed on
skin over a painful area; relieves pain by interfering with nerve signal to the
brain on pain nerve

Surgical Procedures
carotid endarterectomy
Surgical procedure for removing obstruction within carotid artery, a major
artery in the neck that carries oxygenated blood to the brain; developed to
prevent strokes, but is found to be useful only in severe stenosis with
transient ischemic attack

cerebrospinal fluid shunt

Surgical procedure in which bypass is created to drain cerebrospinal fluid;
used to treat hydrocephalus by draining excess cerebrospinal fluid from the
brain and diverting it to abdominal cavity

laminectomy
Removal of a portion of a vertebra, called the lamina, in order to relieve
pressure on spinal nerve

neurectomy
Surgical removal of a nerve

neuroplasty
Surgical repair of a nerve

neurorrhaphy
To suture a nerve back together; actually refers to suturing connective tissue
sheath around the nerve

tractotomy
Precision cutting of a nerve tract in the spinal cord; used to treat intractable
pain or muscle spasms
Pharmacology
analgesic
Treats minor to moderate pain without loss of consciousness
aspirin, Bayer, Ecotrin; acetaminophen, Tylenol; ibuprofen, Motrin

anesthetic
Produces loss of sensation or loss of consciousness
lidocaine, Xylocaine; pentobarbital, Nembutal; propofol, Diprivan; procaine,
Novocain
 anticonvulsant
Reduces excitability of neurons and therefore prevents uncontrolled neuron
activity associated with seizures
carbamazepine, Tegretol; phenobarbital, Nembutal

dopaminergic drugs (doh-pah-men-ER-jik)

Treat Parkinson’s disease by either replacing dopamine that is lacking or
increasing strength of dopamine that is present
levodopa; L-dopa, Larodopa; levodopa/carbidopa, Sinemet

hypnotic
Promotes sleep
secobarbital, Seconal; temazepam, Restoril

narcotic analgesic
Treats severe pain; has potential to be habit forming if taken for prolonged
time; also called opiate
morphine, MS Contin; oxycodone, OxyContin; meperidine, Demerol

sedative
Has relaxing or calming effect
amobarbital, Amytal; butabarbital, Butisol

Abbreviations
AD
Alzheimer’s disease
 AHT
abusive head trauma

ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ANS
autonomic nervous system

CNS
central nervous system

CP
cerebral palsy

CSF
cerebrospinal fluid

CTE
chronic traumatic encephalopathy

CVA
cerebrovascular accident

CVD
cerebrovascular disease

EEG
electroencephalogram, electroencephalography
 GA
general anesthesia

HA
headache

ICP
intracranial pressure

IV
intravenous

LP
lumbar puncture

MS
multiple sclerosis

PET
positron emission tomography

PNS
peripheral nervous system

SBS
shaken baby syndrome

SCI
spinal cord injury

TBI
traumatic brain injury
 TENS
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

TIA
transient ischemic attack

VS
vital signs