ch 3- nervous system functioning Flashcards

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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
Q

excitatory effect

A

the increased likelihood that the post synaptic neuron will fire an action potential or neural impulse

26
Q

glutamate

A

main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system involved with learning and memory

27
Q

inhibatory effect

A

decreased likelihood that the post synaptic neuron will fire an action potential or neural impulse

28
Q

gamma aminobutyric acid or GABA

A

main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, associated with anxiety, specific phobias and parkinsons

29
Q

neuromodulators

A

subclass of neurotransmitters that alter the strength of a neural transmission, increasing or decreasing the responsiveness of neurons to neurotransmitter signals

30
Q

dopamine

A

multifunctional neurotransmitter with both excitatory and inhibitory effects that is involved in many CNS functions like movement, pleasure, attention, mood, cognition and motivation

31
Q

reward pathway

A

a group of structures in the brain that are activated by rewarding or reinforcing stimuli

32
Q

serotonin

A

an inhibitory neurotransmitter that also acts as a neuromodulator, influencing a variety of brain activities

33
Q

serotonin pathway

A

serotonins neuromodulatory system which originates in the brainstem and extends to almost all areas of the cerebrum including the cerebral cortex

34
Q

synaptic plasticity

A

specific changes that occur within the synapse between neurons

35
Q

long term potentation

A

relatively permanent strengthening of synapting connections, as a result of repeated activation of a neural pathway

36
Q

long term depression

A

relatively permanent weakening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated low level activation

37
Q

LTP+LTD=

A

more effeicient neural pathways as a result of neural plasticity

38
Q

sprouting

A

growth of axon or dendrite fibres at the synapsed

39
Q

dendritic spine

A

a dendrite fibre that grows by sprouting on the post synaptic neuron

40
Q

filigree appendage

A

a fibre that grows by sprouting from the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron

41
Q

synaptogenesis

A

formation of new synapses that result from the process of sprouting

42
Q

rerouting

A

the formation of new connections between neurons to establish alternative neural pathways

43
Q

pruning

A

removal of excess neurons and synaptic connectinos to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions