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Biology 1040 > Nervous System Key Terms > Flashcards

Nervous System Key Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Acetylcholine

A

A neurotransmitter that slows the heart rate and makes skeletal muscles contract

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2
Q

Action Potential

A

a massive change in membrane voltage that transmits a nerve signal along an axon.

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3
Q

Adderall

A

works by increasing levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, thus bringing the brain from a state of overstimulation to a normal state of stimulation

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4
Q

Alzheimers Disease (AD)

A

A form of mental deterioration, or dementia; is characterized by confusion and memory loss.

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5
Q

amygdala

A

Integrated center of the cerebrum; part of limbic system that is central in laying down emotional memories.

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6
Q

Association area(s)

A

a region of the cortex of the brain which connects sensory and motor areas, and which is thought to be concerned with higher mental activities.

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7
Q

astrocytes

A

the most numerous cell type within the central nervous system (CNS) and perform a variety of tasks, from axon guidance and synaptic support, to the control of the blood brain barrier and blood flow.

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8
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.

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9
Q

Axon

A

a much longer extension that transmits signals to other cells, which may be other neurons or effector cells.

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10
Q

Basal nuclei

A

groups of neurons under the corpus that are important in motor coordination

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11
Q

Bilateral symmetry

A

the property of being divisible into symmetrical halves on either side of a unique plane.

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12
Q

Biogenic amine

A

regulate brain functions such as movement, behavior, emotions, temperature, blood pressure and endocrine secretion. ex. norepinephrine, dopamine etc

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13
Q

Bipolar disorder (depression)

A

characterized by extreme mood swings

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14
Q

Brainstem

A

Conducts data to and from other brain centers; helps maintain homestoasis; and coordinates large scale body movement such as climbing

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15
Q

Cell body

A

Contains the nucleus and other cell organelles, and long, thin extensions that convey signals

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16
Q

Central canal

A

transports cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which comes from the brain’s ventricular system.

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17
Q

Central nervous system

A

Consists of the brain and, in vertebrates, the spinal cord.

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18
Q

Centralization

A

the evolutionary development of a single organ or a single organic system formed by the union of individual cells, tissues, or organs that perform related functions

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19
Q

Cerebellum

A

Coordinates body movement; plays a role in learning and in remembering motor responses

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20
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

A folded sheet of grey matter forming the surface of the cerebrum; contains integrating centers for higher brain functions such as reasons, speech, language and imagination

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21
Q

Cerebral Spinal Fluid

A

acts like a cushion that helps protect your brain and spinal cord from sudden impact or injury. The fluid also removes waste products from the brain and helps your central nervous system work properly.

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22
Q

Cerebral hemispheres

A

Right and left half of the cerebrum

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23
Q

Cephalization

A

evolutionary trend in which, over many generations, the mouth, sense organs, and nerve ganglia become concentrated at the front end of an animal, producing a head region.

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24
Q

Circadian rhythm

A

a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep–wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours.

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25
Q

Continuous conduction

A

occurs in non-myelinated axons. The action potential travels along the entire length of the axon.

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26
Q

Corpus callosum

A

A thick band of nerve that facilitates communication between the hemispheres.

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27
Q

Cranial nerves

A

One of twelve pairs of nerves that pass from the brain, through openings in the skull, to different areas of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen; send information between the brain and the sense organs (the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue).

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28
Q

Dendrites

A

highly branched, often short, extensions that receive signals from other neurons and convey this information toward the cell body

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29
Q

Dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter made in your brain. It plays a role as a “reward center” and in many body functions, including memory, movement, motivation, mood, attention

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30
Q

Dorsal nerve cord

A

develops an anterior enlargement comprising the brain and a more posterior part comprising the spinal cord with the two together making up the central nervous system

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31
Q

Endorphins

A

are chemicals (hormones) your body releases when it feels pain or stress.

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32
Q

Enteric division

A

consists of networks of neurons in the digestive tract, pancreas, and gallbladder; control secretion as well as the activity of smooth muscles that produce peristalsis.

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33
Q

Epinephrine

A

relaxes the muscles in the airways and tightens the blood vessels.

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34
Q

Forebrain

A

Develops into the thalamus, hypothalamus and cerebrum

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35
Q

Fight or flight system

A

an automatic physiological reaction to an event that is perceived as stressful or frightening. The perception of threat activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers an acute stress response that prepares the body to fight or flee.

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36
Q

Ganglia

A

clusters of neuron cell bodies found alongside the spinal cord or near or within the organs they serve.

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37
Q

Glial cells

A

nourish neurons, insulate the axons of neurons, or help maintain homeostasis of the extracellular fluid surrounding neurons.

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38
Q

Glutamic acid

A

an amino acid used to form glutamate; helps nerve cells in the brain send and receive information from other cells.

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39
Q

Glycine

A

neurotransmitter in central nervous system and it has many roles such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory etc

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40
Q

Gray matter

A

consists mainly of neuron cell bodies and supporting glia.

41
Q

Hindbrain

A

Develops into the medulla oblongata , pons, and cerebellum

42
Q

Hippocampus

A

involved in the formation of memories and their recall.

43
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Functions as homeostatic control center; control pituitary gland; serves as a biological clock

44
Q

Integration

A

the analysis and interpretation of the sensory signals and the formulation of appropriate responses.

45
Q

Interneurons

A

integrate data and then relay appropriate signals to other interneurons or to motor neurons

46
Q

Left Hemisphere

A

concerned with sensation and perception, motor control, and higher level cognitive processes

47
Q

Limbic System

A

a complex system of nerves and networks in the brain, involving several areas near the edge of the cortex concerned with instinct and mood. It controls the basic emotions

48
Q

Long Term memory

A

The ability to hold and recall information over a lifetime

49
Q

Major depression

A

characterized by a persistently depressed mood and long-term loss of pleasure or interest in life, often with other symptoms such as disturbed sleep, feelings of guilt or inadequacy, and suicidal thoughts.

50
Q

Medulla oblongata

A

Controls breathing, circulation, swallowing and digestion

51
Q

Meninges

A

Three layers of membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord. The delicate inner layer is the pia mater. The middle layer is the arachnoid, the outer layer is called the dura mater.

52
Q

Microglia

A

the immune cells of the central nervous system and consequently play important roles in brain infections and inflammation.

53
Q

Midbrain

A

Develops into sensory integrating and relay centers that send sensory information to the cerebrum

54
Q

Motor neurons

A

convey signals from the CNS to effector cells.

55
Q

Motor nervous system

A

the set of central and peripheral structures in the nervous system that support motor functions

56
Q

Motor output

A

the conduction of signals from the integration centers through the PNS to effector cells, such as muscle cells or gland cells, which perform the body’s responses.

57
Q

Myelin sheath

A

insulating material that speeds the transmission of impulses along a neuron; is composed of a series of Schwann cells each wrapped many times around the axon.

58
Q

Nerve

A

Neurons bundled together and wrapped in connective tissue

59
Q

Nerve cords

A

A vast bundle of nerve fibers that runs along the body’s longitudinal axis

60
Q

Nerve net

A

a simple, decentralized, multipolar multipolar nervous system found in animals like jellyfish

61
Q

Nervous system

A

Organ system that forms a communication and coordination network between all parts of the organisms body

62
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

a signaling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a synapse

63
Q

Norepinephrine

A

a neurotransmitter in your brain and spinal cord, that increases alertness, arousal and attention; Constricts blood vessels,

64
Q

Oligodendrocytes

A

concerned with the production of myelin in the central nervous system.

65
Q

Parasympathetic division

A

primes the body for activities that gain and conserve energy for the body

66
Q

Parkinson’s Disease

A

a motor disorder characterized by difficulty in initiating movements, slowness of movement, and rigidity.

67
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

consists of neurons that carry information into and out of the CNS

68
Q

Pons

A

Controls breathing

69
Q

Positron emission tomography

A

Patients are given a
positron-emitting analog of glucose
that accumulates in regions of the
brain engaged in high
metabolic activity; accompanied
by the release of gamma rays that
are detected and used to create a
3D imag

70
Q

Primary motor cortex

A

Upper Motor Neurons That Initiate Complex Voluntary Movements

71
Q

Radial symmetry

A

symmetry around a central axis, as in a starfish

72
Q

Reflex arc (knee-jerk)

A

an involuntary, unplanned sequence or action and nearly instantaneous response to a stimulus.

73
Q

Rest and digest system

A

The parasympathetic nervous system controls the body’s ability to relax

74
Q

Resting potential

A

The voltage across the plasma membrane of a resting neuron

75
Q

Right hemisphere

A

the part of the brain concerned with sensation and perception, motor control

76
Q

Saltatory conduction

A

the impulses of the nerve travel rapidly jumping from node to node

77
Q

Schizophrenia

A

a severe mental disturbance characterized by psychotic episodes in which patients have a distorted perception of reality

78
Q

Schwann cells

A

A type of glial cell of the peripheral nervous system that helps separate and insulate nerve cells.

79
Q

Sensory input

A

the flow of signals from sensory receptors, such as touch-detecting cells of the skin, through the PNS to the CNS.

80
Q

Sensory neurons

A

convey signals from sensory receptors into the CNS.

81
Q

Serotonin

A

constricts the blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter; plays a key role in such body functions as mood, sleep, digestion, nausea, wound healing, bone health, blood clotting

82
Q

Short term memory

A

The ability to hold information for a time and then release it as it become irrelevant

83
Q

Sodium/potassium pump

A

maintain the concentration gradients of these ions, using energy from ATP to actively move three Na+ out of the neuron for every two K+ in

84
Q

Somatosensory cortex

A

the part of the brain within the cerebral cortex that receives all sensory information from various parts of the body

85
Q

Stimulus

A

any factor that causes a nerve signal to be generated.

86
Q

Suprachiasmatic nucleus

A

each of a pair of small nuclei in the hypothalamus of the brain, above the optic chiasma, thought to be concerned with the regulation of physiological circadian rhythms.

87
Q

Sympathetic division

A

prepare the body for intense, energy-consuming activities, such as fighting, fleeing, or competing in a strenuous game

88
Q

Synapse

A

The junction between a synaptic terminal and another cell

89
Q

Synaptic cleft

A

The space between two neurons across which the impulse is transmitted by a neurotransmitter

90
Q

Synaptic integration

A

a complex process which describes how neurons integrate the receiving inputs from thousands of presynaptic neurons before the generation of a nerve impulse

91
Q

Synaptic terminal

A

The tip of the axon where signals are sent to another neuron

92
Q

Synaptic vesicle

A

store various neurotransmitters that are released at the synapse

93
Q

Thalamus

A

Serves as an input sensor for sensory data going into the cerebrum; sorts and groups all incoming sensory data for the cerebrum

94
Q

Threshold

A

The level that a depolarization must reach for an action potential to occur

95
Q

Trigeminal nerve

A

one set of the cranial nerves in the head. It is the nerve responsible for providing sensation to the face

96
Q

Ventral nerve cord

A

receives and processes descending signals from the brain to produce a variety of coordinated locomotor outputs.

97
Q

Ventricle

A

each of the four connected fluid-filled cavities in the center of the brain.

98
Q

White matter

A

composed mainly of axons whose whitish myelin sheaths are responsible for the light color of this portion of the CNS

Biology 1040 (6 decks)

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