Biology Essay

A. Nervous System (Module/Chapter 10)

Know the major general structure of the nervous system.

Know the parts of a neuron and the pathway of a nervous impulse.

Know the parts of the brain and their functions.

Know the chemicals responsible for neurotransmission

Know all the pathological conditions of the nervous system as explained in Module 10/Chapter 10 especially (and know the symptoms):

(1) Alzheimer disease (AD)- brain disorder marked by gradual and progressive mental deterioration (dementia) with personality changes and impairment of daily functioning

(2) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)- degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem

(3) epilepsy- chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity

(4) multiple sclerosis (MS)- destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the CNS and its replacement by plaques of sclerotic (hard) tissue

(5) myasthenia gravis- autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness (-asthenia) of voluntary muscles (attached to bones)

(6) Bell palsy- is paralysis on one side of the face

(7) Parkinson disease- degeneration of neurons in the basal ganglia, occurring in later life and leading to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement

(8) Tourette syndrome- involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words

(9) cerebrovascular accident (CVA) - disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke

Thrombotic- blood clot in the arteries leading to the brain, resulting in occlusion (blocking) of the vessel

Embolic- an embolus travels to cerebral arteries and occludes a small vessel

Hemorrhagic- a blood vessel, such as the cerebral artery, breaks and bleeding occurs

(10) quadraplegia- cervical level of the spinal cord

(11) hemiplegic- affects right or left half of the body and results from a stroke or other brain injury

(11) hemiparesis- affects either right...