ch 3- nervous system functioning Flashcards

1
Q

CNS- central nervous system

A

the brain and spinal cord: processes and coordinates responses to sensory stimuli

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2
Q

brain

A

a complex structure that receives and processes sensory stimuli from the body and coordinates responses, including voluntary movements, emotions and conscious thought.

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3
Q

spinal cord

A

a dense bundle of nerves that carry sensory information from the body to the brain and motor information from the brain to the body

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4
Q

spinal reflex

A

involuntary and unconscious response to a stimulus involving the spinal cord, occuring without input from the brain

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5
Q

sensory receptor

A

a sensory nerve ending producing an afferent or sensory impulse when stimulated

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6
Q

sensory neuron

A

a nerve cell that carries sensory signals throughout the nervous system

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7
Q

interneurons

A

a nerve cell in the spinal cord connecting motor and sensory neurons by relaying information between the two

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8
Q

motor neuron

A

a nerve cell that transmits motor impulses from the spinal cord to the skeletal and smooth muscles

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9
Q

PNS- peripheral nervous system

A

all the nerves outside of the CNS, carrying messages between the CNS and muscles, organs and glands throughout the body

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10
Q

SNS- somatic nervous system

A

subdivision of the PNS carrying sensory information to the CNS and motor information to the body

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11
Q

what is the afferent role of the SNS

A

afferent refers to sensory- it carries sensory information gathered by our five senses towards the CNS

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12
Q

what is the efferent role of the SNS

A

efferent refers to motor- it carries motor commands from the CNS to skeletal muscles, enabling voluntary movements

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13
Q

ANS- autonomic nervous system

A

a subdivision of the PNs that controls the body’s internal environment in an autonomous or self regulated manner

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14
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

a subdivision of the ANS increasing our arousal and readying the body for a quick response

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15
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

a subdivision of the ANS controlling the body’s internal environment in an autonomous or self regulated manner

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16
Q

unconscious response

A

any response of our nervous system that doesn’t require awareness

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17
Q

conscious reponse

A

any response of the nervous system requiring awareness

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18
Q

neurons

A

individual nerve cells specialised to receive, process and/or transmit information within the nervous system

19
Q

neural transmission

A

an electrical impulse occuring when a neuron is activated or fires

20
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemicals producerd by neurons that carries messages to other neurons or cells within the nervous system. including muscles, organs and glands

21
Q

synapses

A

point of communication between two neurons or between a neuron and target cell like a muscle or a gland

22
Q

synaptic vesicle

A

membrane bound sphere filled with neurotransmitter molecules

23
Q

synaptic gap

A

space between the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron and the membrane of the most synaptic neuron

24
Q

receptor site

A

membrane protein on the dendrites of neurons that receive and detect specific neurotransmitters

25
excitatory effect
the increased likelihood that the post synaptic neuron will fire an action potential or neural impulse
26
glutamate
main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system involved with learning and memory
27
inhibatory effect
decreased likelihood that the post synaptic neuron will fire an action potential or neural impulse
28
gamma aminobutyric acid or GABA
main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, associated with anxiety, specific phobias and parkinsons
29
neuromodulators
subclass of neurotransmitters that alter the strength of a neural transmission, increasing or decreasing the responsiveness of neurons to neurotransmitter signals
30
dopamine
multifunctional neurotransmitter with both excitatory and inhibitory effects that is involved in many CNS functions like movement, pleasure, attention, mood, cognition and motivation
31
reward pathway
a group of structures in the brain that are activated by rewarding or reinforcing stimuli
32
serotonin
an inhibitory neurotransmitter that also acts as a neuromodulator, influencing a variety of brain activities
33
serotonin pathway
serotonins neuromodulatory system which originates in the brainstem and extends to almost all areas of the cerebrum including the cerebral cortex
34
synaptic plasticity
specific changes that occur within the synapse between neurons
35
long term potentation
relatively permanent strengthening of synapting connections, as a result of repeated activation of a neural pathway
36
long term depression
relatively permanent weakening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated low level activation
37
LTP+LTD=
more effeicient neural pathways as a result of neural plasticity
38
sprouting
growth of axon or dendrite fibres at the synapsed
39
dendritic spine
a dendrite fibre that grows by sprouting on the post synaptic neuron
40
filigree appendage
a fibre that grows by sprouting from the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron
41
synaptogenesis
formation of new synapses that result from the process of sprouting
42
rerouting
the formation of new connections between neurons to establish alternative neural pathways
43
pruning
removal of excess neurons and synaptic connectinos to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions