chapter 3 Flashcards
The short bushy fibers that branch out from the cell body; they constitute the major signal-receiving area of the neuron
Dendrite
The single long fiber that extends from a neuron’s cell body; its function is to conduct neural signals from the cell body to other parts of the nervous system
Axon
The button-like terminal endings of the axon branches
Buttons
Membrane sacs that store neurotransmitter molecules ready for release near the presynaptic membrane; manufactured by the Golgi apparatus
Synaptic vesicles
Molecules in the neuron cell membrane to which neurotransmitter molecules bind in key-in-lock fashion and, in so doing, induce signals in the neuron
Receptors
The gaps between adjacent glial segments on a myelinated axon
Nodes of Ranvier
Glial cells that myelinate CNS axons
Oligodendrocytes
Glial cells that myelinate PNS axons
Schwann cells
Small glial cells; their function is phagocytosis
Microglia
Large glial cells such as oligondendrocytes, Schwann cells, and astrocytes
Macroglia
The middle menynx, it has the texture of a gauze-like spider web
Arachnoid membrane
Large, star-shaped glial cells, whose many projections terminate on other ( ), blood vessels, and neurons
Astrocytes
The central neural stem on which 2 cerebral hemispheres sit; many brain stem structure play key roles in regulation of body’s inner environment
Brain stem
the 2 large neural structures that sit atop the vertebrate brain stem, one on the left and one on the right; they mediate complex psychological processes
Cerebral hemisphere
The fluid that fills both the subarachnoid space and the hollow core of the brain and spinal cord; it supports, nourishes, and cushions the CNS
Cerebrospinal fluid
By far the largest cerebral comissure; it is composed of about 200 million axons
Corpus callosum
The region of the brain between the telenchephalon and the mesencephalon; one of the 2 divisions of the forebrain; the most anterior region of the brain stem
Diencephalon
The outermost and toughest of the 3 meninges
Dura matter
The midbrain; the region of the brain stem between the diencephalon and the metencephalon
Mesencephalon
The region of the brain stem between the mesencephalon and the myelencephalon; one of the 2 divisions of the hindbrain
Metencephalon
The most posterior region of the brain; the area of the brain stem between the metencephalon and the spinal cord; one of the 2 divisions of the hindbrain
Myelencephalon
The innermost and most delicate of the 3 meninges; it adheres to the surface of the CNS
Pia matter
The cerebral hemispheres; one of the 2 divisions of the forebrain
Telencephalon
structures of the CNS that are composed largely of axons; their function is to conduct action potentials from one part of the CNS to another
Tracts
The large striped metencephalic structure that is situated just dorsal to the pons; it plays a role in coordination and movement
Cerebellum
The diencephalic structure that is located just beneath the anterior thalamus; the pituitary gland is suspended from it
Hypothalamus
The most posterior region of the brain stem; the myelencephalon; its major structures include the pyramids, olives, medullary reticular formation, and the nuclei that contribute axons to cranial nerves 9, 10, 11, and 12
Medulla
The two-lobed diencephalic structure at the top of the brain stem; one lobe on each side of the third ventricle; several of its nuclei relay sensory information to the appropriate regions of the cerebral cortex
Thalamus
The ventral portion of the metencephalon; its major structures include the fourth ventricle, the metencephalic portion of the reticular formation, many ascending and descending tracts, and the nuclei that contribute axons to cranial nerves 5, 6, 7, and 8
Pons
Three-layered cerebral cortex, which was the 1st type of cerebral cortex to evolve; humans have mostly neocortex
Allocortex
The almond-shaped nucleus of the anterior temporal lobe; it is part of both the limbic system and the basal ganglia
Amygdala
Area of the cerebral cortex that receive input from more than one sensory system, typically via areas of secondary sensory cortex; much of their output goes to areas of secondary motor cortex
Association areas
The long, deep fissures on the lateral surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres, one on each side; they run from the longitudinal fissure down to the lateral fissure
Central Fissures
The outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres; it is largely composed of gray matter
Cerebral Cortex
The large, deep grooves in the cerebral hemispheres
Fissures
The large ridges, or convolutions, between adjacent fissures
Gyri
The allocortical limbic system structure of the medial temporal lobes; it extends from the amygdala at its anterior end to the cingulate cortex and fornix at its posterior end
Hippocampus
The long, deep grooves that run roughly horizontally on the lateral surface of the cerebral hemispheres, one on each side
Lateral fissures
Six-layered cerebral cortex of relatively recent evolutionary origin
Neocortex
