Chapter 8 A (The Nervous System) Flashcards
Acetylcholine
Chemical that stimulates cells
Afferent (sensory) neuron
Neuron that carries information from the sensory receptors to the central nervous system
Arachnoid
Middle Layer of the Meninges
Astrocyte, Astroglia
A type of neuroglia that maintains nutrient and chemical levels in neurons
Autonomic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system that carries impulses from the central nervous system to glands, smooth muscles, cardiac muscle, and various membranes
Axon
Part of a nerve cell that conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body
Basal ganglia
Large masses of gray matter within the cerebrum
Brain
Body organ responsible for controlling the body’s functions and interactions with outside stimuli
Brainstem
One of the four major divisions of the brain; division that controls certain heart, lung, and visual functions
Cell body
Part of a nerve cell that has branches or fibers that reach out to send or receive impulses
Central nervous system
The brain and spinal cord
Cerebellum
One of the four major divisions of the brain; division that coordinates musculoskeletal movement
Cerebral Cortex
Outer portion of the cerebrum
Cerebrospinal
Watery fluid that flows throughout the brain and around the spinal cord
Cerebrum
One of four major divisions of the brain; division involved with emotions, memory, conscious thought, moral behavior, sensory interpretations, and certain bodily movements
Conductivity
Ability to transmit a signal
Convolutions
Folds in the cerebral cortex; gyri
Corpus callosum
Bridge of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the cerebrum
Cranial nerves
Any of 12 pairs of nerves that carry impulses to and from the brain
Dendrite
A thin branching extension of a nerve cell that conducts nerve impulses toward the cell body
Diencephalon
One of four major structures of the brain; it is the deep portion of the brain and contains the thalamus
Dura matter
Outermost layer of meninges
Efferent (Motor) Neuron
Neuron that carries information to the muscles and glands from the central nervous system
Epidural space
Area between the pia mater and the bones of the spinal cord
Epithalamus
One of the parts of the diencephalon; serves as a sensory relay system
Excitability
Ability to respond to stimuli
Fissure
One of many indentations of the cerebrum; sulcus
Frontal lobe
One of the four parts of each hemisphere of the cerebrum
Gyrus
convolution; fold in the cerebral cortex
Hypothalamus
One of the parts of the diencephalon; serves as a sensory relay station
Interneuron
Neuron that carries and processes sensory information
Medulla oblongata
Part of the brain stem that regulates heart and lung functions, swallowing, vomiting, coughing, and sneezing
Meninges
Three layers of membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord
Microglia
A type of neuroglia that removes debris
Midbrain
Part of the brainstem involved with visual reflexes
Myelin sheath
Fatty tissue that covers axons
Nerve
Bundle of neurons that bear electrical messages to the organs and muscles of the body
Nerve cell
Basic cell of the nervous system having three parts: cell body, dendrite, and axon; also called a neuron
Nerve impulse
Released energy that is received or transmitted by tissue or organs and that usually provokes a response
Neurilemma
Membranous covering that protects the meyelin sheath
Neurolgia
Cell of the nervous system that does not transmit impulses
Neuron
Basic cell of the nervous system having 3 parts: cell body, dendrite, and axon; also called a nerve cell
Neurotransmitters
Various substances located in tiny sacs at the end of the axon
Occipital lobe
One of the four parts of each hemisphere of the cerebrum
Oligodendroglia
A type of neuroglia that produces myelin and helps to support neurons
Parasympathetic nervous system
Part of the autonomic nervous system that operates when the body is in a normal state
Parietal lobe
One of the four parts of each hemisphere of the cerebrum
Pia matter
Innermost layer of meninges
Pons
Part of the brainstem that controls certain respiratory functions
Receptor
Tissue or organ that receives nerve impulses
Somatic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system that receives and processes sensory input form various parts of the body
Spinal cord
Ropelike tissue that sits inside the vertebral column and from which spinal nerves extend
Spinal nerves
Any of 31 pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the spinal cord and the torso and extremities
Stimulus
Anything that arouses a response
Subdural space
Area between the dura mater and the pia mater across which the arachnoid runs
Sulcus
fissure; one of many indentations in the cerebrum
Sympathetic nervous system
Part of the autonomic nervous system that operates when the body is under stress
Synapse
Spacer over which nerve impulses jump from one neuron to another
Temporal lobe
One of four parts of each hemisphere of the cerebrum
Terminal end fibers
Group of fibers at the end of an axon that passes the impulses leaving the neuron to the next neuron
Thalamus
One of the four parts of the diencephalon; serves as a sensory relay station; ventral thalamus
Ventral thalamus
One of the four parts of the diencephalon; serves as a sensory relay station
Ventricle
Cavity in the brain for cerebrospinal fluid