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MCAT Study > Biology And Behavior > Flashcards

Biology And Behavior Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

What are the major divisions of the nervous system?

A

Central nervous system: brain & spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system: somatic and autonomic (sympathetic & parasympathetic systems)

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2
Q

What are the major differences between sympathetic and parasympathetic system?

A 
Parasympathetic
	pupil constriction
	saliva production
	slow heart rate
	digestion
	bladder constriction
Sympathetic
	pupil dilation
	inhibit salivation
	increase heart rate
	glucose release
	adrenaline release
	bladder dilation
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3
Q

Name the layers of the meninges from top down.

A 
Skin
Periosteum
Bone
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pita mater
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4
Q

What are the structures of the forebrain?

A 
Cerebral cortex
Basal ganglia
Lambic system
Thalamus
Hypothalmus
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5
Q

What are the structures of the midbrain?

A

Inferior follicular

Superior follicular

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6
Q

What are the structures of the hindbrain?

A

Cerebellum
Medulla oblong at a
Reticular formation

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7
Q

What are the primary functions of the hindbrain?

A

Vital functions necessary for survival

Such as:
	balance
	motor coordination
	breathing
	digestion
	sleeping/waking
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8
Q

What are the primary functions of the midbrain?

A

Receiving sensory and motor information for the body.

Involuntary reflexes to visual and auditory stimuli.

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9
Q

What are the primary functions of the forebrain?

A

Perception, cognition, and behavior.

Emotion and memory.

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10
Q

Name the methods for mapping the brain?

What are each of their distinguishing features?

A

CT - x-ray slicing
PET - radioactive sugar used
MRI - magnetic field to map hydrogen dense regions of brain
fMRI - same technique as an MRI, except it monitors blow flow.

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11
Q

Where is the thalamus located?

What is its primary function?

A

Forebrain

receives sensory information for all senses, except for smell.

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12
Q

Where is the Hypothalamus?

What is its primary function?

A

Underneath the front portion of the larger Thalamus

Primary function includes regulating homeostatic functions
Four Fs mnemonic:
	1. Feeding
	2. Fighting
	3. Flighting
	4. Functioning sexually
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13
Q

Name the three regions of the hypothalamus.

A

Lateral hypothalamus - hunger/thirst center
Ventromedial hypothalamus - “satiety center” (i.e. stop eating, fullness)
Anterior hypothalamus - sexual behavior

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14
Q

Basal Ganglia?

A

Coordinates smooth muscle movements

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15
Q

What is the function of the limbic system?

A

Emotion and memory

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16
Q

Primary components of the limbic system?

A

Septal nuclei - pleasure center and addictive behavior
Amygdala - fear and rage
Hippocampus - learning and memory processes
- hippocampus is connected via the fornix

17
Q

Name the four lobes of the cerebral cortex

A

Frontal
Parietal
Temporal
Occipital

18
Q

Primary motor cortex

A

Located on the precentral gyrus. Responsible for voluntary motor movements

19
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

Association area involved in executive functions

20
Q

Broca’s area

A

Commonly located in the left hemisphere of the prefrontal cortex. Responsible for speech production.

21
Q

Somatosenory cortex

A

Located on the postcentral gyrus.

A projection area involved in somatosensory information processing.

22
Q

Visual cortex

A

Also known as the striate cortex.

Sensation and perception of visual information.

23
Q

Auditory cortex

A

Located in the temporal lobe.

Involved in Sound processing.

24
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Specifically language reception and comprehension

Typically dominant hemisphere (Left hemisphere)

25
Q

Contralaterally vs ipsilaterally

A

Across cerebral hemispheres vs same cerebral hemisphere (i.e. hearing)

26
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Primary neurotransmitter in the parasympathetic nervous system

Found in both central and peripheral nervous systems

27
Q

Three important catecholamines

A

Important roles in emotions

Epinephrine

Norepinephrine

Dopamine

28
Q

Epinephrine

A

Alertness and wakefulness

Acts more as a systemic hormone.

29
Q

Norepinephrine

A

Alertness and wakefulness neurotransmitter

Acts on a more Local level than epinephrine

30
Q

Dopamine

A

Movement and posture neurotransmitter

High conc in basal ganglia

31
Q

Serotonin

A

Neurotransmitter

Regulating mood, eating , sleeping, dreaming

High conc equals mania
Low conc equals depression

32
Q

GABA vs Glycine Vs Glutamate

A

GABA = inhibitory neurotransmitter via hyperpolarization

Glycine = inhibitory neurotransmitter in CNS via chloride influx (hyperpolarization)

Glutamate = excitatory neurotransmitter in CNS

33
Q

Endorphins

A

Polypeptide neurotransmitters that are natural pain killers

Slow acting and long lasting

34
Q

Name the 3 Nature vs Nurture study techniques

A

Family studies - limited in scope (both genetic and environment based)

Twin studies - compares concordance rates (MZ vs DZ twins)

Adoption studies - analyze environment influences on behavior

35
Q

Describe the process of neurulation

A

Ectoderm over the notochord furrows, leading to the neural groove surrounds by neural folds

Neural groove closes to form the neural tube, which leads to the CNS

Neural tube has an alar plate near the top which forms sensory neurons and a basal plate which forms motor neurons.

Neural tube invaginates many times to form embryonic swellings.

36
Q

rooting reflex

A

turning of the head in direction of a stimulus

Think cheek to nipple

37
Q

Moro reflex

A

Movement toward an infant’s head causes arms to fling outward

38
Q

Babinski reflex

A

Infants spread toes apart when sole of foot is stimulated

39
Q

Grasping reflex

A

Infants “grasp” objects when placed in their hands

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