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Brain Facts > Glossary 3 > Flashcards

Glossary 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

Motor Unit

A

A functional unit made up of an alpha motor neuron and all of the muscle fibers it contains and controls, ranging from a few to a hundred or more.

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2
Q

Myelin

A

Compact fatty material that sur¬rounds and insulates the axons of some neurons and accelerates the transmission of electrical signals.

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3
Q

Narcolepsy

A

A sleep disorder resulting from the loss of orexin neurons in the hypothala¬mus that causes pronounced sleepiness during the day.

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4
Q

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)

A

A substance whose role is to guide neuronal growth during embryonic development, especially in the peripheral nervous system. Nerve growth factor also probably helps to sustain neurons in adults.

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5
Q

Neurodegeneration

A

The progressive destruction and loss of neurons. Alzhei¬mer’s, Parkinson’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are examples of neuro-degenerative diseases.

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6
Q

Neurogenesis

A

The production and growth of new nerve cells during development and, in select brain regions, throughout life.

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7
Q

Neuromodulator

A

A chemical messenger that alters the strength of a synapse by modifying the production and/or response to neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters, hormones, and immune molecules can all function as neuromodulators.

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8
Q

Neuron

A

A nerve cell specialized for the transmission of information and character¬ized by long, fibrous projections called axons and shorter, branchlike projections called dendrites.

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9
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers released by neurons at a synapse for the pur¬pose of relaying information to other cells.

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10
Q

Neurotransmitter Receptors

A

Proteins embedded in the postsynaptic cell membrane that bind neurotransmitters to alter the cell’s excitability.

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11
Q

Nociceptors

A

Nerve endings that signal the sensation of pain.

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12
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

Unmyelinated gaps in an axon’s myelin sheath along which electrical impulses travel.

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13
Q

Nondeclarative Memory

A

Also called implicit or procedural memory, a type of long-term memory that is stored and retrieved without conscious effort.

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14
Q

Norepinephrine

A

A catecholamine neu¬rotransmitter produced both in the brain and in the peripheral nervous system. Norepi¬nephrine is involved in arousal and sleep regulation, mood, and blood pressure.

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15
Q

Nucleus Accumbens

A

A region at the base of the forebrain that is a part of the basal ganglia and is important in motivation and reward.

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16
Q

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

A

An anx¬iety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that attempt to mitigate the obsessions.

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17
Q

Occipital Lobes

A

One of the four subdivi¬sions of the cerebral cortex. The occipital lobe plays a role in processing visual information.

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18
Q

Olfactory Bulbs

A

Round, knoblike structures of the brain responsible for processing the sense of smell. Specialized olfactory receptor cells are located in a small patch of mucous membrane lining the roof of the nose. Axons of these sensory cells pass through perforations in the overlying bone and enter two elongated olfactory bulbs lying on top of the bone.

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19
Q

Oligodendrocyte

A

A type of glial cell in the central nervous system that forms myelin.

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20
Q

Opioids

A

Substances that bind to opioid receptors in the brain to relieve pain. En¬dorphins are a type of endogenous opioid produced in the brain. Natural and synthetic opioids, such as morphine and codeine, can be prescribed to treat pain.

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21
Q

Optic Chiasm

A

The place in the brain where the optic nerves meet and some axons cross over to the opposite (contralateral) hemi¬sphere in animals with binocular vision.

22
Q

Optic Nerve

A

The bundle of neurons that transmit information from the retina to the brain.

23
Q

Orexin

A

A hormone produced in the hypo¬thalamus that stimulates arousal.

24
Q

Oxytocin

A

A hormone produced in the hypo¬thalamus and released by the pituitary gland that initiates the release of milk from mamma¬ry glands and stimulates uterine contractions. It is also involved in love and social bonding.

25
Q

Pain

A

An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience often signaling tissue damage, or the potential for damage.

26
Q

Paralysis

A

The loss of muscle function in all or part of the body, usually due to nerve damage.

27
Q

Parasympathetic Branch

A

A branch of the autonomic nervous system concerned with the conservation of the body’s energy and resourc¬es during relaxed states.

28
Q

Parietal Lobes

A

One of the four subdivisions of the cerebral cortex. The parietal lobe plays a role in sensory processes, attention, and language.

29
Q

Parkinson’s Disease (PD)

A

A movement disorder caused by the death of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, located in the midbrain. Symptoms include slowness of movement, muscular rigidity, and walking and balance impairment.

30
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

The nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.

31
Q

Photoreceptors

A

A nerve ending, cell, or group of cells specialized to sense or receive light.

32
Q

Pineal Gland

A

A small endocrine gland in the brain that produces melatonin.

33
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

An endocrine organ closely linked with the hypothalamus. In humans, the pituitary gland is composed of two lobes and secretes several different hormones that regulate the activity of other endocrine organs throughout the body.

34
Q

Plasticity

A

The ability of the brain to modify its neural connections to adapt to challenges in the environment.

35
Q

Pons

A

A part of the hindbrain that, with other brain structures, controls respiration and regu¬lates heart rhythms. The pons is a major route by which the forebrain sends information to and receives information from the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.

36
Q

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A

A method of measuring brain function based on the detection of radioactivity emitted when positrons, positively charged particles, undergo radioactive decay in the brain. Com¬puters then build three-dimensional images of changes in blood flow based on the amount of radiation emitted in different brain regions. The more brain activity, the more vivid the picture that is created.

37
Q

Postsynaptic Neuron

A

In a synapse, the neuron receiving chemical messages.

38
Q

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

A

A region at the front of the frontal lobe involved in the brain’s higher-level functions such as plan¬ning, decision-making, working memory, and inhibitory control.

39
Q

Presynaptic Neuron

A

In a synapse, the neuron transmitting chemical messages to a target neuron.

40
Q

Prostaglandins

A

Small lipid molecules that enhance nociceptor sensitivity to increase pain and prevent further tissue damage.

41
Q

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep

A

The part of the sleep cycle when active dreaming takes place. It is characterized by neocortical EEG waves similar to those observed during waking. This state is accompanied by paralysis of the body’s muscles; only the muscles that allow breathing and control eye movements remain active.

42
Q

Reflexes

A

Considered the simplest and most fundamental movements, they are relatively fixed, automatic muscle responses to particu¬lar stimuli, such as the slight extension of the leg when a physician taps the knee with a small rubber hammer.

43
Q

Retina

A

A multilayered sensory tissue that lines the back of the eye and contains the receptor cells to detect light.

44
Q

Reuptake

A

A process by which released neurotransmitters are absorbed for later reuse.

45
Q

Rods

A

A sensory neuron located in the periphery of the retina. The rod is sensitive to light of low intensity and is specialized for nighttime vision.

46
Q

Saltatory Conduction

A

The process by which action potentials “jump” along the unmyelinated nodes of Ranvier, speeding electrical transmission.

47
Q

Schizophrenia

A

A chronic disorder charac¬terized by psychosis (e.g., hallucinations and delusions), flattened emotions, and impaired cognitive function.

48
Q

Schwann Cell

A

A type of glial cell in the peripheral nervous system that forms myelin.

49
Q

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

A

Drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin, increasing its availability in the synapse. SSRIs are used to treat depression and other disorders.

50
Q

Semantic Memory

A

A type of declarative memory that involves memory of facts.

Brain Facts (4 decks)

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