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chapter 10 vocab
the nervous system
41
Medical
Undergraduate 2
04/18/2006

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Term
acetylcholine
Definition
Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of some nerve cells
Term
arachnoid membrane
Definition
Middle layer of the three membranes ( meninges ) that surround the brain and spinal cord. The greek arachne means " spider"
Term
astrocyte
Definition
a type of glial * neuroglial) cell; connective, supporting of the nervous system astrocytes transport water and salt from capillaries
Term
autonomic nervous system
Definition
Nerves that control involuntary body functions of mscles,glands, and internal organs
Term
axon
Definition
Microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell
Term
blood-brain barrier
Definition
blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out
Term
brainstem
Definition
Lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord. The pons and medulla oblongata are part of the brainstem
Term
brainstem
Definition
lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord. the pons and medulla oblongata are part of the brainstem
Term
cauda equina
Definition
collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord
Term
cell body
Definition
part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus
Term
central nervous system ( CNS)
Definition
brain and teh spinal cord
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
Part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
outer region of the cerebrum containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain
Term
cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF )
Definition
Fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord
Term
cerebrum
Definition
largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision speech taste hearing thought and memory
Term
dendrite
Definition
microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse
Term
dura mater
Definition
thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord; from the Latin, Meaning: "hard mother"
Term
ependymal cell
Definition
a cell that lines the fluid-filled sacs of the brain and spinal cord
Term
ganglion
Definition
a collective nerve cell bodies in the peripheal nervous system
Term
gyrus or gyri
Definition
sheets of nerve cells that produce elevatino in the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep appetite body tempature and secreations from the pituitary gland
Term
medulla oblongata
Definition
the part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing heart beat and the size of blood vessels nerve fibers cross over here
Term
meninges
Definition
three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
Term
microglial cell
Definition
one type of glial cell a micro glial cell is a phagocyte
Term
motor nerves
Definition
carry messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs efferent ( ef=away) nerves.
Term
myelin sheath
Definition
fatty tissue that surrounds, protects, and insulates the axon of a nerve cel. these sheaths are white in color ( white matter )
Term
nerve
Definition
macroscopic structure onsisting of axons and dendrites in bundles like strands of rope
Term
neuron
Definition
a nerve cell; carries impulses throught the body. there are baout 10 billion neurons
Term
neuro transmitter
Definition
chemical messenger, released at the end of a nerve cell. it stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell, examples of neuro transmitters are acetylcholine epinephrine dopamine and serotonin
Term
oligodendroglial cell
Definition
glial cell that forms the myeling sheath covering axons
Term
parasympatheic nerves
Definition
involunatry autonomic nerves that help regulate body functions like heart rate and respiration
Term
parenchyma
Definition
essential, distinguishing cells of an organ. Neurons are the parenchymail tissue of the brain.
Term
peripheral nervous system
Definition
Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial spinal and autonomic nerves
Term
pia mater
Definition
thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges
Term
plexus plexuses
Definition
large, interlacing network of nervs. Examples are lumbar=sacral and brachial ( brachio means arm ) plexus. The term orginated from te indo-europeon plek meaning : to weave together:
Term
pons
Definition
part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the brain ( latin pons means :bridge: ) it is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain
Term
receptor
Definition
organ that receives a nervous stimulation and passes it on to the nerves within the body. The skin, ears, eyes and taste buds are receptors
Term
sensory nerves
Definition
carry messeages to the brain and the spinal cord from a receptor a ffrent ( af=toward) nerves.
Term
synapse
Definition
the space ( juncture ) through which a nervous impulse is transmitted from one neuron to another or from a neuron to another cell, such a s a muscle or gland cell. From the Greek synapsis "a point of contac"
Term
thalamus
Definition
main relay center of the brain. It conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum incoming sensory messages are relayed through the thalamus to appropriate centers in the cerebrum. The latin thalamus meaning: room: comes from the romans who thought this part of the brain was hollow--therefore resembeling a room.
Term
ventricles of the brain
Definition
reservoirs * canals* in the interior of the brain that contains cerebrospinal fluid
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