Descriptionary

transversus abdominus from the lower ribs across the abdomen, a muscle involved in bending the spine forward and supporting the abdominal wall.

trapezius from the top of the neck to the shoulder blade and shoulder, a muscle that raises shoulder and pulls it back

triceps brachii from the upper arm to the forearm, a muscle that straightens the elbow.

vastus from the thigh to the lower leg, a muscle that straightens the knee.

Muscle Diseases and Disorders

Aran-Duchenne disease a disease characterized by a progressive wasting away of muscles.

ataxia lack of muscle coordination.

atrophy withering of muscle when not used for long periods.

bursa a fluid-filled sac composed of connective tis­sue often present over bony projections, between ten­dons, and between movable areas or joints to ease friction.

bursitis inflammation of bursa.

contracture a shortening and immobilizing of a muscle; a permanent contraction.

epicondylitis inflammation of the forearm extensor tendons causing elbow and forearm pain and a weak grasp. Also known as tennis elbow.

muscular dystrophy a disease characterized by a progressive wasting of muscles, usually beginning in childhood.

myalgia muscle pain.

myasthenia gravis a disease characterized by a wast­ing of muscles, particularly those used in swallowing.

myokymia muscle twitching. myopathy disease of muscle. myosarcoma malignant tumor of muscle. myositis an inflamed muscle. tendinitis inflammation of a tendon.

nervous system

Brain

alexia the inability to understand the written word, a symptom of a brain condition.

amusia loss of the ability to play a musical instru­ment, due to a brain condition.

amygdala an almond-shaped part of the limbic sys­tem involved in producing and regulating emotion, especially fear and aggression, and is the center of the fight-or-flight response. Hyperactivity of the amyg­dala is seen in people with depression and social pho­bia. People with bipolar disorder have been noted to have smaller amygdala.

anomia the inability to remember names, due to a brain disorder.

anterior referring to any part toward the front.

anterior commissure a connecting fiber between the right and left hemispheres.

aphasia the inability to speak or articulate clearly, usually caused by a stroke.

apoplexy a stroke.

appestat the portion of the brain that regulates appetite.

apraxia the loss of muscle coordination, due to a brain condition.

arachnoid one of three protective membranes cov­ering the brain and spinal cord.

asemia an inability to comprehend speech or the written word, due to a brain condition.

astroblastoma a malignant brain tumor.

autonomic nervous system the part of the brain and nervous system that, without conscious effort, controls breathing, digestion, blood flow, etc.

basal ganglia a knot of nerve cells, thought to be involved in motor function, found in the cerebrum.

beta rhythm the low-voltage electrical brain wave that predominates when someone is awake and alert.

blood-brain barrier a system that filters out harm­ful chemicals or substances from the blood and pre­vents them from entering and possibly damaging the brain.

brain stem the lowest and most primitive portion of the brain, located at the top of the spinal cord and involved in breathing.

Broca's region an egg-shaped patch in the left fron­tal cortex; it controls muscle coordination of the face, tongue, throat, and jaw and is also involved with the processing of music.

central nervous system a collective term for the brain and spinal cord.

cerebellum the portion of the brain in the back of the skull and beneath the cerebrum; it is responsible for muscular coordination and balance and may also be involved in the consolidation of long-term memo­ries of frightening events.

cerebral cortex composed of gray matter, the heav­ily folded, topmost portion of the front of the brain, involved in attention, consciousness, thought, reason­ing, language, and memory. It is the latest portion of the brain to evolve.

cerebrospinal fluid a clear fluid that cushions the brain and spinal cord to protect them from blows.

cerebrum the large portion of brain extending around the top of the skull; it is responsible for higher thought processes, such as perception, memory, and reasoning.

concussion unconsciousness and brain swelling caused by the brain striking the skull, due to a blow.

convolution one of several deep folds in the cere­brum.

corpus callosum the structure made of strands of fibers that connects the right hemisphere of the brain with the left.