Exam One Flashcards
pia mater
the innermost of the three layers of the meninges which is closely applied to the surface of the brain
hypothalamus
a collectional of small but critical nuclei in the diencephalon that lies just inferior to the thalamus; governs reproductive, homeostatic, and circadian functions
oligodendrocyte
provides CNS myelination
third ventricle
a narrow midline space between the right and left diencephalon
temporal lobe
the hemispheric lobe that lies inferior to the lateral fissure
cranial nerve IX
glossopharyngeal - taste, baroreceptors and chemoreceptors
mesencephalon
the midbrain
the most rostral portion of the brainstem; identified by the superior and inferior colliculi on its dorsal surface, and the cerebral penduncles on its ventral aspect
cranial nerve XI
accessory - shoulder and neck muscles
NG2 cell
an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell that can form astrocytes, and possibly neurons
afferent
a neuron or axon that conductions action potentials from the periphery TO the CNS
(A before E, afferent before efferent, must recieve info from periphery to be able to send a response to the periphery)
ventral roots
the collection of nerve fibers containing motor axons that exit ventrally from the spinal cord and contribute the motor component of each segmented spinal nerve
threshold potential
the level of membrane potential at which an action potential is generated
neuropile
the dense tangle of axonal and dendritic branches, and the synapses between them, that lies between neuronal cell bodies in the gray matter of the brain and spinal cord
parietal lobe
the lobe of the brain that lies between the frontal lobe anteriorly, and the occipital lobe posteriorly
horizontal (transverse) sections
any section that runs parallel to the floor, divides brain into superior and inferior sections
sympathetic chain ganglia
located just ventral and lateral to the spinal cord. The chain extends from the upper neck down to the coccyx
What produces membrane potential?
- the Na+/K+ ATPase
- unequal distribution of ions accross the cell membrane
- the Nernst potential (electrochemical gradient)
- ion channels provide current flow through the membrane
cranial nerve I
olfactory - sense of smell
outward current
K+ by delayed rectifer IK(V)
reversal potential
membrane potential of a postsynaptic neuron (or other target cell) at which the action of a given neurotransmitter causes no net current flow
inward current
Na+, Ca2+ movement using voltage-sensative Na+ channel INa(V)
ganglion
cluster of neurons with a central neuropile
axon
the neuronal process that carries the action potential from the nerve cell body TO a target point
(A=Away from cell body)
sensory neuron
conducts impulses from the periphery of an organ to the CNS
telencephalon
the part of the brain derived from the anterior part of the embryonic forebrain vesicle; includes the cerebral hemispheres (cerebrum)
pons
one of the three components of the brainstem, lying between the midbrain rostrally and the medulla caudally
fourth ventricle
a larger space in the dorsal pons and medulla
Nernst equation
a mathematical formula that predicts the electrical potential generated ionically across a membrane at electrochemical equilibrium
meninges
the external covering of the brain; includes the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater
cingulate gyrus
prominant gyrus on the medial aspect of the hemisphere, lying just superior to the corpus callosum; forms part of the lymbic system
cerebellum
prominant hindbrain structure concerned with motor coordination, posture, and balance. Composed of a three layered cortex and deep nuclei; attached to brainstem by the cerebellar neduncles
occipital lobe
the posterior lobe of the cerebral hemisphere; primarily devoted to vision
astrocyte
controls the environment of neurons, provides signaling
interneuron
technically; a neuron in the pathway between primary sensory and primary effector neurons; more generally, a neuron whose relatively short axons branch locally to innervate other neurons
dendrite
a neural process arising from the nerve cell body that RECIEVES synaptic input
cranial nerve VIII
vestibulocochlear - hearing and balance