Neurology Animation Library

Aging and Dementia

Alzheimer's Disease (AD): Also called primary degenerative dementia. A neurologic disease that is characterized by confusion, memory loss, disorientation, speech disturbances, and other cognitive impairment. The symptoms progress with age.
Dopamine: A neurotransmitter of the CNS that acts to prevent rigidly, tremors, and other effects on movement.

ALS, PLS, and Other Motor Neuron Disorders

ALS: A degenerative disease of both the upper and lower neurons. Loss of voluntary muscle movement and coordination develop. Over time, muscle weakness and spasticity develop.
Motor Nerve Fiber: A fiber that carries motor impulses from the brain to the body's muscle for contraction.
Motor Neuron: A nerve cell that transmits impulses from the brain or spinal cord to muscle fibers.
PET/CT Scanner: A PET/CT Scanner merges both PET and CT capabilities into one machine to identify abnormal tissue. These scanners have respiratory gating capabilities, adding detail to areas that are subject to motion, such as the heart and lungs.

Diagnostic Tests

CT Scan: CT Scanning is a non-invasive technology that takes cross-sectional images of the internal organs to detect any abnormalities that may not show up on an ordinary x-ray.
Electromyography (EMG): An EMG tests muscle activity. A needle records electrical activity in the muscle as the patient relaxes then contracts the muscle.
MRI: A machine imposes magnetic energy on spinning atoms. The atoms then emit energy, which is translated into image form.
Myelogram: An x-ray study that uses an injection of a dye or contrast material into the spinal canal to allow careful evaluation of the spinal canal and nerve roots.
Electrodiagnostic Testing: Electrodiagnostic testing evaluates muscle symptoms that may result from injury or disease to either nerves or muscles in the body. Symptoms can include muscle pain, wekaness, or numbness.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy: Neurons normally impulses up to 80 times/second. During a seizure, that rate can increase to 500 times/second. This may result in blackouts and involuntary movements.

General Neurology

Autonomic Nervous System: Part of the nervous system that regulates involuntary body functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.
Axon: The elongated extension of a neuron, or never cell, that conducts an action potential.
Brain: The "control center" of the body; performs complex integrative functions, such as thought and memory, and controls voluntary activities.
Central Nervous System (CNS): One of two sections comprising the nervous system. The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, and processes information to and from the peripheral nervous system. It controls all voluntary and involuntary actions.
Cerebellum: The posterior portion of the brain located below and behind the cerebrum.
Cerebral Hemisphere: The cerebrum is divided into two functionality different paired structures; the right hemisphere and left hemisphere. Each hemisphere has an outer layer of gray matter (cerebral cortex) that surrounds an inner layer of white matter.
Cerebrum: Largest and uppermost part of the brain; consists of two hemispheres that are further divided into four lobes.
Cranial Nerves: Twelve pairs of nerves that originate at the base of the brain and emerge from openings in the skull. These nerves are responsible for smell, vision, facial expression, taste, and hearing, to name a few.
Dura (dura mater): The outermost of three membranes that surround the spinal cord; the dura mater, the pia mater, and the arachnoid.
Medulla Oblongata: The lower half of the brainstem, which is a continuous with the spinal cord. This structure controls the involuntary body functions, such as heart beat, blood pressure, and breathing.
Nerve: Fibers that carry electrical impulses to or from the brain or spinal cord.
Nerve Impulse: A signal that travels along nerve fibers to communicate with specific tissues of the body.
Nervous System: A signal that travels along nerve fibers to communicate with specific tissues of the body.
Nervous System Function: Consists of vast network of specialized tissue including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves which connect and control all the organs in the body.
Neural Tissue: Specialized form of tissue responsible for electric signaling from one part of the body to another. A large majority of this tissue is concentrated in the brain and spinal cord.

Headache and Facial Pain

Migraine Headache: Occurs when blood vessels in the brain dilate and strech, causing the vessels to widen and then narrow rapidly sending pain signals to the brain.
Trigeminal Nerve: The fifth cranial nerve; carries sensory information from the face and has motor control over several muscles of mastication.

Movement Disorder

Neuromuscular Junction: Where a nerve ending meets with muscle tissue. Signals for muscle contraction are communicated by chemicals that are transferred fro the nerve ending to the muscle.
Parkinson's Disease: Parkinson's Disease results from the degeneration of the area of the brain responsible for muscle movements, specifically, the pigmented neurons located in the substantia nigra in the midbrain.

Multiple Sclerosis

Demyelination: The progress destruction of the myelin sheath surrounding the axons of neurons in both the CNS and PNS. These leads to a loss of sensation and motor control of the neuron.
Multiple Sclerosis: An autoimmune disorder in which the body's own immune system attacks and destroys the protective myelin coating, or myelin sheath, in various places along the central nervous system (demyelination).
Myelin: An insulating sheath around an axon that significantly increases conduction rate of action potentials.
Myelin (damaged): Damage to the myelin sheath of an axon can result in an inhibition of the conduction of action potentials.

Neuromuscular Diseases

Motor End Plate: The flattened synaptic end of a motor neuron that transmits impulses to muscle fibers.
Schwann Cell: Neurolemma cell; these cells form a sheath around axons in the peripheral nervous system.

Peripheral and Autonomic Neuropathies

Diabetic Neuropathy: Develops when the nervous system is damaged due to an increase in blood glucose. Usually occurs in peripheral nerves such as in the leg.
Parasympathetic Division: The part of the autonomic nervous system, common referred to as the "rest and digest" portion, responsible for energy conservation and regular body functions such as salivation and urination.
Peripheral Nervous System: The motor and sensory nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
Sensory Neuron: A nerve cell that transmits sensory impulses from body to the spinal cord and brain.
Sympathetic Division: The part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for the "fight or flight" excitatory response. For example in preparation for heightened activity, your body releases adrenaline which speeds up your heart rate.

Stroke

Aneurysm: An aneurysm is a weakening and localized dilation in the wall of a blood vessel.
Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is the formation of yellowish plaques of cholesterol and other lips along the arterial wall.
Blood Clot: A blood clot is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, and liquid plasma.
Myocardial Infarction: Heart attack: A blocked coronary artery may cause muscle cells to die from lack of oxygen creating a non-functional area known as an infarct.
Stroke: Stroke is an interruption in the blood supply to the brain due to a blockage or rupture causes cells to die from lack of oxygen.
Thrombus: A thrombus is a blood clot with fibrous strands that forms in a vessel. It may break off and travel through the circulatory system, eventually causing a stoppage of blood flow.