Chapter 10 Flashcards
Action potential
Sequence of changes in the membrane centration in the blood, causing the blood pH to decrease below 7.35; respiratory acidosis and metabolic acidosis.
Association areas
Areas of the brain that are concerned with linking or coordinating a primary function. For example the visual association are coordinates those activities that support the sensation of sight.
Axon
Elongated part of the neuron that conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body.
Blood- brain barrier
A structural characteristic of the capillaries of the CNS that impedes or prevents the diffusion of some substances from the systemic circulation into the CNS.
Brain
The part of the CNS contained within the cranial cavity; divided into the cerebrum, diencephalon, brain stem, and cerebellum.
Brain stem
Part of the brain that is formed by the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. Lower part of the brain that connects the brain with the spinal cord; consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
Central nervous system
The part of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord.
Cerebellum
Part of the brain located under the cerebrum; it coordinates skeletal muscle activity.
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cushioning fluid that circulates within the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord.
Cerebrum
Largest and uppermost part of the brain, divided into two cerebral hemispheres. There are four loves: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.
Choroid plexus
A network of capillaries in the ventricles of the brain; the capillaries, surrounded by ependymal cells, secrete cerebrospinal fluid.
Convolution
A convex curvature of the cerebral cortex; also called a gyrus.
Corpus callosum
Bands of white matter that connect the left and right cerebral hemispheres of the brain.
Dendrite
Treelike process of the neuron that receives the stimulus and carries it toward the cell body.
Depolarize
Change in the membrane potential across the cell membrane, with the inside of the cell becoming less negative or less polarized than the resting membrane potential.
Fissure
A narrow slit or groove that divides an organ; also called a sulcus.
Frontal lobe
Anterior portion of the cerebrum that controls voluntary skeletal activity and motor speech and that plays an important role in emotions, critical thinking, and ethical decision making.
Ganglion
A group of nerve cell bodies usually linked by synapses; often appears as a swelling.
Gyrus
See convolution
Hypothalamus
Part of the diencephalon that regulates the pituitary gland, autonomic nervous system, water balance, appetite, temperature, and emotions.
Interneuron
Neuron that links the sensory and motor neurons in the central nervous system.
Limbic system
The emotional brain.
Medulla oblongata
Most inferior part of the brain stem that controls vital functions, such as respiratory and cardiovascular function.
Meninges
Membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord; include the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.
Myelin sheath
White fatty material that covers some nerve fibers.
Neuroglia
Nerve cells that support, protect, and nourish the neurons.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical made within the axon terminal responsible for transmission of the signal across the synapse or junction.
Nodes of Ranvier
Exposed or unmyelinated axonal membrane; permits salutatory conduction.
Occipital lobe
Cerebral lobe located in the back of the head; concerned primarily with vision.
Parietal lobe
Lobe of the cerebrum concerned primarily with somatosensory function.
Peripheral nervous system
Nerves and ganglia that lie outside the central nervous system(CNS).
Repolarize
Return of the membrane potential to its resting state after the nerve impulse.
Resting membrane potential
The membrane potential difference of excitable tissue (nerve and muscle) in the resting or unstimulated state.
Reticular formation
Complex network of nerve fibers that arises within the brain stem and projects into the lower cerebrum; causes arousal of the cerebrum so that the person does not slip into coma.
Subarachnoid space
The space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater; it it the space through which cerebrospinal fluid circulates around the brain and spinal cord.
Sulcus
A fissure or groove
Synapse
The interaction between two nerves where chemical transmission of the electrical signal occurs
Temporal lobe
Lobe of the cerebrum responsible for hearing, smelling, speech, and memory
Thalamus
Part of the diencephalon that relays sensory information to the cerebrum and plays a major role in the interpretation of pain
Threshold potential
The degree of depolarization required to fire an action potential in a nerve or muscle membrane
