ANPH - Central Nervous System CH 20 Flashcards
What functions are associated with the parietal lobe?
movement
orientation
recognition
perception of stimuli
What are three main components of the hindbrain?
Medulla
Pons
Cerebellum
What are some functions associated with the cerebellum?
Fine motor control
Balance and equilibrium
Muscle tone
What functions are associated with the frontal lobe?
reasoning planning parts of speech movement problem solving decision making
What 3 functions are associated with the temporal lobe?
perception/recognition of auditory stimuli
memory
speech
What functions are associated with the pons?
bladder control eye movement facial expressions hearing posture respiration sleep swallowing taste
What are some functions supported by the limbic system?
emotion behavior motivation long-term memory olfaction (smell)
What is the function of the thalamus?
“Command center” of the brain
Processes and relays sensory information
What is the difference between a gyrus and a sulcus?
A gyrus is a bump in the brain, a sulcus is a groove.
What is the cerebral cortex?
The cerebral cortex is the brain’s outer layer of gray matter. It is comprised of four main lobes.
What function is associated with the occipital lobe?
visual processing
What are the two main components of the brain stem?
midbrain
hindbrain
What are some functions associated with the medulla?
breathing
heart rate
blood pressure
What are some functions associated with the cerebellum?
Fine motor control
Balance and equilibrium
Muscle tone
a neurotransmitter
A neurotransmitter is any chemical that diffuses across a neural synapse, binds to receptors on a postsynaptic neuron, and causes changes in the cell’s composition and/or behavior.
There are two types of neurotransmitters, excitatory and inhibitory.
an inhibitory neurotransmitter
An inhibitory neurotransmitter makes the postsynaptic neuron less likely to fire and propagate an action potential.
an excitatory neurotransmitter
An excitatory neurotransmitter makes the postsynaptic neuron more likely to fire and propagate an action potential.
How many neurotransmitters have been identified in the human nervous system?
More than 100.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
serotonin
Serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mood, sleep, appetite, and memory.
Serotonin is derived from the amino acid tryptophan.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
dopamine
Dopamine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in mood, reward circuits, sleep, pleasure, and voluntary movement.
Dopamine plays a major role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
norepinephrine
Norepinephrine is involved in the body’s fight-or-flight response and the activation of the sympathetic nervous system; it acts to increase heart rate and blood pressure, trigger the release of glucose, and increase blood flow to skeletal muscles.
Norepinephrine is both a neurotransmitter and a hormone, and is commonly referred to as noradrenaline.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
epinephrine
Epinephrine is involved in the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and assists in the body’s fight-or-flight response; it works to regulate heart rate, blood pressure, air passage diameters, and metabolic shifts.
Epinephrine is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter, and is commonly referred to as adrenaline.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
acetylcholine
Acetylcholine is involved in muscle movements of both the autonomic nervous system, where it has an inhibitory effect on heart rate, and the somatic nervous system, where it has an excitatory effect on skeletal muscle action.
Acetylcholine also plays a role in REM sleep.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
glutamate
Glutamate plays a key role in the growth and development of neurons, and is highly involved in cognitive functions like learning and memory.
Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate nervous system.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
GABA
GABA, short for gamma-Aminobutyric acid, regulates neuronal excitability, relieves anxiety and induces relaxation, and is also directly involved in the regulation of muscle tone.
GABA is the most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
glycine
Glycine acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, most commonly in the spinal cord, brain stem, and retina.
When acting as a co-agonist with glutamate, glycine is an excitatory neurotransmitter.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
beta-endorphin
Beta-endorphin activates opioid receptors, resulting in significant pain relief and relaxation, particularly after physical trauma.
Opioid drugs, such as morphine, bind to the opioid receptors and produce similar effects to beta-endorphin.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
substance P
Substance P is closely associated with the perception of pain and the body’s inflammatory response, in which it serves as a vasodilator.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
vasopressin
As a neurotransmitter, vasopressin deals with neurological functions such as social bonding and memory.
Vasopressin more commonly functions as a hormone, in which its major job is to increase water retention in the kidneys.
Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
histamine
Histamine has a major role in the regulation of sleep and the process of forgetting.
The cells that fire histamine are most active during wakefulness and slowest during sleep.
Histamine is also involved in the body’s inflammatory response, but does not act as a neurotransmitter in this capacity.
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Describe the function of the following neurotransmitter:
oxytocin
As a neurotransmitter, oxytocin encourages social bonding and maternal behavior.
Oxytocin more commonly functions as a hormone, in which it is most notably involved in uterine contractions during labor.
What are the two sub-systems of the nervous system?
The two sub-systems of the nervous system are:
The central nervous system
The peripheral nervous system
What are the physical components of the central nervous system (CNS)?
The brain and the spinal cord.
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What is the physical component of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
All of the body’s nerves.
The peripheral nervous system is further sub-divided into the somatic and the autonomic nervous systems.
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sub-system of the PNS responsible for the voluntary control of muscle functioning and the detection of stimuli through the body’s sensory receptors.
the somatic nervous system
sub-system of the PNS responsible for subconscious, involuntary, visceral functions that maintain the body at a homeostatic state.
the autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system coordinates activities such as digestion, heart rate, respiratory rate, salivation, excretion of urine, secretion of hormones, and sexual arousal.
the sympathetic nervous system
The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is a sub-system of the autonomic nervous system that acts to prepare the body for physical or mental activity, particularly in the fight-or-flight response.
The SNS responds to major stressors by increasing heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and perspiration, dilating pupils and bronchi, and decreasing digestion. T/F
True
the parasympathetic nervous system
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is a sub-system of the autonomic nervous system responsible for “rest and digest”, or the overall slow-down of the body’s functions in order to conserve energy.
The only body functions that the _____ augments are digestion and sexual arousal.
the parasympathetic nervous system
What two types of cells comprise the nervous system?
neurons and glial cells
a neuron
A neuron is the electrically excitable cell that comprises the nervous system and functions to process and transmit impulses through the body.
A neuron contains a cell body, dentrites, which gather and carry impulses to the cell body, and an axon, which carries information away from the cell body and towards other cells.
a glial cell
A glial cell functions to support the neuronal cells within the nervous system by providing nourishment, protection, and physical support.
There are many different types of glial cells, all with specific functions and locations.
Neurons could not function, or survive, without the support of glial cells.
a synapse
A synapse is the location where the axon of one neuron connects to the dendrite of the next.
The gap between neurons is called the synaptic gap, or cleft.
Synapses can either be chemical or electrical in nature.T/F
True
__________is a synapse in which the neurons are directly touching and are connected by small junctions that allow nerve impulses to pass directly from one neuron to the other.
an electrical synapse
Electrical synapses are more common as chemical synapses.
False - Electrical synapses are not as common as chemical synapses.
a chemical synapse
A chemical synapse is a synapse in which the neurons do not actually touch, and instead communicate by sending chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) that bridge the gap between them.
Chemical synapses are more common than electrical synapses. T/F
True
a neurotransmitter
A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that allows for the communication between neurons in a chemical synapse.
Neurotransmitters are released from the axon of the presynaptic neuron, diffuse across the synaptic gap, and attach to specific receptors on the dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron. T/F
True
the technical term used to describe a nerve impulse.
an action potential
Action potentials consist of a brief, reversible depolarization of the neuron. The depolarization then travels along the axon, allowing for the propagation of the impulse. T/F
False -
Action potentials consist of a brief, reversible POLARIZATION of the neuron. The polarization then travels along the axon, allowing for the propagation of the impulse.
fat-like insulating sheath, made by glial cells, that surrounds the axons of neurons and dramatically increases the speed of the action potential propagation.
myelin
How many pairs of external brain lobes are there on the surface of the human brain?
4
There is a fifth lobe, called the insular lobe, but it cannot be seen from the surface. T/F
True
A small part of the left frontal lobe, called Strocca’s area, is responsible for converting thoughts into words T/F.
False - A small part of the left frontal lobe, called BROCCA’s area, is responsible for converting thoughts into words.