ch1 studying the nervous system Flashcards
gene
comprises both coding DNA sequences (exons) that are the templates for messenger RNA that will ultimately be translated into a protein, and regulatory DNA sequences (promoters and introns) that control whether and in what quantities a gene is expressed in a given cell type
genetic anaylsis
the analysis of the relationship btw single genes and the phenotypes to which each gene contributes
genomics
the comprehensive analysis of nuclear DNA sequences within or btw species or individuals
synapse
the junctions btw neurons where info is passed from one to the other; typically refers to chemical synapses where a physical cleft exists btw communicating neurons, but could also refer to electrical synapses mediated by gap junctions
the brain is surrounded by
cerebrospinal fluid, meninges, and ventricles
3 layers of meninges
dura, arachnoid, pia
superior
above
posterior
behind
inferior
below
anterior
in front of
rostral
towards the head/front
caudal
towards the tail/back
neocortex
the six-layered cortex that forms the surface of most of the cerebral hemisperes
6 layers of neocortex
- molecular layer
- external granular layer
- external pyramidal layer
- internal granular layer
- internal pyramidal layer
- fusiform or multiform layer
archicortex
the simplest and most primitive division of the cerebral cortex, which occurs in the hippocampus
function of archicortex
processing smells and forming memories
3 layers of archicortex
polymorphic
pyramidal
molecular layer
functions of neocortex
cognition, action, sensation, consciousness
subcortical regions
striatum
thalamus
cerebellum
midbrain
grey matter
regions of the central nervous system rich in neuronal cell bodies and neuropil; includes the cerebral and cerebellar cortices, the nuclei of the brain, and the central portion of the spinal cord
white matter
a general term that refers to regions of the brain and spinal cord containing large axonal tracts; abundance of myelin
striatum
general term applied to the caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens and other minor divisions of the ventral basal forebrain
thalamus
a collection of nuclei that forms the major component of the dorsal diencephalon
primary role to interact with neural circuits in the cerebral cortex
cerebellum
prominent hindbrain structure concerned with motor coordination, posture, and balance
hippocampus
a cortical structure in the dorsomedial margin of the parahippocampal gyrus. concerned with short-term declarative memory
histology
study of tissue structure, organization of the parts
two parts of neurons
soma
neurites (axons and dendrites)