Exam 1 Flashcards
Composed mostly of myelinated axons
White Matter
Sensory (afferent) unipolar neurons
Dorsal Root
Motor (efferent) multipolar neurons; cell bodies in ventral horns
Ventral Root
Tracts carrying signals between the rest of the brain and body
Myelencephalon (Medulla)
Allows the medulla to control sensations from the head, muscle movements in the head, and many parasympathetic outputs
Cranial Nerves
Cranial Nerve: Vision
II. Optic
Sites of aerobic (oxygen-consuming) energy release
Mitochondria
Tubules responsible for the rapid transport of material throughout neurons
Microtubules
Spherical membrane packages that store neurotransmitter molecules ready for release near synapses
Synaptic Vesicles
Molecules that are released from active neurons and influence the activity of other cells
Neurotransmitters
A neuron with more than 2 processes extending from its cell body
Multipolar Neuron
Neurons with a short axon or no axon at all; their function is to integrate neural activity within a single brain structure
Multipolar Neuron
Clusters of cell bodies in the CNS
Nuclei
Cranial Nerve: Control of eye movements; pupil constriction
III. Oculomotor
Cranial Nerve: Control of eye movements
IV. Trochlear
Cranial Nerve: Skin sensations from most of the face; control of jaw muscles for chewing and swallowing
V. Trigeminal
Cranial nerve: Control of eye movements
VI. Abducens
A plane that shows the brain from the front
Frontal (Coronal) Plane
Cranial nerve: Control of neck and shoulder movements
XI. Accessory
Possess identical genes for a given trait
Homozygous
The observable expression of genetics
Phenotype
A protuberance on the surface of the brain
Gyrus (p. gyri)
A long, deep sulcus
Fissure
When several possible interpretations for an observation exist, precedence is given to the simplest one
Morgan’s Canon
The brain changes with time and experience… throughout the lifespan
Neuroplasticity
Provides cushion, support, temperature control, and circulating nutrition
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
The study of physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience
Biopsychology
Scientific study of the nervous system
Neuroscience
Towards the front end
Anterior
Towards the back
Dorsal
The semipermeable membrane that encloses the neuron
Cell Membrane
Specialized cells for reception, conduction, and transmission of electrochemical signals, variety of shapes and sizes
Neurons
Towards the bottom
Ventral
The metabolic center of the neuron
Cell Body
The fatty insulation around many axons
Myelin
Towards the middle
Medial
Towards the side
Lateral
Below
Inferior
Above
Superior
Located close to the point or origin/attachment
Proximal
Located more distant from the point of origin/attachment
Distal
A system of folded membranes in the cell body
- Rough portions play a role in the synthesis of proteins
- Smooth portions play a role in the synthesis of fats
Endoplasmic Reticulum
A set of cells perpendicular to the surface of the cortex
Column
Internal cellular structures on which proteins are synthesized; they are located on the endoplasmic reticulum
Ribosomes
Cranial nerve: Taste from the anterior two thirds of the tongue; control of facial expressions, crying, salivation, and dilation of the head’s blood vessels
VII. Facial
Cranial Nerve: Hearing, equilibrium
VIII. Statoacoustic
Genetic makeup of an individual
Genotype
Similar structure, different evolutionary origin
Analogous Structures
Cranial nerve: Sensations from neck and thorax; control of throat, esophagus, and larynx parasympathetic nerves to stomach, intestines, and other organs
X. Vagus
A fold/groove that separates one gyrus from another
Sulcus (p. sulci)
Stains the entire neuron; allows for visualization of the sample
Golgi Stain
Composed mostly of cell bodies
Gray Matter
The spherical DNA-containing structure of the cell body
Nucleus
Cranial nerve: Smell
I. Olfactory
A neuron with one process extending from its cell body
Unipolar Neuron
Possess opposite genes for a given trait
Heterozygous
Similar structure, similar evolutionary origin
Homologous Structures
The study of all mechanisms of inheritance other than the genetic code
Epigenetics
Cranial nerve: Control of muscles of the tongue
XII. Hypoglossal
A cluster of neuron cell bodies, usually within the PNS
Ganglion
A row/layer of cell bodies separated from other cell bodies by a layer of axons and dendrites
Lamina
The 3 protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord
Meninges
Towards the rear end
Posterior
The short processes emanating from the cell body, which receive most of the synaptic contacts from other neurons
Dendrites
The cone-shaped region at the junction between the axon and the cell body
Axon Hillock
The long, narrow process that projects from the cell body
Axon
The gaps between sections of myelin
Nodes of Ranvier
The button like endings of the axon branches, which release chemicals into synapses
(Terminal) Buttons
The gaps between adjacent neurons across which chemical signals are transmitted
Synapses
The plane that shows the brain from the side
Sagital Plane
The clear internal fluid of the cell
Cytoplasm
A neuron with 2 processes extending from its cell body
Bipolar Neuron
Same side of the body
Ipsilateral
A set of axons within the CNS, aka a projection
Tract
A set of axons in the periphery, either from the CNS to a muscle or gland, or from a sensory to the CNS
Nerve
Cranial Nerve: Taste and other sensations from throat and posterior third of the tongue; control of swallowing, salivation, throat movements during speech
IX. Glossopharyngeal
Clusters of cell bodies in the periphery
Ganglia
Extensions that wrap around axons to create a myelin sheath (in CNS)
Oligodendrocytes
Create myelin in PNS
Schwann Cells
Respond to injury/disease
Microglia
Extensions of some cover outer surfaces of blood vessels; play a role in allowing passage of some chemicals, from blood into the CNS and blocking others
Astrocytes
A connected system of membranes that packages molecules in vesicles
Golgi Complex
Provides increased detail of the neuron structure
Electron Microscopy
A plane that shows the brain from above
Horizontal (Transverse) Plane
Dye binds only to structures in cell bodies, used to count numbers of neurons in an area
Nissl Stain
A cluster of neuron cell bodies within the CNS
Nucleus
Opposite side of the body
Contralateral
Auditory part of the tectum
Inferior Colliculi
Visual-motor part of the tectum
Superior Colliculi
Connects 3rd and 4th ventricle
Cerebral Aqueduct
Gray matter around the cerebral aqueduct
-Mediates analgesic effects of opioids
Periaquaductal Gray
2 lobes, one on each side of the 3rd ventricle; composed of several nuclei
Thalamus
Receive signals from sensory receptors. process, transmit to appropriate areas of sensory cortex
Sensory Relay Nuclei
Regulation of motivated behaviors (sleep, eating, sexual behaviors) via regulation of pituitary gland
Hypothalamus
Layer of tissue covering cerebral hemispheres
Cerebral Cortex
Tracts connecting hemispheres
Cerebral Commissures
6 layers, number I-VI
Cortical neurons (pyramidal, stellate cells)
Columnar organization
Neocortex
Difference in electrical charge between inside and outside the cell
Membrane Potential
Polarized neuron with -70 mV potential
Resting Potential
Pores through which ions can pass
Ion Channels
Ions are likely to move from areas of high concentration to low concentration
Concentration Gradient
Mechanisms in the cell membrane that actively transport ions/molecules across the membrane
Transporters
3 Na+ out/2 K+ in
Sodium-Potassium Pump
Information from neurotransmitters released by the presynaptic cell
Postsynaptic Potentials
Increase resting membrane potential
Hyperpolarization
Decreases likelihood the neuron will fire
Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential (IPSP)
Decrease resting membrane potential
Depolarization
Increases likelihood the neuron will fire
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP)
Amplitudes of EPSPs and IPSPs are proportional to the intensity of the signals that elicit them
Graded Responses
Amplitude of message decreases as it travels through the neuron
Decremental
Action potential traveling in its “natural” direction
Orthodromic Conduction
Action potential traveling in the reverse direction
Antidromic Conduction
No action potential can occur
Absolute Refractory Period
Action potential can only occur if higher than normal stimulation from EPSPs
Relative Refractory Period
The integration of neural signals that occur at different times at the same synapse
Temporal Summation
The integration of signals that originate at different sites on the neuron’s membrane
Spatial Summation
Synapses of axon terminal buttons on dendrites
Axodendritic Synapses
Synapses of axon terminal buttons on somas/cell bodies
Axosomatic Synapses
Often capable of transmission in either direction
Dendrodendritic Synapses
Can mediate presynaptic facilitation and inhibition
Axoaxonic Synapses
Synapses at which the site of neurotransmitter release and the site or neurotransmitter reception are in close proximity
Directed Synapses
Synapses at which the site of release is at some distance from the site of reception
Nondirected Synapses
Short amino acid chains (3-36 amino acids); short proteins
Neuropeptides
Process of neurotransmitter release
Excytosis
Metabotropic receptors located on the presynaptic membrane
Autoreceptors
Neurotransmitter molecules are drawn back into presynaptic neurons by transporter proteins
Reuptake
Neurotransmitters are broken apart in the synapse by enzymes
Enzymatic Degradation
Narrow spaces between adjacent cells that are bridged by tubular, cytoplasm-filled protein channels
Gap Junctions
Mimic/enhance the action of a neurotransmitter
Full Agonist
Activate a receptor, but cause only a minimal/partial response
Partial Agonist
Block the effect of neurotransmitters or agonist drugs
Antagonist
Binds to the same receptors as agonist, but produce opposite results
Inverse Agonist
One drug increases the effects of another drug
Potentiation
Applications of magnetic stimulation to a portion of the scalp; inactivates neurons in a narrow area below the magnet, producing a “virtual lesion”
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Useful for localization of vascular damage; location of tumors
Cranial Angiogram
Computer-assisted x-ray; structural imaging
CT Scan
Radioactive chemicals injected; scans pick up areas of the brain that are most active (draw the most of the chemical)
PET Scan
Measurement of radio-frequency waves that hydrogen atoms emit as they align with a powerful magnetic field
MRI
Measurement of oxygen flow in blood to active areas of the brain
fMRI
A measure of the gross electrical activity of the brain
EEG
Procedures for creating organisms that lack a particular gene under investigation
Gene Knockout Techniques
Replace one gene with another
Gene Replacement Techniques
