Myelin and the Central Nervous System Glossary of Terms

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Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Brainstem: The lowest part of the brain which merges with the spinal cord and provides the...

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

Cerebellum: The portion of the brain that is in the back of the head, between the cerebrum...

Cerebrum: The largest part of the brain. It is divided into two hemispheres, or halves.

Cortex: The outer layer of any organ.

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Etiology: The study of causes, as in the causes of a disease. The form aetiology is genera...

Gland: A group of cells that secrete a substance for use in the body. For example, the thy...

Gray matter: The cortex of the brain, which contains nerve cell bodies. The gray matter is...

Hypothalamus: The area of the brain that secretes substances that influence pituitary and ...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

Magnetic resonance imaging: A procedure that uses magnetism, radio waves, and a computer t...

Medulla: The innermost part. For example, the adrenal medulla is the innermost part of the...

Memory: 1. The ability to recover information about past events or knowledge. ...

Metabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. ...

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.

Multiple sclerosis: A disease that is characterized by loss of myelin (demyelinization). A...

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Myelin: The fatty substance that covers and protects nerves. Myelin is a layered tissue th...

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

Nerve cell: See: Neuron.

Neurology: The medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders o...

Node: Literally a knot, a node is a collection of tissue. For example a lymph node, is a ...

Peripheral: Situated away from the center, as opposed to centrally located.

Peripheral nervous system: The portion of the nervous system that is outside the brain and...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Pituitary: 1. As an adjective, pertaining to the pituitary gland or its hormonal se...

Pituitary gland: The main endocrine gland. It is a small structure in the head. It is ca...

Pons: A specific section of the brain formed by the rounded prominence on the front surfac...

Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific orde...

Sclerosis: Localized hardening of skin. Sclerosis is generally caused by underlying diseas...

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

Therapeutics: In medicine, the branch that deals specifically with the treatment of diseas...

Vertebrae: The preferred plural of vertebra. (The alternate plural is vertebras.) See also...

Voluntary: Done in accordance with the conscious will of the individual. The opposite of i...