| amphetamine |
a drug that stimulates the central nervous system, depressing appetite and heightening activity. |
| autonomic |
in physiology, of or relating to the autonomic nervous system. [1/3 definitions] |
| autonomic nervous system |
the part of the nervous system in vertebrates that controls involuntary bodily processes, such as the operation of the heart, stomach, and glands; sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems together. |
| beriberi |
a disease of the nervous system, caused by lack of thiamine and characterized by paralysis of the extremities and by swelling or emaciation. |
| beta blocker |
any of a class of drugs that inhibit the absorption of adrenalin and the activity of the autonomic nervous system, and are used to control the heartbeat and relieve angina and hypertension. |
| botulism |
an often lethal disease of the nervous system caused by ingesting even small amounts of the toxin botulin, produced by a bacterium that grows in poorly preserved or spoiled foods. |
| bovine spongiform encephalopathy |
a fatal disease, also known as "mad cow disease," that affects the nervous system of cattle. |
| brain |
the organ of the central nervous system contained within the skull, which thinks, interprets sensations, and coordinates motion and other activity in the rest of the body. [1/5 definitions] |
| brain imaging |
the branch of medicine that deals with producing images of the brain and nervous system; neuroimaging. [2 definitions] |
| chorea |
a disease of the nervous system in humans and dogs whose symptoms include uncontrollable jerking movements of the face, arms, and legs. |
| dextroamphetamine |
a solid compound used to stimulate the central nervous system and control the appetite. |
| ectoderm |
an animal embryo's outermost layer of cells, from which the skin, nervous system, and sense organs develop. |
| enterovirus |
a genus of virus that can cause disease in human and other mammals. Infection typically begins in the gastrointestinal tract and can spread to other areas, including the nervous system. |
| epilepsy |
a nervous system disorder that causes repeated lapses in physical or mental function, often including convulsions and unconsciousness. |
| fightorflight response |
activation of the sympathetic nervous system that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event and readies the body for action. |
| histoplasmosis |
a mild infection or severe disease caused by a fungus taken into the body, sometimes attacking various organs or the nervous system. |
| Huntington's chorea |
an inheritable disorder of the nervous system causing progressive deterioration of the mental processes. |
| hydrophobia |
a deadly viral disease of the central nervous system, usu. transmitted by the bite of an infected animal; rabies. [1/2 definitions] |
| hypothalamus |
the part of the brain below the thalamus in the ventral region of the diencephalon, important in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system and body temperature. |
| impulse |
in the nervous system, a transmitting of energy between neurons. [1/5 definitions] |
| kuru |
a fatal viral disease that affects the nervous system, occurring in New Guinea. |