Chapter 8, nervous system, pages 256–259 Flashcards
Acetylcholine
Chemical that stimulates cells.
Afferent (sensory) neurons
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 muscles, 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 control 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 coordinate musculoskeletal movements.
Cerebral cortex
Outer portion of the cerebrum.
Cerebrospinal fluid CSF
Watery fluted 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, is 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.
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 the meninges.
Efferent (motor) neuron
Neuron that carries information to the muscles and glands from the central nervous system.
Epidural space
Area between the pia matter 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.
Gyrus (pl., gyri)
Convolutions; folds the cerebral cortex.
Hypothalamus
One of the parts of the diencephalon; serves as a sensory relay station.
Interneuron
Neuron that carries and possesses sensory information.
Medela oblongata
Part of the brainstem 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 the neuroglia that removes the debris.
Midbrain
Part of the brainstem involved with visual reflexes.
Myelin sheath
Fatty tissue that covers axons.
Nerve
Bundle of neurons that bear electrical charges 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
Membrane covering that protects the myelin sheath.
Neuroglia, neuroglial cell
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 of 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
Anything that arouses a response.
Subdural space
Area between the dura mater and the pia mater across which that arachnoid mater runs.
Sulcus
Fissure; one of many indentations of the cerebrum.
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.
