Neuroscience Terminology

Question 1

What makes up the CNS

Answer 1

Brain
Spinal Cord
Neurons
Glial Cells

Question 2

Rostral

Answer 2

Toward the nose
In the cortex: near the front of the head
In the stem/cord: near/towards the brain

Question 3

Caudal

Answer 3

Toward the tail
In the cortex: near back of brain or head
In the stem/cord: toward bottom of spinal cord or brainstem

Question 4

Dorsal

Answer 4

To the back
In the cortex: top of brain
In the Stem/cord: back of brain stem or spinal cord

Question 5

Ventral

Answer 5

Toward the abdomen
In the cortex: deep areas/bottom of brain
Stem/Cord: belly, or front of structures

Question 6

3 planes to cut a brain

Answer 6

Sagittal, Horizontal, Coronal

Question 7

Sagittal plane

Answer 7

vertical cut

divides L/R hemispheres

Question 8

Coronal plane

Answer 8

Vertical section
perpendicular to sagittal
Divides brain into front and back

Question 9

Transverse

Answer 9

horizontal cut that is diagonal, typically the brainstem or spinal cord

Question 10

Lateral

Answer 10

structures away from midline

Question 11

Medial

Answer 11

structures toward midline

Question 12

Proximal

Answer 12

structures relatively close to the specific anatomical structures site of reference

Question 13

Distal

Answer 13

position of structures further from the anatomical structure of reference

Question 14

Gray matter

Answer 14

the appearance of the brain that consists of nerve cells, supporting cells, and unmyelinated fibers
Cell bodies

Question 15

White matter

Answer 15

nerve fibers that form tracts and carry info from one brain site to another
White, because it’s made of axons and axons are made of myelin

Question 16

Neuron

Answer 16

most basic building block of the brain

responsible for receiving, transmitting, and synthesizing info

Question 17

Glia cells

Answer 17

protect and support the nerve cells

Question 18

Cell body

Answer 18

nucleus of the neuron

also called the soma

Question 19

Dendrites

Answer 19

specialized processes, receive neural impulses from other neurons and send the impulse toward the cell body

Question 20

Axons

Answer 20

transmits neural messages to other neurons

Send impulses away from the soma

Question 21

Terminal boutons

Answer 21

End portions of the axons, contain vessels that release neurotransmitters b/w the end of the axon and the surface of the next nerve cell

2 parts: synapse and synaptic cleft

Question 22

Synapse

Answer 22

include the terminal boutons, synaptic cleft and the receptor site of the next nerve cell

Where two neurons almost meet

Question 23

Synaptic cleft

Answer 23

narrow space b/w the end of the axon and the surface of the next nerve cell

Question 24

Presynaptic nerve cell

Answer 24

neuron the ends at the synapse (axon)

Question 25

Post synaptic neuron

Answer 25

neuron that receives the impulse from a presynaptic nerve cell (dendrite/muscle/gland)

Question 26

Tract/Fasciculus

Answer 26

Collection of nerve fibers (axons) with a common origin in the CNS

Question 27

Commissural fibers

Answer 27

tracts that cross hemispheres

Question 28

Association fibers

Answer 28

tracts that stay insode one hemishpere

Question 29

Afferent fibers

Answer 29

carry info from the body to the CNS (sensory)

Question 30

Efferent fibers

Answer 30

carry impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the PNS (motor)

Question 31

Decussation

Answer 31

Crossing of the incoming or outgoing fibers at the midline