Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

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Degenerative brain disease resulting in progressive loss of memory and motor control, and increasing dementia.

Amygdala

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A ganglion of the limbic system adjoining the temporal lobe of the brain and involved in emotions of fear and aggression.

Anencephaly

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Congenital absence of all or a major part of the brain.

Arachnoid Mater

Functional areas of the cerebral cortex that act mainly to integrate diverse information for purposeful action.

A sensation, as of a cold breeze or a bright light that precedes the onset of certain disorders, such as an epileptic seizure or an attack of migraine.

Mechanism that inhibits passage of materials from the blood into brain tissues; reflects relative impermeability of brain capillaries.

Brain

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The part of the central nervous system enclosed in the cranium of humans and other vertebrates, consisting of a soft, convoluted mass of gray and white matter and serving to control and coordinate the mental and physical actions.

Brain Death

Brain Stem

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Broca’s Area

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An area located in the frontal lobe usually of the left cerebral hemisphere and associated with the motor control of speech.

One of the several structurally distinguishable and presumably functionally distinct regions into which the cortex of each cerebral hemisphere can be divided.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

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An elaboration of the rostral, or anterior, portion of the central nervous system, along with an increase in the number of neurons in the head.

Cerebellum

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Brain region most involved in producing smooth, coordinated skeletal muscle activity.

Cerebral Aqueduct

Cerebral Cortex

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Cerebral Dominance

Either of the rounded halves of the cerebrum of the brain divided laterally by a deep fissure and connected at the bottom by the corpus callosum.

Cerebral Palsy

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Neuromuscular disability in which voluntary muscles are poorly controlled or paralyzed as a result of brain damage.

Cerebral White Matter

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Consists largely of myelinated fibers bundled into large tracts; provides for communication between cerebral areas and lower CNS centers.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

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Plasma-like fluid that fills the cavities of the CNS and surrounds the CNS externally; protects the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA)

Condition in which brain tissue is deprived of a blood supply, as in blockage of a cerebral blood vessel; a stroke.

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The cerebral hemispheres and the structures of the diencephalon.

Choroid Plexus

A capillary knot that protrudes into a brain ventricle; involved in forming cerebrospinal fluid.

Total unresponsiveness to sensory stimuli for an extended period of time.

Connect corresponding gray areas of the two hemispheres, enabling them to function as a coordinated whole.

An alteration in brain function, usually temporary, following a blow to the head.

The ability to perceive, communicate, remember, understand, appreciate, and initiate voluntary movements.

An injury in which the skin is not broken, often characterized by ruptured blood vessels and discolorations; a bruise.

Diencephalon (interbrain)

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Electroencephalogram (EEG)

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Graphic record of the electrical activity of nerve cells in the brain.

Epidural Space

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The deepest depressions or inward folds on the brain.

An outward fold of the surface of the cerebral cortex.

Hippocampus

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Limbic system structure that plays a role in converting new information into long-term memories.

Hypothalamus

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Local decrease in blood supply.

Functional specialization of the brain, with some skills, as language, occurring primarily in the left hemisphere and others, as the perception of visual and spatial relationships, occurring primarily in the right hemisphere.

Lateral Ventricles

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Limbic System

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Longitudinal Fissure

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Medulla Oblongata

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One of the three primary vesicles of the developing brains; becomes the midbrain.

Midbrain

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Myelencephalon (spinal brain)

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Neural Tube

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Fetal structure which gives rise to the brain, spinal cord, and associated neural structures, formed from ectoderm by day 23 of embryonic development.

A sensation of pricking, tingling, or creeping on the skin having no objective cause and usually associated with injury or irritation of a sensory nerve or nerve root.

Parkinson’s Disease

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The delicate, fibrous, and highly vascular membrane forming the innermost of the three coverings of the brain and spinal cord.

Pituitary Gland

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Pons

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The area that controls learned motor skills of a repetitious or patterned nature, such as playing a musical instrument and typing.

The most anterior of the three primary regions of the embryonic brain, from which the telencephalon and diencephalon develop.

A disorder with physical symptoms that may be produced in part by stress or other supposedly psychological, non-physical factors.

Major motor pathways concerned with voluntary movement; descend from cells in the frontal lobes of each cerebral hemisphere.

 Quadriplegia

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Paralysis of all four limbs or of the entire body below the neck.

The phase of the memory process in which stimuli that have been recognized and registered are stored briefly.

Sleep Apnea

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A temporary suspension of breathing occurring repeatedly during sleep that often affects overweight people or those having an obstruction in the breathing tract, an abnormally small throat opening, or a neurological disorder.

The major function of this area is to integrate sensory inputs (temperature, pressure, and so forth) relayed to it via the primary somatosensory cortex to produce an understanding of an object being felt.

Spinal Cord

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Spinal Nerves

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The 31 nerve pairs that arise from the spinal cord.

Telencephalon (endbrain)

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Thalamus

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