Chapter 2 - Brain Basics/The Nervous System

Question 1

• Neurons:

Answer 1

specialized cells in the nervous system that control behaviour, senses, and movement

Question 2

• Glial cells:

Answer 2

cells that support the function of neurons

Question 3

• Dendrites:

Answer 3

parts of a neuron that receive information from other neurons

Question 4

• Axons:

Answer 4

part of a neuron that sends neurotransmitters to other neurons

Question 5

• Synapse:

Answer 5

components that make up a connection between neurons that includes an axon terminal, postsynaptic terminal, and synaptic cleft

Question 6

• Interneuron:

Answer 6

neuron with the soma and axon found within the same structure

Question 7

• Sensory neuron:

Answer 7

neuron that conveys sensory information via axons to the central nervous system

Question 8

• Motor neuron:

Answer 8

neuron that conveys motor info via axon from the central nervous system

Question 9

• Oligodendrocyte:

Answer 9

glial cell that forms a material called myelin around the axons of neurons

Question 10

• Astrocytes:

Answer 10

glial cell that plays a role in the forming of the blood-brain barrier, facilitating neuronal function and responding to injury

Question 11

• Gliosis:

Answer 11

processes involving the swelling of glia cells in response to injury

Question 12

• Microglial cell:

Answer 12

glial cell that removes normal cellular waste and serves as an immune cell in the central nervous system

Question 13

• Somatic nervous system:

Answer 13

system responsible for delivering VOLUNTARY motor signals from the central nervous system to muscles throughout the body and for conveying sensory information from the body to the central nervous system

Question 14

• Autonomic nervous system:

Answer 14

system that control INVOLUNTARY movements for vital functions, such as heartbeat, breathing, and swallowing

Question 15

• Sympathetic nervous system:

Answer 15

system that prepares the body for rigorous activity by increasing heartbeat, inhibiting digestion, and opening airways, among many other involuntary functions fight or flight

Question 16

• Parasympathetic nervous system:

Answer 16

subsystem of autonomic nervous system that is dominant during relaxed states, including decreases in heartbeat, stimulation of digestion, and the closing of airways rest and digest

Question 17

• Cerebral cortex:

Answer 17

the surface of the brain; comprising gyri and sulci

Question 18

• Medulla:

Answer 18

structure that controls the autonomic and nervous system and is situated where the spinal cord meets the hindbrain

Question 19

• Hypothalamus:

Answer 19

structure found in the forebrain that maintains important physiological conditions, in part by motivating an organism’s behaviour

Question 20

• Limbic system:

Answer 20

series of structures that together appear to form a ring around the thalamus and hypothalamus

Question 21

• Nucleus accumbens:

Answer 21

limbic system structure that facilitates reinforcing effects

Question 22

• Occipital lobe:

Answer 22

region of the cerebral cortex important for processing visual info

Question 23

• Temporal lobe:

Answer 23

region of the cerebral cortex important for processing auditory info and supporting language comprehension and production

Question 24

• Parietal lobe:

Answer 24

region of the cerebral cortex important for processing touch info

Question 25

• Frontal lobe:

Answer 25

region of the cerebral cortex important for decision making and movement

Question 26

• Prefrontal cortex:

Answer 26

most anterior part of the frontal cortex; an integration area for all types of sensory input; initiates movements

Question 27

• Thalamus:

Answer 27

forebrain structure that routes sensory info from the body to the appropriate lobes

Question 28

• Motor cortex:

Answer 28

part of the frontal lobe that sends movement signals to the body through the pyramidal system

Question 29

• Basal ganglia:

Answer 29

aid in the stabilization of movement

Question 30

• Pons:

Answer 30

a structure that elicits startle reflexes

Question 31

• Cerebellum:

Answer 31

a structure that facilitates balance and the timing of movements

Question 32

• Working memory:

Answer 32

consists of short-term verbal or nonverbal memories employed to carry out a task

Question 33

• Long-term memory:

Answer 33

consists of stored verbal and nonverbal info

Question 34

• Hippocampus:

Answer 34

a structure in the limbic system important for long-term memory

Question 35

• Reticular activating system:

Answer 35

system of structures that support arousal in the cerebral cortex

Question 36

• Cerebral blood flow:

Answer 36

blood flow throughout the brain

Question 37

• Cerebrospinal fluid:

Answer 37

fluid that surrounds cells in the brain

Question 38

• Periaqueductal gray:

Answer 38

small layer of tissue that surrounds the cerebral aqueduct

Question 39

• Ventricles:

Answer 39

cerebrospinal fluid-filled cavities in the brain

Question 40

• Gene:

Answer 40

segment of DNA encoded with the traits expressed in an organism

Question 41

• Polymorphism:

Answer 41

a difference in the encoding of a gene compared to the most common sequence in a population

Question 42

• Transcription factor:

Answer 42

substance that increases or decreases gene transcription

Question 43

• Epigenetics:

Answer 43

mechanisms of gene expression not involving alterations to DNA sequences

Question 44

• Neurogenetics:

Answer 44

how genes support the function of neurons

Question 45

• Inhibitory extracellular matrix:

Answer 45

part of gliosis consisting of chemicals that inhibit axon growth

Question 46

• Neurotrophin:

Answer 46

naturally occurring chemical substance the promotes the growth and development of neurons