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Chapter 8
Important terms of the nervous system
77
Anatomy
10th Grade
02/11/2009

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Term
Acetylcholine (161)
Definition
  • Neurotransmitter secreted at the ends of many neurons; responsible for the transmission of a nerve impulse across a synaptic cleft.
Term

Acetylcholinesterase

(161)

Definition
  • Enzyme in the membrane of postsynaptic cells that breaks down acetylcholine; this enzymatic reaction inactivates the neurotransmitter.
Term

 

Action Potential (159)

Definition
  • A change in electrical potential (charge) propagated along the membrane of a neuron; caused by a stimulus, this starts when Na+ channels open up, allowing Na+ to diffuse into the cell and ends when K+ leak out of the cell.  
Term
Arachnoid mater (162)
Definition
  • Web-like middle covering (1 of 3 meninges of the c.n.s.) below which flows cerebral-spinal fluid (C.S.F.) in the subarachnoid space.
Term
Association area (166)
Definition
  • Regions of the cerebral cortex related to memory, reasoning, judgement, and emotional feelings.
Term
Axon (157)
Definition
  • Process of a neuron that conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body.
Term
Broca's Area (167)
Definition
  • Motor speech area of the brain located in the left frontal lobe of the cerebrum.
  • Damage to this area can result in uncontrolled  contraction of the facial and neck muscles that allow speech.
Term
Cell Body (157)
Definition
  • Portion of a neuron that includes cytoplasmic mass and a nucleus from which the nerve fibers extend
Term
Central Nervous System (C.N.S.) (156)
Definition
  • The brain and the spinal cord.
Term
Central canal (162)
Definition
  • Tube w/in the spinal cord that is continuous w/ the ventricles of the brain and contains cerebrospinal fluid.
Term
Cerebellum (168)
Definition
  • Part of the brain that controls muscular coordination.
Term
Cerebral cortex (166)
Definition
  • Outer layer of the cerebrum.
Term
Cerebrum (164)
Definition
  • Main portion of the vertebrate brain that is responsible for consciousness.
Term
Corpus Callosum (166)
Definition
  • Mass of white matter within the brain, composed of nerve fibers connecting the right and left cerebral hemisphere.
Term
Dendrite (157)
Definition
  • process of a neuron, typically branched, that conducts nerve impulses toward a cell body
Term
Depolarization (159)
Definition
  • Loss in polarization
  • As when a nerve impulse occurs
  • Increase in positive charge caused by Na+ ions flowing into a neuron
Term
Diencephalon (168)
Definition
  • Portion of the brain in the region of the 3rd ventricle that includes the thalamus and hypothalamus
Term
Ependymal Cells (162)
Definition
  • A type of neuroglial cell located in the ventricles of the brain that produce & circulate cerebral spinal fluid. 
Term
Graded Potential (159)
Definition
  • Small signals from a synapse that may add together to excite or inhibit an action potential.
Term
Hippocampus (168)
Definition
  • The most inferior part of the limbic system which is responsible for converting short term memories into long term memories.
Term
Hypothalamus (168)
Definition
  • Part of the diencephalon of brain that forms the floor of the 3rd ventricle and is the integrating center that helps maintain homeostasis by regulating hunger, sleep, thrist, body temperature, and water balance.
Term
Limbic System (167)
Definition
  • A collection of structures that lies just inferior to the cerebral cortex and contains neural pathways that connect portions of the cerebral cortex and the temporal lobes with the thalamus and the hypothalamus.
  • Stimulus causes the subject to experience rage, pain, pleasure, or sorrow.
Term

Medulla oblongata

(169)

Definition
  • Lowest portion of the brainstem; concerned with the control of internal organs.
  • Controls heartbeat, breathing, vasoconstriction, vomiting, sneezing, hiccuping, & swallowing. 
Term
Midbrain (169)
Definition
  • Small region of the brainstem located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains tracts that conduct impulses to and from the higher parts of the brain.
Term
Nerve (157)
Definition
  • bundle of long nerve fibers (axons) that run to and/or from the central nervous system; surrounded by an epineurium and divided into fascicles, etc.
Term
Neurotransmitter (159)
Definition
  • Any chemical substance found in the vesicles of pre-synaptic neurons that are released when action potentials reach axon terminals. 
  • These substances enable an action potential to cross a synapse and continue in the post-synaptic neuron.
Term
Norepinephrine (161)
Definition
  • A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands which may give the body sudden energy in times of stress, known as the "fight or flight" response.
  • As a neurotransmitter, this substance is important for attentiveness, emotions, sleeping, dreaming, and learning.
Term
Peripheral Nervous System (156)
Definition
  • One of the main divisions of the nervous system.
  • Includes 12 pairs of cranial and 31 pairs of spinal nerves.
  • Includes all afferent-sensory and motor-efferent nerves which connect the central nervous system to all other areas of the body.
Term
Receptor Potential (161)
Definition
  • Specialized graded potentials that occur in sensory receptors (light sensor cells of the eye).
  • They do not follow the all-or-none law because different neurons, upon synapsis, can add the potentials together (summation).
Term
Refractory period (159)
Definition
  • A period of time in which a neuron is unable to conduct an action potential.
Term
Repolarization (159)
Definition
  • Recovery of a neuron's polarity to the resting potential after the neuron transmits an impulse.
  • Initially caused by the pumping  of K+ ions outside the neuron.
Term
Resting Potential (158)
Definition
  • exists because the cell membrane is polarized or the outside of the neuron is positively charged compared to the outside.
Term
Saltatory Conduction (159)
Definition
  • Occuring in myelinated neurons
  • A much faster conduction or action potential
  • Caused by an action potential jumping across myelinated portions of the axon (from Node of Ranvier to Node of Ranvier). 
Term
Stimulus (159)
Definition
  • May be a smell, something you see, hear, or touch that stimulates a sensory neuron to start an action potential (depolarize).
Term
Synapse (159)
Definition
  • region between two nerve cells where the nerve impulse is transmitted from one to the other, usually from axon to dendrite.
Term
Synaptic cleft (159)
Definition
  • Small gap between the synaptic knob on one neuron and the dendrite on another neuron.
Term
Tract (157)
Definition
  • bundle of neurons forming a transmission pathway through the brain and spinal cord.
Term
Ventricle (162)
Definition
  • Cavities which form in the subarachnoid space inbetween the arachnoid mater and pia mater where cerebral spinal fluid circulates. 
Term

Wernicke's Area

(167)

Definition
  • Also called the general interpretive area, this structure receives information from all of the other sensory association area.
  • Damage to this area can hinder a persons ability to interpret written and spoken messages.
Term
basal nuclei (167)
Definition
  • Mass of gray matter located deep within a cerebral hemisphere of the brain that integrates motor commands, ensuring that proper muscle groups are activated or inhibited.
Term
brain stem (169)
Definition
  • Portion of the brain that includes the midbrain, pons, & medulla oblongata.
Term
cerebral hemisphere (166)
Definition
  • One of the two large-paired structures that together constitute the cerebrum of the brain and are separated by the great longitudinal fissure.
Term

cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F.)

(162)

Definition
  • Fluid found w/in the ventricles of the brain and surrounding the C.N.S. in association w/ the meninges.
Term
dura mater (162)
Definition
  • Tough, white, fibrous outer layer of the meninges; consists of a double membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord from the skull and vertebrae.
Term
gray matter (162)
Definition
  • Unmyelinated nerve fibers located in the central nervous system.
Term
herniated disk (163)
Definition
  • Fibrous ring of cartilage between two vertebrae that has ruptured.
Term
interneuron (157)
Definition
  • neuron formed within the central nervous system that connects sensory & motor neurons inside the spinal cord.
Term
pia mater (162)
Definition
  • Innermost meningeal layer that is in direct contact with the brain and the spinal cord. 
Term
pons (169)
Definition
  • Portion of the brain stem above the medulla oblongata and below the midbrain; assists the medulla oblongata in regulating the breathing rate.
Term
prefrontal area (167)
Definition
  • Association area in the frontal lobe of the cerebrum that receives information from other association areas and uses it to reason and plan actions.
Term
primary motor area (166)
Definition
  • Area in the frontal lobe where voluntary commands begin; each section controls a part of the body.
Term
primary somatosensory area (166)
Definition
  • Area posterior to the central sulcus where sensory information arrives from the skin and skeletal muscles.
Term

reticular formation

(169)

Definition
  • Part of the brain stem that assists the cerebellum in maintaining muscle tone; it also assists the pons and medulla in regulating respiration, heart rate and blood pressure.
Term
spinal cord (162)
Definition
  • Portion of the C.N.S. extending downward from the brain stem through the vertebral canal.
Term
thalamus (168)
Definition
Mass of gray matter located at the base of the cerebrum in the wall of the third ventricle; receives sensory information and selectively passes it to the cerebrum.
Term
white matter (162)
Definition
  • Myelinated neurons of the central nervous system.
Term

 

 

autonomic motor system

 (169)

Definition

 

 

 

Sympathetic and parasympathetic portions

of the nervous system that function to

control the actions of the visceral organs and skin.

 

Term

 

 

 

cranial nerve (169)

 

Definition

 

 

 

1 of the 12 pairs of nerves that arises from the brain and usually has either a sensory, motor, or mixed function in the head.   

Term

 

 

 

 

 


ganglion (169)

 

 

Definition

 

 

Collection of neuron cell bodies outside

the central nervous sytem.

Term

 

 

parasympathetic division

(173)

Definition

 

 

Portion of the a.n.s. that usually

promotes those activities associated

with a normal state.

Term

 

 

posterior (dorsal)

root ganglion

(170)

Definition

 

Mass of sensory neuron

cell bodies located in the dorsal

root of a spinal nerve.

 

 

Term

 

 

 

reflex (170)

 

Definition

 

 

Autonomic, involuntary response

of an organism to a stimulus.

Term

 

 

somatic system

(169)

Definition

 

 

Portion of the p.n.s. containing

motor neurons that control skeletal muscles.

Term

 

 

 

spinal nerve (169)

 

Definition

 

 

 

1 of the 31 pairs of mixed nerves

that arise from our vertebrae.

Term

 

 

sympathetic division (172)

Definition

 

 

 

Part of the a.n.s. whose effects

are generally associated with emergency situations.

Term
Olfactory Nerve (I) 
Definition
Sensory cranial nerve that sends information "smell" information to the brain.
Term
Optic Nerve (II)
Definition
Sensory cranial nerve that sends visual information to the visual cortex in the occipital lobe of our brain.
Term

 

Occulomotor 

Nerve (III)

Definition
Motor cranial nerve with the lowest number that sends information to the muscles that control the movement of our eyes.
Term

 

Trochlear

 Nerve (IV)

Definition
The motor, cranial nerve in the middle that sends information to our eye muscles.
Term

Trigeminal

Nerve (V)

Definition
Mixed cranial nerve which receives information from our mouth and sends information to your jaw muscles.
Term

 

Vagus Nerve (X)

Definition

Mixed cranial nerve which receives

information from and sends information

to internal organs.

Term
Accessory Nerve (XI)
Definition

 

Motor Cranial nerve which sends

information to the muscles of the

neck and back.

Term

Abducens

Nerve (VI)

Definition

 

Motor cranial nerve which sends

impulses from the pons to the

muscles of the eye; highest number

which innervates the muscles of the eye.

Term
Facial Nerve (VII)
Definition
Mixed cranial nerve which receives and sends information from the taste buds and to the muscles that help you smile, etc. and glands.
Term

Vestibulocochlear

Nerve (VIII)

Definition

Sensory cranial nerve which receives

information from you inner ear for hearing

and balance.

Term

Glossopharyngeal

Nerve (IX)

Definition

 

Mixed cranial nerve which receives &

sends information from the back of the throat

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