Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

MBC > CH 10 Neuro- Definitions > Flashcards

CH 10 Neuro- Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

acetylcholine

A

neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

afferent nerve

A

af- toward/ferent-carry- towards brain- carries messages towards the brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

arachnoid membrane

A

middle/spider-like- middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. arachne means spider.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

astrocyte

A

astro/star, cyte/cell- type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries in the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

involuntary- nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands and internal organs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

axon

A

microscopic fiber that is part of a neuron and carries nervous impulses along a nerve cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

blood brain barrier (BBB)

A

protective separation between the blood and brain cells. this makes it difficult for substances such as anti cancer drugs to penetrate capillary walls to enter the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

brainstem

A

posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

cauda equina (horse tail)

A

collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

cell body

A

part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

central nervous system CNS

A

brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

cerebellum

A

posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

cerebral cortex

A

outer region of the brain containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

cerebreospinal fluid

A

CSF- circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

cerebrum

A

voluntary- largest part of the brain- responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought and memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

cranial nerves

A

nerves carry messages to and from the brain to all parts of head and neck and also (in the case of the vagus nerve) to other parts of the body. there are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

dendrite

A

miocroscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell (neuron) that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

dura mater

A

hard mother- thich, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

efferent nerve

A

ef-away, ferent- carry- carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

ependymal cell

A

glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

ganglion

A

collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

ganglia

A

plural; ganglion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

glial cell (neuroglial cell)

A

supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses. examples are astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes. glial cells can reproduce themselves, as opposed to neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

gyrus

A

sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
gyri
plural; gyrus
26
hypothalamus
portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland
27
medulla oblongata
part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here
28
meninges
three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
29
microglial cell
phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system
30
midbrain
uppermost portion of the brainstem
31
motor nerve
carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve
32
myelin sheath
covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell; myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons
33
nerve
macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons) that carry electrical impulses
34
neuron
nerve cell that is necessary for impulses to be carried throughout the nervous system ; parenchyma of the nervous system
35
neurotransmitter
chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell. it stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell. examples of neurotransmitters are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin
36
oligodendroglial cell
glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. also called oligodendrocyte.
37
parasympathetic nerves
involuntary autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract
38
parenchyma
essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system. the parenchyma of the nervous system includes the neurons and nerves that carry nervous impulses. parenchymal cells of the liver are hepatocytes, and parenchymal tissue of the kidney includes the nephrons, where urine is formed.
39
peripheral nervous system
nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves
40
pia mater
delicate mother; thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges
41
plexus
large, interlacing network of nerves. examples are lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial (brachi/o means arm) plexuses. the term originated from the indo-european "plek", meaning to weave together
42
plexuses
plural for plexus; more than one plexus
43
pons
(bridge) part of the brain, anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain. it is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain.
44
receptor
organ that receives and transmits a stimulus to sensory nerves. the skin, ears, eyes and taste buds are receptons
45
sciatic nerve
nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot. sciatica is pain or inflammation along the course of the nerve.
46
sensory nerve
carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve
47
spinal nerves
pairs of nerves, arising one on each side of the spinal column. they transmit messages to and from the sopinal cord.
48
stimulus
agent of change in the internal or external environment that evokes a response. it may be light, sound, touch, pressure, or pain. plural; stimuli
49
stroma
connective and supporting tissue of an organ. glial cells make up the stromal tissue of the brain.
50
sulcus
depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure
51
sulci
sulcus; plural
52
sympathetic nerves
autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress
53
synapse
a point of contact; space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells. from greek; synapsis
54
thalamus
main relay center of the brain. it conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum; incoming sensory messages are relayed through the thalamus to appropriate centers in the cerebrum. latin thalamus means room. the romans, who named this structure, thought this part of the brain was hollow, like a little room.
55
vagus nerve
tenth cranial nerve (cranial nerve x); it branches to reach the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach. latin vagus means "wandering" (think vagabond). unlike the other cranial nerves, the vagus leaves the head and wanders into abdominal and thoracic cavities.
56
ventricles of the brain
canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid. ventricles are also found in the heart; they are two lower chambers of the heart
57
epilepsis
laying hold of- overtaken by
58
ictal/ictus
a blow or stroke
59
dysarthric
to utter distinctly
60
somnolent
sleepy
61
lancinating
shooting; piercing; darting; stabbing pain

MBC (38 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions