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CNS Terms
VT BMES 5004
82
Physiology
Graduate
09/16/2008

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Term
Meninges
Definition
Layer of connective tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord. Divided into three areas, the dura mater, the arachnoid, and the pia mater.
Term
Sensory Nerves
Definition
Nerves that carry message from body to brain
Term
Motor nerves
Definition
Nerves that carry messages from body to brain
Term
Dura Mater (the dura)
Definition
Outer layer of meninges.
Term
Arachnoid
Definition
The middle layer of the meninges.
Term
Pia Mater
Definition
Inner layer of the meninges.
Term
White Matter
Definition
Composed of myelinated neurons. Does not contain dendrites. Axons connect various areas of gray matter. Main function is information transmission
Term
Gray Matter
Definition
Major component of the CNS composed of unmyelinated neurons. Short axons and dendrites. Main function is information processing.
Term
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
Definition
Clear and colorless fluid contained within a system of fluid-filled cavities called ventricles. Acts as a protective buffer for the brain, and provides buoyancy at the base of the brain. Excretes waste products to the bloodstream away from the brain. Transports hormones to other areas of the brain.
Term
Hind Brain
Definition
Part of the brain containing the Brainstem and Cerebullum.
Term
Brainstem
Definition
Contains the Medullar oblongata and the pons. Overall controls breathing, heartbeat, articulate speech.
Term
Medullar Oblongata
Definition
Central control of breathing. Regulates heartbeat and adjusts blood flow.
Term
Pons
Definition
Part of brainstem that relays sensory information between cerebellum and cerebrum. Helps to regulate respiration.
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
Region of the brain that coordinates body movements. Contains as many neurons as all the rest of the brain combined. Coordinates most muscles, learned skills, movement and timing. Sends messages of movement and balance back to body.
Term
Mid Brain
Definition
Part of brain that contains reticular formation, substantia nigra, and ventral tegmental area.
Term
Reticular Formation
Definition
Region running through middles of the hindbrain and into the midbrain. Collects sensory input (e.g. sound) from higher brains centers and passes it on to motor neurons. Involved in sleep, arousal and vomiting.
Term
Substantia nigra
Definition
Helps smooth body movements. Damage to it causes Parkinson's Disease.
Term
Ventral tegmental area
Definition
Packed with dopamine neurons. Involved with pleasure.
Term
Forebrain
Definition
Part of brain divided into the cerebral hemispheres, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus.
Term
Cerebral Cortex
Definition
Divided into four different lobes (Frontal, Parietal, Occipital and Temporal). Responsible for thinking/learning, creativity, five senses, memory and emotion, problem solving, and decisions.
Term
Frontal lobe
Definition
Lobe in cerebral cortex responsible for reasoning, planning, parts of speech and movement, emotions, and problem-solving.
Term
Parietal Lobe
Definition
Lobe in cerebral cortex responsible for perception of stimuli related to touch, pressure, pain and temperature
Term
Temporal Lobe
Definition
Lobe in cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and memory.
Term
Occipital Lobe
Definition
Lobe in cerebral cortex responsible for vision.
Term
Motor association cortex
Definition
Coordinates complex movement.
Term
Primary somatosensory cortex
Definition
Receives tactile information from the body.
Term
Auditory Cortex
Definition
Detection of sound quality.
Term
Visual Association Area
Definition
Responsible for complex processing of visual information.
Term
Olfactory bulb
Definition
Smell part of the brain. Receives input from the specialized epithelia.
Term
Striatum and Nucleus Accumbens
Definition
Relate to the pleasurable and addictive effects of amphetamines, cocain and other psychoactive drugs by producing increasing levels of dopamine.
Term
Hippocampus
Definition
Essential for the formation of long term memories. Helps to find memories.
Term
Amygdala
Definition
Center of emotions. Contains vasopressin receptor that when activated increases aggressiveness and other signs of fight or flight. Oxytocin receptor when activated lessens signs of stress. Receive signals from olfactory system - powerful effect of smell on emotion.
Term
Thalamus
Definition
Relays all sensory information except the olfactory to various parts of the cerebral cortex. Regulates states of sleep and wakefulness. Regulates arousal, level of awareness and activity.
Term
Hypothalamus
Definition
Center of the Autonomic Nervous System. Keeps the normal homeostasis of the body (body temperature, blood chemistry, etc.) Source of 8 hormones.
Term
Circle of Willis
Definition
Loop joining the internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery with the basilar artery.
Term
Spinal Cord
Definition
Main pathway for information connectin the brain and peripheral nervous system. Collects sensory information from PNS to the brain. Connects motor information from the brain to various effectors.
Term
Vertebral Column
Definition
Made up of bones called vertebrae. Provides structural support for the trunk and protects the spinal cord. Provides attachment points for the muscles of the back and ribs. Vertebral disks serve as shock absorbers - allow spine to flex and extend.
Term
Spinal Nerves
Definition
Connects each spinal cord segment to perihperal nervous system. "Mixed" nerves: they contain both sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) nerves.
Term
Monosnaptic Reflex
Definition
Direct communication between sensory and motor neuron. Simplest and fastest of all reflexes (e.g. stretch-knee-jerk reflex)
Term
polysynaptic Reflex
Definition
Faciliates interneuron communications between sensory-motor neurons. Common type of reflex. (E.g. withdrawal)
Term
Neuron
Definition
Building block of the brain. Many types and shapes, connected to one another. Three main parts, cell body (Soma), dendrites, and axon.
Term
Soma
Definition
Neuron's main cellular space.
Term
Dendrites
Definition
Part of neuron that receives messages from other neurons. Bring information into the cell body.
Term
Axon
Definition
Part of neuron that sends messages to other neurons. Send information away from the cell body.
Term
Bipolar Neurons
Definition
Neurons that have two processes from the cell body (e.g. retinal cells, olfactory epithelium cells)
Term
Pseduounipolar Neurons
Definition
Neurons that have two axons rather than an axon and dendrite. One axon extends centrally toward the spinal cord, the other axon extends toward the skin or muscle (e.g. dorsal root ganglion cells)
Term
Multipolar Neurons
Definition
Have many process that extend from the cell body. [FIX2]
Term
Purkinje Cells
Definition
Special type of neuron. Major role in the cerebellum. Long distance connections: coordinate body movements.
Term
Synapse
Definition
Small gap seperating neurons. Consists of presynaptic ending, postsynaptic ending, and a synaptic cleft.
Term
Presynaptic ending
Definition
Terminal of synapse. Contains neurotransmitters, mitochondria and other cell organelles.
Term
Postsynaptic ending
Definition
Terminal of synapse with receptor sites for neurotransmitters.
Term
Synaptic Cleft
Definition
Area between pre and post synaptic endings.
Term
Dopamine
Definition
Neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting signals between neurons to produce smooth purposeful movement. Parkinson's disease causes the death of cells that produce this.
Term
Resting Potential
Definition
Electrical difference of the inside of the neuron relative to the outside when the neuron is at rest. Inside of neuron is negative relative to the outside.
Term
Glial Cells
Definition
Supporting cells of the CNS. Surround neurons, hold them in place. Supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons. Insulate one neuron from another. Destroy and remove dead neurons.
Term
Astrocytes
Definition
Most abundant type of glial cells. Numerous projects that anchor neurons for their blood supply. Regulate the external chemical environment of neurons by removing excess ions, notably potassim. Recycling neurotransmitters released during synaptic transmission. Building blocks of the blood-brain barrier. Regulate vasoconstriction/dilation. Do not communicate through synapses, rather use a calcium wave.
Term
Calcium Wave
Definition
Used by astrocytes to communicate. Gap junctions between astrocytes allow messenger molecule IP3 to diffuse from one astrocyte to another. IP3 activates calcium channels on cellular organelles, and release calcium into the cytoplasm, stimulating the production of more IP3.
Term
Microglia
Definition
Type of glial cell. Brain's Immune Cells.
Term
Oligodendrocytes
Definition
Type of glial cell. Provide support to axons and produce the myelin sheath, which insulates axons.
Term
Myelin Sheath
Definition
80% lipid, 20% protein. Allows the efficient conduction of action potentials down the axon.
Term
Blood-Brain Barrier
Definition
Isolates and protects brain from foreign substances or chemicals. Highly selective transport mechanism. Maintains glucose and ion levels of brain. Composed of Endothelial cells, astrocytes, pericytes, neurons, and a basement membrane.
Term
Transcellular lipophilic pathway
Definition
Path for lipid soluble molecules to pass through blood brain barrier.
Term
Transport/Carrier Proteins
Definition
Method for transporting glucose, amino acids, nucleosides.. through the blood brain barrier.
Term
Paracellular aqueous pathway
Definition
Method for transporting water soluble molecules through blood brain barrier.
Term
Adsorptive transcytosis
Definition
Method of transporting plasma proteins via endocytosis.
Term
Receptor-mediated transcytosis
Definition
Method of transferring insulin past the blood brain barrier using endocytosis.
Term
P-glycoprotein
Definition
Transmembrane protein that uses ATP to transport. Found in the Blood Brain Barrier and acts as the defense mechanism restricting the penetration of lipophilic substances into the brain.
Term
Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells
Definition
Cells that form tight junctions forming a continuous brain capillary. Contain no gaps, thus restricting the free flow of substances into and out of the blood. Has a high electrical resistance. Contain more mitochondria than other, similar cells.
Term
Endothelial Cells
Definition
Blood vessels are comprised of these. Typically don't grow in healthy adults, and have a long life span of 2.5-3 years. Two types, macrovascular and microvascular.
Term
Occludin
Definition
Integral tight junctional membrane protein. Four transmembrane domains with two extracellular loops.
Term
Claudins
Definition
Multigene transmembrane protein family. Form the primary seal of the tight junction. Major function for the formation and maintenance of the tight junction.
Term
Junctional Adhesion Molecules (JAM)
Definition
Signal transmembrane protein. Mediate leukocyte adhesion and migration.
Term
Zonula Occludens (ZO 1/2/3)
Definition
Cytoplasmic proteins that link claudins, occludin, and junction adhesion molecules to actin cytoskeleton. Stabilize the tight junction.
Term
Astrocytes
Definition
Glial cells that envelop 99% of the blood brain barrier endothelium. Interconnected by gap junctions and adherens junctions. No tight junctions. Serve as scaffolds, guiding neurons and directing blood brain barrier vessels to their proper place during development.
Term
Pericytes
Definition
Cells that have a close physical association with the endothelium. Cellular projections penetrate the basal lamina and cover approximately 20-30% of the microvascular endothelium. Communicate with endothelial cells via gap junctions. Regulate growth, survival, migration, differentiation, and vascular branching of endothelial cells. Can phagocytize exogeneous proteins. Mimic astrocyte ability to induce blood brain barrier tightness.
Term
Circumventricular Organs
Definition
Areas of the brain where the blood brain barrier is weak. Either secrete or are the sites of action of hormones/neurotransmitters. Communicate with the cerebral spinal fluid and the peripheral organs.
Term
Pineal Gland
Definition
Part of circumvenricular organs that secretes melatonin and neuroactive pepties
Term
Median eminence
Definition
Part of circumventricular organs that regulates anterior pituitary through release of neurohormones.
Term
Organun vasculosum of the lamina terminalis
Definition
Part of circumventricular Organs that deteects peptides - chemosensory area.
Term
Subfornical Organ
Definition
Part of circuventricular organs that regulates body fluids
Term
Area Postrema
Definition
Vomiting center of circumventricular organs.
Term
Tight Junction
Definition
Cell-to-cell contact between adjacent brain microvascular endothelial cells forming a continuous brain capillary.
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