Lesson 30 Terms Flashcards
Adrenal cortex
outer portion of the adrenal gland
Adrenal glands
a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys
Adrenal medulla
the inner portion of the adrenal glands that secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine which produces our fight-or flight responses
Autonomic nervous system
controls involuntary muscles and glands
Axon
long extension from the soma carries messages away from the soma
Axon terminals
finger-like projections at the end of the axon
composed of tightly packed cells that prevent large, unwanted molecules from entering the brain
Blood brain barrier
Brain stem
connects to the spinal cord, and controls involuntary functions
Central nervous system
brain and spinal cord enclosed and protected by the skull and vertebrae
Cerebellum is found
a) Found at the back of your head under the cerebrum; divided into left and right hemispheres
Cerebellum functions to
b) Functions to coordinate skeletal muscle activity
Cerebral cortex
outer layer of the cerebrum
Cerebrum
upper portion of the brain, divided into left and right hemispheres
Chemoreceptors
respond to chemicals; in your nose
Circadian rhythm
the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle
a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear; vibrations are sent through and stimulate sensory hair cells and are converted to nerve impulses
Cochlea
Cones
detect color
Cornea
the transparent outer covering of the eye
Corpus callosum
mass of nerve fibers allowing the hemispheres to communicate
Dendrites
finger-like projections carry messages toward the soma
Endocrine system
a) Includes: pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pineal gland, and the adrenal gland
b) Function: sends chemical messages through the body
found under the forehead; the center of reasoning, planning, movement, emotions, problem solving, and some parts of speech
Frontal lobes
Function Endocrine glands (gland)
An organ that produces and releases chemicals either through ducts or into the bloodstream
Glial cells
support, nourish, and protect neurons
Gonads
glands that produce sex hormones
Gray matter
composed primarily of nerve cell bodies; responsible for processing information
Hippocampus
processes factual memories
Hormones
chemical messengers
Hypothalamus
area of the brain that secretes hormones that regulate the pituitary gland
Incus
anvil; middle of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear
a group of cells in the pancreas which release the hormone insulin and others release the hormone glucagon which work to balance blood glucose levels
Islet of Langerhans
Lens
Focuses light onto retina
Limbic system
groups of nerves around the brainstem
Interneurons
interpret the sensory signal and transfer the message from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands
Malleus
hammer; first of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear
Mechanoreceptors
respond to touch, pressure, vibration, stretch, and itch
Motor neurons
convert the message received from the brain and spinal cord to stimulate muscles and glands
Neuron
electrically excitable cells that carry messages throughout the body
molecules released at the axon terminal which travel across the synaptic cleft where they stimulate receptor proteins in the next neuron
Neurotransmitters
Occipital lobes
found in the back of the head; receives input from your eyes and referred to as the visual cortex
Pain receptors
react by causing you to feel pain
Pancreas is part of what system
Endocrine system
The Pancreas releases what kind of enzymes
- Releases digestive enzymes to help break down food
Papillae
taste buds; tiny bumps on the surface of the tongue
Parasympathetic nervous system
your rest-repose response; sends signals to decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, and contracts stomach muscles for digestion
How many Parathyroid glands?
- Four parathyroid glands, two embedded on each side of the thyroid gland
Parathyroid glands release
- Secrete parathyroid hormone which works opposite of calcitonin to increase blood calcium levels
Parietal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
Peripheral nervous system
nerves running through the body that arise from the brain and spinal cord
Photoreceptors
cause nerve impulses to be carried by the optic nerve to the brain
- Located deep in the brain
- Primarily responsible for regulating your body’s wake and sleep cycle
- When light is detected, it secretes serotonin
- When no light is detected, it secretes melatonin
Pineal gland
Pituitary gland
the master gland of the endocrine system
Pupil
opening in the center of the iris
Reflex arc
the nerve pathway involved in a reflex action
Retina
Light sensitive layer of the eye; contains rods and cones
Rods
Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray
Saccule
part of the inner ear; detects backward-forward motion and upward-downward motion
Semicircular canals
serve as balance sensors and detect left and right tilting, side-to-side motion, and up and down motion
Sensory neurons
detect sensory stimuli and carry impulses to the spinal cord and brain
receive impulses from environment and relay impulses to brain including skin, tongue, nose, eyes, and ears
Sensory organs
Soma
cell body of a neuron
Stapes
stirrup; last of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear
your fight-or-flight response; sends signals to raise your heart rate and blood pressure and stimulates your liver to release glucose to produce quick energy
Sympathetic nervous system
Synaptic clef
space between two neurons
Target cells
cells with receptors that respond to specific hormones
Temporal lobes
found on the sides of the head; associated with speech perception, hearing, and some types of memory
Testes
male reproductive glands that produce androgens, including testosterone
Thalamus
routes signals to various parts of the body
Thermoreceptors
respond to temperature changes
Thymus
- Where T-cells are made, mature, and are trained for what to fight and what to leave alone
T-cells that attack invaders enter the bloodstream and reside
in the lymphatic tissue
Thyroid gland
1. Thyroxine:
- regulates metabolic rate
Tympanic membrane
eardrum
Utricle
part of the inner ear; detects orientation of the head
composed primarily of myelinated axons; responsible for carrying information
White matter
