chapter 3- the nervous system Flashcards
acetylcholine
the first neurotransmitter to be discovered and the most common neurotransmitter in the body.
action potential
the short term change in electrical potential between the inside and outside of a neuron that leads to transmission of nerve signals.
AMPA receptors
the most common type of glutamate receptor.
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
part of the peripheral nervous system; consists of nerves that go to and from smooth muscle, heart muscle, and glands.
axon
the long, wire like part of a neuron along which electrical impulses are conducted away from the cell body.
axon terminal
the end of the axon, which contains vesicles of neurotransmitter.
basal ganglia
a group of connected nuclei that influence muscle movement, emotions, and mood.
blood brain barrier (BBB)
the specialized capillaries that carry blood to the CNS, blocking the entry of certain substances.
brainstem
part of the brain that includes the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain and controls basic vegetative processes and their automatic activities of the body.
catecholamine
neurotransmitters including dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, all of which have a similar structure and function.
central nervous system (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord
cerebral cortex
the outermost portion of the brain hemispheres; translates to “bark”
cerebrum
part of the forebrain containing the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and hippocampus.
corpus callosum
a band of nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres of the brain
dendrites
the branded outgrowths from the soma; the main receptive surface of the neuron.
depolarization
when the charge across the neuron is reversed; in a neuron, this refers to the inside of a neuron becoming more positively charged compared with the outside.
frontal lobe
the part of the cerebrum responsible for planning, programming, speech, and initiating voluntary movements.
GABA
gamma-aminobutyric acid; the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain.
glutamate
the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
hypothalamus
part of the limbic system, it integrates and controls the autonomic nervous system. helps regulate blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and pupil diameter, as well as emotions, food intake, water balance, and sleep. is also involved with such drives as pleasure and addiction.
innervate
to supply a part of the body with nerves, or to stimulate an area by a nerve.
insula
the fifth lobe of the cerebrum that receives and responds to internal sensations and translates these into a conscious, subjective experience.
ionotropic receptor
a type of receptor that is also an ion channel; when a substance binds, the receptor quickly opens, and an ion such as sodium or chloride rushes into the cell.
limbic system
involved in the control of emotions and memory, this entity includes the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala, among other areas.
medulla oblongata
part of the brainstem that controls basic vegetative processes such as heart rate, blood vessel diameter, respiratory rate, coughing, swallowing, and sneezing.
metabotropic receptor
a type of receptor that is separate from an ion channel; if a substance binds to the receptor, a series of events may open a separate ion channel or cause another change in the cell, but it happens relatively slowly.
motor neuron
a nerve cell that sends instructions from the brain and spinal cord out to nerves, muscles, and glands.
myelin
a white fatty material that encloses and insulates some axons and speeds neurotransmission.
neurogenesis
the production of new neurons.
neuroglia
nerve cells that support neurons and aid in neurotransmission.
neuromuscular junction (NMJ)
the site at which motor neurons from the somatic nervous system influence skeletal muscles.
neuron
a nerve cell that receives and sends signals within the body.
neurotransmitter
a chemical substance released from a neuron that binds to a receptor and affects another cell.
NMDA receptors
N-Methyl-D-aspartate; an important class of glutamate receptors that are involved in memory.
node of ranvier
a gap in the myelin sheath of an axon where action potentials are propagated.
nucleus
the part of a cell that contains genes that code for proteins.
nucleus accumbens
an area in the basal ganglia that plays an important role in reward, pleasure, and addiction.
occipital lobe
the part of the cerebrum where visual images are sent.
opioid
any natural, synthetic, or endogenous substance that binds to the opioid receptor.
parasympathetic nervous system
part of the PNS; regulates restful, ‘business as usual’ impulses.
parietal lobe
the part of the cerebrum that contains the primary somatosensory area of the cortex, where sensations such as pain, temperature, and touch are processed.
periaqueductal gray
an area of the midbrain involved in pain control.
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
all the nerves going to and from the brain and spinal cord.
pineal gland
one of our biological clocks that produces a substance called melatonin, which is involved in sleep and depression.
pituitary gland
sometimes called the master gland, it releases many important hormones.
pons
part of the brainstem that contains respiratory nuclei that help smooth out breathing patterns; it is also important in sleep and arousal.
prefrontal cortex
the part of the cerebrum responsible for reasoning, judgements, and decision making.
presynaptic autoreceptor
a type of receptor located on the presynaptic membrane, which detects the presence of neurotransmitter in the synapse and sends a signal to inhibit synthesis or release of that neurotransmitter.
receptor
a protein molecule located on or in a cell, which responds specifically to a particular neurotransmitter, hormone, or drug.
reticular formation
a network of nuclei involved in mediating levels of arousal and attention.
reuptake
the process by which a presynaptic neuron reabsorbs a neurotransmitter that it has released.
sensory neuron
a nerve cell that carries information into the brain and spinal cord.
serotonin
a neurotransmitter found throughout the brain and body, involved in many functions, including mood, sleep, appetite, and visual perception.
soma
the cell body of a neuron.
somatic nervous system
part of the PNS; consists of nerves that carry sensory information into the CNS, as well as nerves that carry motor signals from the CNS to skeletal muscle cells.
spinal cord
a longitudinal system of neurons and supporting tissue that carries signals between the brain and the peripheral nervous system.
substantia nigra
part of the midbrain that plays an important role in movement.
sympathetic nervous system
part of the PNS; regulates fight or flight impulses
synapse
the gap between two nerve cells
tectum
part of the midbrain that contains nuclei that control eye movements, pupillary response to light, and reactions to moving stimuli, as well as auditory reflexes.
tegmentum
a neural network in the midbrain that is involved in many reflexive and homeostatic pathways.
temporal lobe
the part of the cerebrum that processes hearing, memory, and integration of sensory functions.
thalamus
part of the forebrain that serves as the relay station of the brain; it sorts many sensory signals and sends them to the appropriate areas of the cortex.
ventral tegmental area (VTA)
an area of the midbrain involved in addiction, reward, and rational processing.
vesicle
a small sac in the axon terminal that contains neurotransmitter molecules.
cannabinoid
a diverse group of physiologically active compounds found in cannabis and the human body that bind to cannabinoid receptors.
