Chapter 2 Flashcards
neuroscience
the field of study that deals with the structure of the brain and components of the nervous system
glial cells
provide physical and metabolic support to neurons; communicate with other cells; specific types have stem cell-like properties
oligodendrocytes
produce myelin in the central nervous system
Schwann cells
produce myelin in the peripheral nervous system
neurons
specialized cells in nervous system; send and receive messages with in the system
Resting potential
the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse
action potential
the release of the neural impulse consisting of a reversal of the electrical charge within the axon
axon terminals
rounded areas at the end of the branched at the end of the axon
synaptic vesicles
sack-like structures found inside the axon terminal containing chemiclas
synapse.synaptic gap
microscopic fluid-filled space between the rounded areas on the end of the axon terminals of one cell and the dendrites or surface of the next cell
receptor sites
holes in the surface of the dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands, which are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters
acetylcholine
involved in memory and stimulates movement
somatic nervous system
controls the voluntary muscles of the body; involves the sensory pathway (sensory neurons carrying information to spinal cord and/or brain) and the motor pathway (nerves that carry information to voluntary skeletal muscles)
autonomic nervous system
controls automatic functions of the body (organs, glands, involuntary muscles)
sympathetic division
fight or flight functions reacts to stressful event and bodily arousal
parasympathetic division
eat drink and rest functions restores body to normal functioning after arousal and is responsible for day to day functioning of glands and organs
glands
organs in the body that secrete chemicals; some affect functioning of the body but not behavior; others have widespread influence on the body and behavior
endocrine glands
secrete chemicals called hormones into bloodstream, affect behavior and emotions by influencing the activity of the brain and by controlling muscles and organs such as the hear, pancreas, and sex organs
4 lobes of the cortex
frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital
the cortex
the outermost, wrinkled layer of the brain comprised of left and right hemispheres, connected by corpus callosum; each hemisphere can be further divided into four lobes
cerebral hemisphere (left)
specializes in tasks that involve sequence and analysis (lang, speech, handwriting, math)
cerebral hemisphere (right)
processes information in a more global sense (perception, visualization spatial perception, recognition of patterns, faces, and emotional expression)
