Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

nerve, afferent
See 
afferent nerve.
nerve, efferent
See 
efferent nerve.
neonate
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nerve, pinched
A compressed nerve, as between
two vertebrae or within a joint, causing discomfort,
pain, or impairment of sensation. Treatment involves
physical therapy and sometimes surgery. See also
nerve compression.
nerve cell
See 
neuron.
nerve compression
”Pinching” of a nerve that is
due to too much pressure on it. For example, a
woman’s sciatic nerve may be painfully compressed
by the weight and position of the fetus during the lat-
ter part of pregnancy.
nerve growth factor
A naturally occurring sub-
stance that enhances the growth and survival of
cholinergic nerves.
nerves, cranial
See 
cranial nerves.
nervous colon syndrome
See 
irritable bowel 
syndrome.
nervous system
The sum total of the tissues that
use electrical and chemical means to record and
distribute information within a body. The nervous
system has two distinct parts: central and periph-
eral. The central part is made up of the brain and
spinal cord; together they are the central nervous
system (CNS). The peripheral part of the nervous
system is said to be peripheral because it is outside
the CNS. The function of the peripheral nervous sys-
tem is to transmit information back and forth
between the CNS and the rest of the body. The
human nervous system contains approximately 10
billion nerve cells (neurons). These neurons are
the basic building blocks of the nervous system. A
neuron consists of the nerve cell body and various
extensions, or processes, from the cell body. These
extensions are the dendrites (branches off the cell
that receive electrical impulses), the axon (the elec-
trical wiring and conduit tube that conducts
impulses), and specialized endings (terminal areas
to transfer impulses to receivers on other nerves or
muscles). See also 
central nervous system;
peripheral nervous system.