Human Body Systems Flashcards
Atherosclerosis
Most common cause of heart disease; characterized by buildup of plaque in the arterial walls that disrupt proper blood flow
How can psychologists measure activity in the following systems: Nervous; Endocrine; Cardiovascular
Nervous: fMRI, electroencephalogram
Endocrine: blood tests
Cardiovascular: electrocardiogram, pulse, blood pressure
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 4th leading cause of death in America. Includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis
GERD
Gastrointestinal reflux disease; occurs due to changes in the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus
Gastroenteritis
Inflammation of the lining of the stomach and small intestine
Peptic ulcer
An open sore in the lining of the stomach or duodenum
Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver
The severity of an infection depends on…
The number of invaders, the virulence of the invader, and the body’s level of defenses
Lymphoma
Tumors in the lymphatic system (spleen, ducts and nodes)
Autoimmune diseases
Immune system attacks body’s own tissue
Lupus
Autoimmune disorder that attacks the body’s tissues. Causes pain, heat, redness, and swelling. Can be life-threatening if it attacks the connective tissue of the body’s internal organs
Hindbrain
“Old brain;” Develops first; includes the medulla, pons, cerebellum
Medulla
Heart rate, breathing, blood pressure
Pons
Regulates sleeping and waking cycle, also helps with respiration
Cerebellum
Basic motor coordination
Midbrain
Relay system; Includes the reticular formation
Reticular formation
Transmits info, involved in sleep and alertness. Responsible for Highway Hypnosis
Forebrain
“New brain;” Includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, and limbic system
Thalamus
The gateway to the cortex. Performs recognition of sensory stimuli and determines what is passed up for higher processing
Hypothalamus
The four F’s: fight, flight, food, fornification. Also releases certain hormones
Cerebral cortex
Higher level thinking, conciousness
Limbic System
Includes hippocampus and amygdala, and has connections that help solidify emotioanlly-driven memories
Sociopaths have dysfunction in which brain structure?
Limbic system (specifically amygdala)
Neurotransmitters of the sympathetic NS
Catecholamines: epinephrine and norepinephrine
Parkinson’s
Degeration of basal ganglia; decreased motor coordination and onset of shaking; not fatal
Cerebral palsy
Causes: brain damagme due to oxygen deprivation at birth or due to severe trauma in older childhood. Symptoms: muscle stiffness and spasticity, weak limbs, random uncontrollable movements, delayed milestones
Multiple sclerosis
Non-fatal disease, although it can lead to paralysis, blindness, and mental deterioration. Best treated when identified early. Symptoms: numbness, loss of coordination, speech difficulties, dragging feet, extreme fatigue
Huntington’s
Fatal disease characterized by death of brain tissue in patches. Hereditary with onset often in middle age. Symptoms: involuntary muscle spasms, loss of motor abilities, personality changes, other mental deterioration events
Polio
Viral transmission disease. Attacks spinal nerves and destroys the cell bodies or motor neurons, so impulses are distrupted
Paraplegia
Results from injury to lower portion of spinal cord
Quadriplegia
Results from damage to upper portion of spinal cord
Dementia
Serious loss of cognitive ability beyond the expectation associated with normal aging. Most common form is Alzheimer’s (60-70%).
Vascular dementia
Cognitive decline caused by repeated oxygen deprivation in the brain (e.g. repeated strokes)
Oxytocin
“Hugging Hormone;” gets released from the posterior pituitary during labor. Causes lactation and is involved in social affiliation
Anterior pituitary
Secretes hormones responsible for growth: somatotropic, gonadotropic, thyrotropic , adenocorticotropic)
Main regulator of the endocrine system
Pituitary gland
Main disorder of the endocrine system
Diabetes
