nervous system pt 2 Flashcards
synapse
The space between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released.
synaptic transmission?
process of communication between neurons using chemicals called neurotransmitters.
synaptic vessicles
Small sacs in neurons that store neurotransmitters.
What happens first at the synapse?
nerve impulse arrives at the axon terminal of the neuron.
What happens after the nerve impulse arrives at the axon terminal?
Vesicles release neurotransmitters into the synapse by exocytosis.
What do neurotransmitters do at the synapse?
travel across the synapse and can either excite or inhibit the next neuron.
What breaks down neurotransmitters after they work?
An enzyme breaks down the neurotransmitter and prepares it to be used again.
What are excitatory neurotransmitters?
increase the chance of an action potential in the next neuron by allowing Na+ to enter.
inhibitory neurotransmitters
make it harder for an action potential to happen by allowing K+ to exit.
How can drugs affect neurotransmitters?
Drugs can mimic neurotransmitters or block them from being broken down.
main role of the frontal lobe?
Controls thinking, planning, and speech.
temporal lobe
hearing and memory
parietal lobe
Senses like touch and taste, and helps with speech.
occipital lobe’
vision
corpus callosum?
bridge that connects the left and right brain hemispheres.
cerebellum
Helps with balance and coordination.
medulla oblongata responsible for?
Controls involuntary actions like heart rate and breathing.
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
Regulates body temperature, hunger, and thirst.
What does the pituitary gland do?
It’s known as the “master gland” and controls other glands.
role of the thalamus
acts as a relay station, directing sensory information to the right part of the brain.
How does the brain control the sides of the body?
The left brain controls the right side of the body, and the right brain controls the left side.
