Physiology Flashcards
system nerve tissue and fibers outside of the brain and SC – connects the CNS to the rest of the body, has 2 subdivisions
peripheral nervous system
system of brain and spinal cord
central nervous system
sensory neurons transmit information through ____
afferent fibers
motor impulses travel through ____
efferent fibers
nervous system that accelerates heartbeat and inhibits digestion - fight or flight
sympathetic
nervous system that decelerates heartbeat and increases digestion, goal of energy conservations
parasympathetic
part of the brain involved in balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, general arousal processes (sleeping/waking) - vital for survival
hindbrain
part of the brain that manages sensorimotor reflexes to promote survival, receives sensory and motor information
midbrain
part of the brain associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes (emotion and memory), greatest influence on behavior
forebrain
a lower brain structure responsible for regulating vital functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure
medulla oblongata
brain structure that contains sensory and motor tracts between the cortex and medulla
pons
brain structure that helps maintain posture and balance and coordinates body movements
cerebellum
brain structure composed of interconnected nuclei, regulates arousal and alertness (sleeping and waking) and attention (anesthetics act on this)
reticular formation
____ colliculus receives visual sensory input
superior
____ colliculus receives auditory sensory input
inferior
relay station for incoming sensory information, includes all senses except smell - sorts sensory impulses and transmits them to appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex
thalamus
serves homeostatic functions and is a key player in emotional experience during heightened arousal states, aggressive behavior, and sexual behavior - also helps control some endocrine functions and the autonomic nervous system, involved in fight or flight
hypothalamus
hunger center of the brain, tells you when to begin eating and drinking
lateral hypothalamus
satiety center of the brain that tells you when you’ve had enough to eat, brain lesions in this area usually lead to obesity
ventromedial hypothalamus
electrical stimulation here causes an increase in aggressive sexual behavior, damage leads to permanent inhibition of sexual activity
anterior hypothalamus
area in the middle of the brain that controls muscle movement as it receives information from the cortex
basal ganglia
fluid-filled cavities in the middle of the brain that link up with spinal canal that runs down SC, linked with schizophrenia symptoms
ventricles
group of interconnected structures looping around central portion of the brain, lies in the oldest part of the central hemisphere - primarily associated with emotion and memory
limbic system
pleasure center of the brain, also acts to inhibit aggression
septal nuclei
involved in aggressive and defensive behavior, damage reduces aggression and fear, lesions lead to docility and hypersexual states
amygdala
brain structure involved in learning and memory
hippocampus
not being able to establish long term memories
anteretrograde amnesia
not being able to remember events before an injury
retrograde amnesia
combines input from diverse brain regions
association areas
areas that receive sensory information or send out motor impulse commands
projection areas
large section of fibers that connect the hemispheres
corpus callosum
contains nucleus, cell’s energy center
cell body/soma
branch out from the soma to receive incoming information from other neurons via postsynaptic receptors, external stimulation can lead to neuron firing
dendrites
branch out to terminal buttons
axons
contain vesicles filled with neurotransmitters that release when neuron fires
terminal buttons
neural transmission between neurons is a (chemical/electrical) process
chemical
neural conduction within neuron is a (chemical/electrical) process
electrical
