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Physiology - Exam 3 Flashcards
Lovern Physiology 3204 Exam 3
107
Other
Undergraduate 3
03/06/2012

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Cards

Term
Prosopagnosia
Definition
"face-blindness;" occurs when there is damage or a defect in the fusiform gyrus.
Term
Thatcher Effect
Definition

-a phenomenon where it becomes difficult to detect local feature changes in an upside down face, despite identical changes being obvious in an upright face.

-the effect manipulates features to show how orientation matters.

Term
Sleep
Definition

an easily reversible state of physical inactivity characterized by lack of interaction with the external environment.

[image]

Term
Why do we sleep?
Definition

-Possibly related to enhancing/recharging immune response

-Learning memory consolidation

Term
Unihemispheric Slow-Wave Sleep (USWS)
Definition
Ability to sleep one-half of your brain at a time.  Exhibited by most birds, also in some birds and aquatic mammals.
Term
Learning
Definition

-The acquisition of information.

-Two main categories: non-associative learning and associative learning

Term
Non-Associative Learning
Definition

-Learning after repeated exposure to a single stimulus.

-"Stimulus-Response": habituation (tuning things out, response decreases) vs. sensitization (response grows, you pay more attention to what's happening)

Term
Associative Learning
Definition

-E.g.: Conditioning

-Associating two (or more) previously unrelated stimuli.

Term
Memory
Definition

-The ability to retain and retrieve previously learned information.

-Two main categories: short-term and long term memory

Term
Short-Term (working) Memory
Definition

-Retention of information for seconds-minutes; upper limit.

-can be converted to long-term memory via 'consolidation'

Term
Consolidation
Definition
The conversion of short-term memory to long-term memory.
Term
Long-term (reference) memory
Definition
retention for days-years; no apparent upper limit.
Term
What was observed and recorded in the article: "Gelbard-Sagiv et al. 2008"?
Definition

-Measured neuron activity in hippocampus when subjects watched video clips multiple times and during free recall 5 minutes later.

-The same neurons were active during both events.

Term
Receptive Aphasia
Definition

-Damage to Wernicke's Area

-Unable to process language input, therefore output is nonsensical

Term
Expressive Aphasia
Definition

-Damage to Broca's Area

-Input okay, only output affected, therefore the individual is aware

Term
Gyrification
Definition
Folding within the brain
Term
Do males or females have a larger brain?
Definition
Males have a larger brain, but females have more gyrification, and therefore a larger surface area.
Term
Which structures in the CNS are 'male-biased?'
Definition
Hypothalamus & Spinal Cord
Term
Which structures in the CNS are 'female-biased?'
Definition
Structures associated with language and structures connecting the hemispheres.
Term
What is the significance of atypical sizes of structures in the brain?
Definition
If a structure generally male-biased is larger in a female, or a structure generally female-biased is larger in a male, it generally indicates homosexuality.
Term
Who has greater connectivity between the two hemispheres, males or females?
Definition
Females - therefore better 'multi-tasking;' males tend to have better focused attention b/c they have less connectivity.
Term
Sensation
Definition
Input, both external and internal, from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system.
Term
Perception
Definition

-The conscious interpretation of input from our external and internal environments.

-Involves sensory input (sensation), previous experiences, and rules of interpretation

Term
What are the types of sensory receptors?
Definition
Chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, photoreceptors, thermoreceptors
Term
Chemoreceptors
Definition
Oxygen, pH, various organic molecules such as glucose; very diverse
Term
Mechanoreceptors
Definition
Pressure (baroreceptors), cell stretch (osmoreceptors), vibration, acceleration, sound; very diverse
Term
Photoreceptors
Definition
Photons of light
Term
Thermoreceptors
Definition
Varying degrees of heat
Term
Transduction
Definition
The conversion of energy from one form to another (e.g.: stereo, television function)
Term
Sensory Transduction
Definition
The conversion from stimulus energy to electrical energy (changes in receptor potential, i.e., production of graded potential)
Term
Sensory Coding
Definition
The ability of the nervous system to identify the (1) type, (2) strength, and (3) location of a stimulus.
Term
Sensory Coding: (1) Type
Definition

Coding depends on receptor(s) and pathway(s) activated

[image]

Term
Sensory Coding: (2) Strength
Definition

Coding depends on the frequency of action potentials generated.

[image]

Term
Sensory Coding: (3) Location
Definition
-Coding depends on receptive fields.
Term
Receptive Field
Definition
Area over which a stimulus can be detected by a given sensory neuron.
Term
Acuity
Definition
Precision with which stimulus location can be perceived.
Term
Lateral Inhibition
Definition

Inhibition of neighboring receptor activity in the presence of a strong stimulus; increases acuity.

 

 [image]

Term
Is acuity high or lower with larger receptor fields?
Definition

Lower.

 

[image]

Term
When convergence increases, what happens to acuity?
Definition

It decreases.

 

[image]

Term
Brain Diagram (know)
Definition
[image]
Term
Also know this diagram, esp. where the synapses are, and know that some have their first synapses in the medulla.
Definition
[image]
Term
Somatosensory Nociceptors
Definition

-Pain Receptors

-Free nerve endings; initiate protective responses

-respond to strong stimuli that could cause tissue damage

-Types: Mechanical, thermal, polymodal

-Two Pathways: (1) spinal pathway = protective reflex, (2) ascending pathway = cerebral cortex

Term
Thermal Nociceptors
Definition
React to intense heat
Term
Mechanical Nociceptors
Definition
React to intense pressure, force
Term
Polymodal Nociceptors
Definition
React to intense pressure, heat, cold, & chemicals
Term
Pain
Definition

-Perception of discomfort; Brain's interpretation of sensory information received from nociceptors

-Produces strong memories and subsequent avoidance behavior

-Clinically important for diagnosing medical problems

Term
Fast Pain
Definition

-Sharp, acutely unpleasant perception that can be quickly and easily localized.

-Responses transmitted via myelinated neurons (approx 30 m/sec)

Term
Slow Pain
Definition

-Dull, unpleasant perception that is diffuse, poorly localized.

-Responses transmitted via unmyelinated neurons (approx 1 m/sec)

Term
Pain Modulation
Definition

Gate control theory.

 

[image]

 

Term
Visceral Pain
Definition
Sensations from muscles, internal organs; often poorly localized and felt as referred pain.
Term
Referred Pain
Definition

-When pain originating from one area (typically visceral) is interpreted as coming from another area (typically superficial)

-Ex: Heart attack pain is felt in neck, shoulders & back; Pain from gall bladder/liver area is felt as upper back pain

Term
Placebo Effect
Definition
Measurable physiological or psychological change associated with receiving inert substance or procedure.
Term
Phantom Pain
Definition

-Pain from a body part that is missing (often amputated)

-Pain has real, physiological basis due to brain activity; cause(s) unclear

Term
General Characteristics: Taste & Smell
Definition

(1) Provide information about our chemical surroundings.

(2) Use chemoreceptors to detect molecules in solution.

(3) Not strictly independent senses (taste mostly dependent on smell, smell not as dependent on taste)

Term
Taste Bud
Definition

-Functional unit of taste

-Each contains approximately 100 receptor (taste) cells

Term
Approximately how many taste buds are on the tongue?
Definition
10,000
Term
Fungiform Papillae
Definition
Clusters of taste buds.
Term
What are the five tastes?
Definition
Sweet, Umami, Bitter, Salty, Sour
Term
Umami
Definition

-"Deliciousness"

-Detects glutamate (flavor enhancer) 

Term
Taste Transduction
Definition

Sweet, Umami, Bitter = GPCR, ATP production

Salty = Na+, release of serotonin

Sour = H+, release of serotonin

 [image]

Term
Olfactory Receptor Cells
Definition

-Found within the olfactory epithelium, within the nasal cavity

-approx. 10,000,000 total

-chemicals detected depend on the receptor type (there are thousands)

-they are the only neurons known to regularly undergo neurogenesis (complete turnover every 2 months!)

Term
Vomeronasal Organ (VNO)
Definition

-Enhances detection of reproductive organs

-Predominantly in males

-Accessory olfactory structure in many mammals (regresses during development in great apes, including humans)

Term
Lacrimal Gland
Definition
Secretes tears
Term
Orbit
Definition
Bony cavity that protects the eye.
Term
Nasolacrimal Duct
Definition
Drains tears into the nasal cavity
Term
Sclera
Definition
"white" of the eye; fibrous tissue
Term
Cornea
Definition
modified sclera; clear; allows light to pass through.
Term
Iris
Definition
pigmented; controls pupil diameter
Term
Pupil
Definition
Opening that allows light into the interior of the eye.
Term
Ciliary body, zonular fibers ("zonules") & lens
Definition
the lens (very flexible) is held in place by the ciliary body and zonular fibers (elastic connective tissue)
Term
What determines eye color?
Definition

-genetics

-melanin amount and distribution (blue eyes =little/no melanin, brown/black = a lot of melanin)

Term
Aqueous Humor
Definition
the fluid gets replaced, drained via canal of schlemm
Term
Vitreous humor
Definition
stagnant; like jello; keeps eye intact; "floaters"
Term
Choroid
Definition
Pigmented epithelium; helps prevent light from scattering; heavily pigmented
Term
Retina
Definition
delicate; where photoreceptors are found
Term
Fovea
Definition
shallow depression in retina; where we have the greatest visual acuity
Term
Optic Nerve
Definition
Cranial nerve that exits the eye
Term
Optic disc
Definition
blind spot; where the optic nerve leaves the eye
Term
Eyelash Mites (Demodex)
Definition

- approx. 65 species total

-specific to mammals

-2 known to infect humans 

-more than 50% of adults possess and prevalence increases with age

Term
Vision
Definition

-Process through wich light reflected from objects in our environment is translated into a mental image.

(1) Light enters eye; lens focuses that light on retina

(2) Photoreceptors in retina transduce the light energy into electrical signals

(3) Neural Processing

Term
Lens
Definition
changes shape to focus light on retina by actions of ciliary muscle (body) and its ligaments (zonular fibers)
Term
Types of Retinal Photoreceptors
Definition
Horizontal cells, Amacrine cells, Ganglion cells, Bipolar cells, Rods, Cones
Term
Rods
Definition
monochromatic vision; function well under low-light conditions.
Term
Cones
Definition

-color vision; require high light levels

-number of cones declines rapidly away from the fovea

-number of rods greatest near the fovea, declines gradually away from fovea

-only cones in fovea

Term
Phototransduction
Definition
the conversion of light energy into electrical signals.
Term
Phototransduction: Sequence of Events
Definition

(1) Light absorbed by photopigment in outer segment of photoreceptor (for rods, photopigment = rhodopsin)

(2) Photopigment changes shape; Na+ channels close (Na+ can't get into cell)

(3) Potassium leakage out of cell now causes hyperpolarization of outer segment.

(4) Hyperpolarizing membrane potential causes closing of Ca++ channels in inner segment.

(5) Less Ca++ enters cell, neurotransmitter release declines (glutamate)

(6) Bipolar cell receives less neurotransmitter, generates smaller graded potentials.

[image] 

Term
Convergence in the Retina
Definition
less = greater visual acuity; more = greater light sensitivity.
Term
Bipolar Cells
Definition

-Generate graded potentials only, can't generate action potentials

-excitatory or inhibitory (even though neurotransmitter is the same - glutamate)

-synapse with ganglion cells, which transmit action potentials via optic nerve to the brain.

Term
Binocular Vision
Definition
3D; depth perception; where the left and right visual fields overlap.
Term
Monocular vision
Definition
2D; portion of the visual field associated with only one eye.
Term
Sound
Definition

-Mechanical pressure waves caused by air (water) molecules put into motion.

-Two important properties:

(1) loudness (amplitude) - measured in decibels (dB)

(2) pitch (frequency) - measured in Hertz (Hz)

Term
Sound Waves
Definition

-alternating pressure waves, with peaks of compressed air and valleys where the molecules are farther apart.

-distinguished by their amplitude and frequency.

Term
External Ear
Definition
Sound collection
Term
Middle Ear
Definition
Sound Amplification
Term
Pinna
Definition
Directs sound waves into the ear.
Term
Otitis Media
Definition
Middle Ear Infection
Term
Inner Ear
Definition
Sound transduction & Equilibrium.
Term
Cochlea
Definition
Coiled structure of the ear that contains receptors for hearing.
Term
Cochlear Nerve
Definition
transmits action potentials from the hair cells to the auditory cortex.
Term
Heliotrema
Definition
Tip of the cochlea
Term
Vestibular Apparatus
Definition

Responds to changes in the body's position in space.

 [image]

Term
Semicircular Canals
Definition

Sensory receptors for rotational acceleration

[image]

Term
Otolith Organs (utricle, saccule)
Definition

Sensory Receptors for linear acceleration and head position.

[image]

Term
Autonomic Nervous System
Definition

-"involuntary"/subconscious nervous system

-innervates all effector organs and tissues in body except skeletal muscle.

-two main components: (1) sympathetic, (2) parasympathetic

Term
Sympathetic NS
Definition

-Excitatory, "fight or flight," "Tend & befriend"

-Pathways use norepinephrine

Term
Parasympathetic NS
Definition
"Rest & Digest," maintenance of homeostasis
Term
Autonomic pathways
Definition
-consist of two neurons that synapse/diverge at/in autonomic ganglion
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