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.