Between Midterms

Question 1

CNS contains

Answer 1

Brain, spinal cord, optic nerve. retina,

Question 2

PNS contains

Answer 2

Cranial nerves, spinal nerves, autonomic NS ( sympathetic, parasympathetic, enteric), somatic etc.

Question 3

Cellular components of the brain

Answer 3

Neuron

Glial cell

Question 4

Neuron

Answer 4

basic unit of the nervous system, each composed of a cell body, dendrite, and axon.

also called a “nerve cell”. human brain contains approximately 67-86 billion

Question 5

Glial cell

Answer 5

nonneuronal brain cells that provide structural, nutritional, and other types of support to the brain. (glia/neuroglia) , 4 different types, approx. 40-50 billion

Question 6

Parts of a neuron

Answer 6

Dendrites, soma, axon, axon terminals

Question 7

Dendrites

Answer 7

tapered extensions of cell body

collect info from other neurons

Question 8

soma (cell body)

Answer 8

dendrite(s) and typically one axon

synthesize macromolecules, integrate electrical signals

Question 9

Axon

Answer 9

single, cylindrical; may be many cm(s) long; may be myelinated or unmyelinated
conduct info to other neurons

Question 10

axon terminals ( synaptic endings/ terminals/boutons

Answer 10

vesicle filled apposition to port of another neuron

transmit information to other neurons

Question 11

axon terminal

Answer 11

synaptic vesicle
neurotransmitter
synapse
synaptic cleft

Question 12

synaptic vesicle

Answer 12

spherical sac containing neurotransmitters

Question 13

neurotransmitter

Answer 13

the chemical released from the (presynaptic) axon terminal that serves as the basis for communication between neurons

Question 14

synapse

Answer 14

space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically

Question 15

synaptic cleft

Answer 15

a gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal

Question 16

Neural impulse

Answer 16

resting potential
threshold
depolarization
action potential
refractory period
r

Question 17

resting potential

Answer 17

electrical charge difference (-60 mV) across the neuronal membrane when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited

Question 18

threshold

Answer 18

membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

Question 19

depolarization

Answer 19

the reduction of a membrane’s resting potential so that it becomes less negative

Question 20

action potential

Answer 20

electrical impulse that travels down the axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters

Question 21

refractory period

Answer 21

the time during which another action potential is impossible, limits the maximal firing rate of the neuron

Question 22

receiving signals

Answer 22

postsynaptic potential (PSP)
inhibitory PSP
excitatory PSP
reuptake

Question 23

postsynaptic potential (PSP)

Answer 23

a voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane

Question 24

inhibitory PSP

Answer 24

a negative voltage shift that decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials

Question 25

excitatory PSP

Answer 25

a positive voltage shift that increases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials

Question 26

large molecule neurotransmitters (neuropeptides)

Answer 26

pituitary peptides,
hypothalamic peptides,
brain-gut peptides, opioid peptides, miscellaneous peptides, endorphins

Question 27

small- molecule neurotransmitters

Answer 27

amino acids, monoamines, acetylcholine, unconventional neurotransmitters

Question 28

amino acids

Answer 28

glutamate, aspartate, glycine, GABA

Question 29

monoamines

Answer 29

chatecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine), indolamines (serotonin)

Question 30

acetylcholine

Answer 30

acetylcholine

Question 31

unconventional neurotransmitters

Answer 31

soluble gases (nitric oxide, carbon monoxide), endocannabinoids (anandamide)

Question 32

acetylcholine (ACh)

Answer 32

released by motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles, contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal and memory, nicotine stimulates ACh receptors, memory enhancers increase ACh, insecticides block the breakdown of ACh creating excess amounts, botox causes paralysis by blocking ACh release, Alzheimer’s disease is associated with low levels of ACh

Question 33

Agonist

Answer 33

a chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter when it binds with the neurotransmitters receptor site

Question 34

antagonist

Answer 34

a chemical that blocks the action of a neurotransmitters receptor site

Question 35

dopamine (DA)

Answer 35

monoamine, contributes to control of voluntary movement, cocaine and amphetamines elevate activity at DA synapses, dopamine circuits in medial forebrain bundle characterized as “reward pathway”, degeneration of DA neurons is believed to be responsible for symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

Question 36

Serotonin (5-HT)

Answer 36

monoamine, involved in regulation of sleep and wakefulness , eating and aggression, prozac and similar antidepressant drugs affect serotonin circuits

Question 37

norepinephrine (NE)

Answer 37

monoamine, brain arousal and other functions like mood, hunger, sleep and sexual behaviour. Drugs such as amphetamines, methamphetamines increase NE levels. also known as noradrenaline, functions as both a hormone and a neurotransmitter

Question 38

GABA

Answer 38

amino acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid, the brain’s main inhibitory transmitter, contributes to regulation of anxiety and sleep/arousal, valium and similar antianxiety drugs work at GABA synapses

Question 39

Glutamate

Answer 39

main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, participates in relay of sensory information and learning

Question 40

Anandamide

Answer 40

unconventional neurotransmitter, binds to the same receptors as THC, comes from the Sanskrit word “Ananda” meaning “joy, bliss, delight”, occurs in both the CNS and PNS, likely plays a role in eating, memory, motivation and sleep. Pain, fear, healing?

Question 41

endorphins

Answer 41

neuropeptide, naturally occurring (endogenous) analgesic, inhibit communication of pain signals to the spinal cord, insensitivity to pain (oversupply), hypersensitivity to pain (undersupply)