Chapter 3: Movement Systems Flashcards
Organ Systems
A group of organs working together to perform biological functions.
Nervous Tissue
Tissue found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that coordinates body activities.
Neurons
The most fundamental component of the brain and nervous system capable of transmitting information to and from other neurons, muscles, or glands.
Neuroglia
Cells in the brain and spinal cord that form a supporting structure for the neurons and provide them with insulation.
Neurosecretory Tissues
Neurons that translate neural signals into chemical stimuli.
Cell Body
The core and central structure of a neuron containing a nucleus and other specialized organelles that aid in nervous system function.
Axon
The thin tail-like structure of a neuron that generates and conducts nerve impulses.
Dendrites
Rootlike structures branching out from the cell body that receive and process signals from the axons of other neurons.
Sensory Neurons
Nerve cells involved in communicating tactile, auditory, or visual information.
Motor Neurons
Nerve cells that initiate muscle contraction or activate glands.
Interneurons
Nerve cells that connect neurons to other neurons.
Central Nervous System
The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System
The nerves and ganglia (relay areas for nerve signals) outside of the brain and spinal cord.
Cerebrum
The uppermost and largest part of the brain consisting of a left and right hemisphere; responsible for receiving and processing sensory information and controlling the body.
Cerebellum
The region of the brain responsible for conscious motor coordination.
Brain Stem
The trunk of the brain, consisting of the medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain that continues downward to form the spinal cord.
Cerebral Cortex
The part of the brain where most neural integration occurs.
Midbrain
The brain region responsible for motor movement and processing auditory and visual information.
Pons
The brain region responsible for posture, facial movement, and sleep.
Medulla Oblongata
The base of the brain stem, responsible for involuntary functions like swallowing, sneezing, and heart function.
Thalamus
The brain region responsible for relaying sensory and motor signals and regulating consciousness.
Decussation
The point of crossover of the nervous system in vertebrates located between the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord.
Frontal Lobe
The brain lobe involved in motor control, emotion, and language.
Motor Cortex
The region of the frontal lobe that plans and coordinates movement.
Prefrontal Cortex
The part of the frontal lobe responsible for high-level thinking and language.
Parietal Lobe
The brain lobe involved in processing sensory information.
Somatosensory Cortex
The region of the parietal lobe responsible for processing sensations like pain, temperature, and touch.
Temporal Lobe
The lateral lobe of the brain responsible for hearing, memory, and emotion.
Auditory Cortex
The region of the temporal lobe responsible for hearing.
Occipital Lobe
The posterior lobe of the brain responsible for vision.
Visual Cortex
The specific region of the occipital lobe responsible for sight and visual perception.
Hypothalamus
The region at the base of the brain responsible for maintaining homeostasis.
Homeostasis
A self-regulating process by which the body maintains the stability of its physiological processes for the purpose of optimal function.
Spinal Cord
The neural tissue extending from the medulla oblongata to the lumbar region (lower back) of the vertebral column.
Cranial Nerves
The 12 sensory and motor nerves extending directly from the brain.
Spinal Nerves
Bundles of nerves connected to the spinal cord carrying information toward the periphery.
Efferent Neurons
Motor neurons sending information from the CNS to the muscles to generate movement.
Afferent Neurons
Sensory neurons sending information from a stimulus to the CNS.
Somatic Nervous System
The part of the nervous system in charge of controlling voluntary movement.
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of the nervous system responsible for involuntary functions and movement.
Sympathetic Nervous System
The autonomic system responsible for “fight-or-flight.”
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The autonomic system responsible for “rest and digest.”
Internal Stimuli
Sensory input from within the body.
External Stimuli
Sensory input from external sources.
Mechanoreceptors
Nervous system receptors responding to mechanical stimuli such as sound or touch.
Proprioception
Perception or awareness of body movement or position.
Myelin Sheath
The insulation of neuron axons, made of proteins and fats, which propagates neural impulses.
Nerve Impulses
The electrical signals used for nerve communication.
Sensory Integration
The way the brain works to affect responses to neural input.
Motor Unit
A single motor neuron and the muscle fibers it controls.
Motor Unit Pool
A group of motor units that work together.
Mechanical Work
The amount of energy transferred by a force, the product of force and distance.
Extrafusal Muscle Fibers
The standard skeletal muscle fibers involved in creating mechanical work.
Alpha Motor Neurons
Motor neurons originating in the brain stem and spinal cord that initiate muscle contraction.
Excitation-Contraction Coupling
The physiological process of converting a neural impulse into a mechanical response.
Action Potential
An explosion of electrical activity caused by a neural impulse.
All-or-None Principle
The principle stating the strength of a neural electrical signal is independent of the magnitude of the stimulus so long as the neural threshold is achieved.
Cardiac Muscle
Striated involuntary muscle tissue found in the heart.
Smooth Muscle
Muscle tissue in the gut and internal organs that is involuntarily controlled.
Skeletal Muscle
The voluntary muscles attached to bones via tendons (thick fibrous connective tissue) that produces human movement.
