Nervous system

Question 1

Dendrites

Answer 1

(little trees)
- Short, highly branched structures that conduct impulses toward the cell body.

Question 2

axon

Answer 2

Single process (projection) of the neuron that carries an electrical signal (action potential) away from the cell body towards a target cell.

Question 3

anterograde transport

Answer 3

transport of substances AWAY from the cell body towards axon terminals

Question 4

retrograde transport

Answer 4

transport of substances from the axon terminals TOWARDS the neuron soma or cell body.

Question 5

BBB (blood brain barrier)

Answer 5

physiological barrier between the circulatory system and the central nervous system that establishes a privileged blood supply, restricting the flow of substances into the CNS

Question 6

Leakage channels

Answer 6

Ion channels that randomly open and close, allowing slow, continuous diffusion of ions

Question 7

Voltage-gated channels

Answer 7

Ion channel that opens because of a change in the charge distributed across the membrane nearby

Question 8

Ligand-gated channel

Answer 8

ion channel that opens upon neurotransmitter binding

Question 9

Mechanically-gated channel

Answer 9

ion channel that opens when a physical event directly affects the structure of the protein

Question 10

Action Potential

Answer 10

change in voltage of a cell membrane in response to a stimulus that results in
transmission of an electrical signal; unique to neurons and muscle fibers

Question 11

Voltage

Answer 11

AKA “ Potential Energy”
is the difference in electrical charge between two areas

Question 12

Resistance

Answer 12

Property of electricity by where the current is impeded in some way

Question 13

RMP

Answer 13

Resting Membrane Potential:
the difference in voltage across a cell membrane under steady state conditions, typically -70 mV

Question 14

Depolarization

Answer 14

change in a cell membrane potential from rest toward zero

Question 15

Polarized

Answer 15

the state whereby the inner membrane is negatively charged compared to the outer
(when at RMP)

Question 16

Repolarization

Answer 16

return of the membrane potential to RMP after depolarization

Question 17

IPSP

Answer 17

Inhibitory Post Synaptic Potential

• hyper polarizing graded potentials in the postsynaptic membrane

Question 18

EPSP

Answer 18

Excitatory Post Synaptic Potential

graded potential in the postsynaptic membrane that is the result of depolarization and makes an action potential more likely to occur

Question 19

Somatic Nervous System

Answer 19

Voluntary portion of the peripheral nervous system.

Question 20

grey matter

Answer 20

regions of the nervous system containing cell bodies of neurons with few or no myelinated axons; actually may be more pink or tan in color, but called gray in contrast to white matter

Question 21

white matter

Answer 21

regions of the nervous system, usually referencing the CNS, containing mostly myelinated axons which makes the tissue appear white due to the high lipid content

Question 22

Denticulate Ligaments

Answer 22

Lateral extensions of the pia mater that stabilize the spinal cord in the vertebral canal

Question 23

dorsal roots

Answer 23

Axons entering the posterior horn of the spinal cord

Question 24

ventral roots

Answer 24

Axons emerging from the anterior or lateral horns of the spinal cord

Question 25

Conus Medullaris

Answer 25

End of the spinal cord
(Usually at L1 or L2 in adults & L3 or L4 in infants)

Question 26

filum terminale

Answer 26

thin extension of the pia mater from the caudal end of the spinal cord that helps to stabilize the spinal cord in the vertebral canal

Question 27

cauda equina

Answer 27

bundle of spinal nerve roots that descend from the lower spinal cord below the first lumbar vertebra and lie within the vertebral cavity; has the appearance of a horse’s tail

Question 28

Babinski Sign

Answer 28

Abduction and dorsiflexion of the toes in response to testing of the plantar reflex.

A sign of UPPER MOTOR NEURON DAMAGE in adults.

NORMAL IN INFANTS

Question 29

Cerebrum

Answer 29

Region of the brain that develops from the telencephalon and is respomsible for higher neurological functions such as…
- Memory
- Emotion
- Consciousness

Question 30

Diencephalon

Answer 30

region of the adult brain that retains its name from embryonic development and includes the thalamus and hypothalamus