8.2 Key Terms Flashcards
Blind spot
the point of entry of the optic nerve on the retina, insensitive to light.
Brain stem
the central trunk of the mammalian brain, consisting of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain, and continuing downward to form the spinal cord.
Central nervous system
the complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body. In vertebrates it comprises the brain and spinal cord.
Cerebellum
the part of the brain at the back of the skull in vertebrates. Its function is to coordinate and regulate muscular activity.
Cerebrum
the principal and most anterior part of the brain in vertebrates, located in the front area of the skull and consisting of two hemispheres, left and right, separated by a fissure. It is responsible for the integration of complex sensory and neural functions and the initiation and coordination of voluntary activity in the body.
Chromosome
a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
Deoxyribonucleic acid
a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
Dominate trait
those that are expressed or seen when a heterozygous genotype is present. Heterozygous just means having two different alleles for a gene.
Gel electrophoresis
is a laboratory method used to separate mixtures of DNA, RNA, or proteins according to molecular size.
Gene
a unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
Mutation
the changing of the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations, caused by the alteration of single base units in DNA, or the deletion, insertion, or rearrangement of larger sections of genes or chromosomes.
Nervous system
a system of the body that in vertebrates includes the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sense organs and receives, interprets, and responds to stimuli from inside and outside the body.
Neuron
a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.
Noise induced hearing loss
a permanent hearing impairment resulting from prolonged exposure to high levels of noise.
Optic nerve
a paired nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. The optic nerve is derived from optic stalks during the seventh week of development and is composed of retinal ganglion cell axons and glial cells.
