Chapter 8 - Nervous System Flashcards
acetylcholine
Chemical that stimulates cells.
afferent neuron
Neuron that carries information from the sensory receptors to the central nervous system; sensory neuron
arachnoid
Middle layer of 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 fluid (CSF)
Watery fluid that flows throughout the brain and around the spinal cord.
cerebrum
One of the four major divisions of the brain; division involved with emotions, memory, conscious thought, moral behavior, sensory interpretations, and certain bodily movement.
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.
cranium
Bony structure that the brain sits in.
dendrite
A thin branching extension of a nerve cell that conducts nerve impulses toward the cell body.
diencephalon
One of the four major structures of the brain; it is the deep portion of the brain and contains the thalamus.
dura mater
Outermost layer of meninges.
efferent neuron
Neuron that carries information to the muscles and glands from the central nervous system; motor neuron
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 station.
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.
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 (sing., meninx)
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 myelin sheath.
neuroglia, neuroglial
Cell of the nervous system that does not transmit impulses.
neuron
Basic cell of the nervous system having three parts; 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 mater
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 from 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 (pl., stimuli)
Anything that arouses a response.
subdural space
Area between the dura mater and the pia mater across which the arachnoid runs.
sympathetic nervous system
Part of the autonomic nervous system that operates when the body is under stress.
synapse
space over which nerve impulses jump from one neuron to another.
temporal lobe
One of the 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
One of the four parts of the diencephalon; serves as a sensory relay station.
ventricle
Cavity in the brain for cerebrospinal fluid.
cerebell(o)
cerebellum
cerebr(o), cerebri
cerebrum
crani(o)
cranium
encephal(o)
brain
gangli(o)
ganglion
gli(o)
neuroglia
mening(o), meningi(o)
meninges
myel(o)
bone marrow, spinal cord
neur(o), neuri
nerve
spin(o)
spine
thalam(o)
thalamus
vag(o)
vagus nerve
ventricul(o)
ventricle