H2 Introducing the brain Flashcards
neuron
consists of 3 components: cell body, dendrites, axon
→ type of cell that makes up the nervous system and supports, among other things, cognitive function
cell body
part of neuron containing nucleus & other organelles
dendrites
branching structures that carry information from other neurons
axon
branching structure that carries info to other neurons & transmits an action potential
nucleus
contains the genetic code & involved in protein synthesis
proteins
wide variety of functions from providing scaffolding to chemical signaling, can also act als neurotransmitters & receptors inneurons
synapse
small gap between neurons in which neurotransmitters are released, permitting signaling between neurons
presynaptic
neuron before the synapse
postsynaptic
neuron after the synapse
action potential
when presynaptic neuron is active, electrical current is propagated down the length of the axon
neurotransmitters
chemicals released into synaptic cleft when action potential reaches axon terminal
synaptic potential
when NT bind to receptors on the dendrites/cell body →conducted passively through dendrites of postsynaptic neuron=these passive currents=basis EEG
myelin
fatty substance that is deposited around axon of some neurons that speeds conduction
GABA
neurotransmittor with an inhibitory effect on postsynaptic neuron
glutamate
neurotransmitter with an excitatory effect on the postsynaptic neuron
spiking rate
number of action potentials per second
gray matter
matter consisting primarily of neuronal cell bodies
white matter
tissue of the nervous system consisting primarily of axons and support cells
glia
support cells of the NS involved in tissue repair and formation of myelin
cerebral cortex
highly convoluted folded sheet of gray matter
subcortex
collection of gray matter in the center of the brain including the basal ganglia, limbic system & diencephalon
association tracts
white matter tracts that project between different cortical regions in = hemisphere
commissures
white matter tracts that project between different regions in different hemispheres
(most important commissure = corpus callosum)
projection tracts
white matter tracts that project between cortical & subcortical structures
ventricles
hollow chambers of the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
-carries waste metabolites
-transfers some messenger signals
-provides protecting cushion for the brain
anterior
toward the front
posterior
toward the back
superior
toward the top = dorsal
inferior
toward the bottom = ventral
lateral
the outer part
medial
in/toward the middle
coronal cross-section
slice in the vertical plane through both hemispheres
sagittal section
slice in the vertical plane through 1 hempishere
midline
sagittal section that lies between the hemispheres
axial
slice in the horizontal plane
gyrus
raised surface of the cortex
sulcus
dip/fold of the cortex
Brodmann’s areas
regions of cortex defined by the relative distribution of cell types across cortical layers (cytoarchitecture)
Parkinson’s disease
hypokinetic disorder of the basal ganglia (poverty of movement)
Huntington’s disease
hyperkinetic disorder of the basal ganglia (excess of movement)
