Consists of the cranial nerves (extending from the brain) and the spinal nerves (extending from the spinal cord)

Made up of the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata. Connects the cerebral hemispheres with the spinal cord.

Located at the back of the head below the cerebrum. Maintains balance and co-ordination and is responsible for voluntary movement.

Largest part of the brain responsible for intelligence, learning, judgment, memory, emotion association and discrimination. The cerebrum is made up of the following: cerebral cortex (outer layer); convolutions (gyri) are the elevated portions; fissures (sulci) which are the depressions; hemispheres and lobes. The frontal lobe controls motor function; the parietal lobe receives and interprets nerve impulses from the sensory receptors; the occipital lobe controls eyesight; the temporal lobe controls the senses of hearing and smell.

There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves orginating in the brainstem. They control the activities of the face and head.

Cerebrospinal fluid - clear, watery fluid that cushions the brain and spinal cord.

Root like structures that receive impulses and conduct them to the cell body.

Masses of nervous tissue located outside the brain and spinal cord.

Activates and controls the peripheral autonomic nervous system, endocrine processes, body temperature, sleep and appetite.

Wave of excitation transmitted through nerve fibers and neurons.

The most vital part of the brain, controls basic life functions including muscles of respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Three layers of connective tissue membrane that enclose the brain and spinal cord. The layers are called the dura mater (outside), arachnoid membrane (second or middle layer) and the pia mater (closest to the brain and spinal cord containing blood vessels).

Fatty tissue that surrounds and protects the axon of a nerve cell of the brain and spinal cord.

One or more bundle of impulse-carrying fibers that connect the brain and spinal cord with other parts of the body.

Master gland (controlling center) located in the brain.

large network of nerves, i.e. brachial plexus - arms, chest, shoulders).

Autonomic, involuntary response to some change, either inside or outside the body.

Conducts sensory and motor impulses to and from the brain.

There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves enclosed in the spinal cord.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) - degenerative disease of the motor neurons with weakness of muscles

Degenerative changes in the brain structure leading to progressive memory loss, impaired thinking and personality changes

Abnormal widening of the wall of a blood vessel; can lead to hemorrhage and CVA (stroke)

Inability to speak, write, or comprehend a written or spoken word often associated with a stroke

Impairment in the ability to perform purposeful acts or to properly use familiar objects

Sensation of a feeling or smell prior to onset of a seizure

Paralysis of the facial nerve that causes drooping of the affected side of the face

Birth defect characterized by spasticity, athetosis, tremors, loss of muscle tone, impaired speech, vision and hearing.

State of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused.

Injury to the brain, as the result of a direct trauma to the head.

Cerebrovascular accident - disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain - also called a stroke.

Destruction or loss of the myelin sheath from myelinated fibers by a disease process.

Impairment of speech, usually a result of injury to the speech area of the brain.

Group of neurologic disorders characterized by recurrent seizures.

Hereditary nervous disorder involving bizarre, abrupt, involuntary, dance-like movements.

Abnormally increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain.

Inflammation of the meninges of the brain or spinal cord.

Protrusion of the membrane of the brain or spinal cord through a defect.

Demyelination of the nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord causing tremors, paralysis and speech disturbances.

Neuromuscular disorder characterized by relapsing weakness of skeletal muscles.

Abnormal sensation such as burning, tingling or numbness for no apparent reason.

Slowly progressive, degenerative, CNS disorder characterized by slowness and rigidity of movement, rhythmic muscular tremors and postural instability.

Also known as polio, this is a viral infection of the gray matter of the spinal cord that may result in paralysis.

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve that may result in pain along the course of the nerve through the thigh and leg.

Also known as a convulsion - a sudden, violent, involuntary contraction of a group of muscles caused by a disturbance in brain function.

Congenital defect in the spinal column due to imperfect union of the vertebral parts.

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted because of a blocked or ruptured vessel.

Lockjaw, an acute, often fatal infection of the central nervous system.

Transient ischemic attack - temporary interruption in the blood supply to the brain.

Also called trigeminal neuralgia - inflammation of the trigeminal nerve (5th cranial nerve) causing sudden, intense, sharp pain on one side of the face.

Neurological disorder marked by involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words.

Involuntary shaking or trembling of the body or any of its parts.

Radioactive chemicals are given intravenously and travel to brain.

Computerized Transverse Tomography - X-rays are taken of cross-sections of the brain. Also called CAT, CT scan.

Electroencephalogram - record of the electrical activity of the brain.

Procedure in which the nerve fibers are severed in the frontal lobe of the brain.

Lumbar puncture/spinal puncture - CSF is withdrawn from between two lumbar vertebrae to analyze CSF.

Positron Emission Tomography - X-ray to exmaine metabolic activity of brain structures.

Done while patient is standing with eyes closed to test position sense (balance and gait).