Structure & Function (Chapter 1) Flashcards
Neuron
Basic unit of the nervous system
Glial Cells
(Glia) Non neuronal brain cells that provide structural, nutritional, and other types of support to the brain.
Synapse
The location where information is transmitted from a neuron to another cell.
Input Zone
The part of a neuron that receives information from other neurons.
Dendrite
An extension of the cell body that receives information
Integration Zone
The part of a neuron that initiates neural electrical activity.
Cell Body
(Soma) Region that is defined by the presence of a cell nucleus.
Conduction Zone
The part of a neuron (usually the axon) that the action potential is transmitted.
Axon
(nerve fibre) An extension from the nerve cell that carries action potentials from the cell body toward the axon terminals.
Axon Collateral
A branch of an axon.O
Output Zone
The part of the neuron that the cell sends out information to another cell.
Axon Terminal
(Synaptic bouton) The end of an axon or axon collateral that forms the synapse onto a neuron and serves as the output zone.
Motor Neuron
A neuron that transmits neural messages to muscles or glands.
Sensory Neuron
A nerve cell that is directly affected by changes in the environment.
Interneuron
A nerve cell that is neither a sensory neuron nor a motor neuron. Receive and send input from other neurons.
Multipolar Neuron
A nerve cell that has many dendrites and a single axon.
Bipolar Neuron
A nerve cell that has a single dendrite and a single axon.
Unipolar Neurons
(Monopolar neuron) A nerve cell with a single branch that leaves the cell body and then extends two directions. One end is the input zone and the other is the output zone.
Axon Hillock
The cone-shaped area on the cell body where the axon originates.
Innervate
To provide neural input to.
Axonal Transport
The transportation of materials from the neuronal cell body toward the axon terminals and back.
Oligodendrocyte
A type of glial cell that forms myelin in the CNS.
Schwann Cell
A type of glial cel that forms myelin in the PNS.
Myelin
A fatty insulation around an axon formed by glial cells. Boosts speed of nerve impulses.
Node of Ranvier
A gap between successive segments of the myelin sheath where the axon membrane is exposed.
Astrocyte
A star-shaped glial cell with numerous extensions (processes) that run in all directions.
Microglial Cells
(Microglia) Extremely small glial cells that remove debris from dead or injured cells.
Gross Neuroanatomy
Anatomical features of the nervous system seen by the naked eye.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The portion of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The portion of the nervous system that includes all the nerves and neurons outside the brain and spinal cord.
Nerve
A collection of axons bundled together outside of the CNS
Motor Nerve
A nerve that transmits information from the CNS to the muscles and glands.
Sensory Nerve
A nerve that transmits information from the body to the CNS.
Autonomic Nervous System
A part of the PNS that provides the main neural connections to the internal organs.
Cranial Nerve
A nerve that is connected directly to the brain. (12 pairs)
Spinal Nerve
A nerve that comes out of the spinal cord. (31 pairs)
Cervical
8 Topmost segments of the spinal cord in the neck region.
Thoracic
12 Spinal segments in the torso below the cervical portion.
Lumbar
5 Spinal segments in the upper part of the lower back.
Sacral
5 Spinal segments in the lower part of the lower back.
Coccygeal
The lowest spinal vertebra (tailbone)
Autonomic Nervous System
Nervous system we have little conscious control over.
Sympathetic Nervous System
The part of the autonomic nervous system that general prepares the body for action.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body to relax and recuperate.
Saggittal Plane
The plane that divides the brain into left and right.
Coronal Plane
(Frontal plane) The plane that divides the body into the front and back.
Horizontal Plane
The plane that divides the brain into upper and lower.
Medial
Toward the middle
Lateral
Toward one side
Ipsilateral
A location on the same side of the body
Contralateral
A location on the opposite side of the body.
Superior
Above
Inferior
Below
Basal
Toward the bottom or base
Anterior
Toward the head end
Posterier
Toward the tail end
Proximal
Near the centre of an organism
Distal
Toward the periphery or end of a limb of an organism
Afferent
Carrying action potentials toward the brain or from one region to another region of interest.
Efferent
Carrying action potentials away from the brain or from one region to another region of interest.
Dorsal
Toward the back of the body or top of the brain
Ventral
Toward the front of the body or bottom of the brain
Gray Matter
Areas of the brain that are mostly cell bodies and have no myelin, mostly receives and processes information.
White Matter
A light colours layer of tissue consisting of mostly myelin-sheathed axons. Lies underneath the grey matter and mostly transmits information.
Cerebral Hemisphere
One of the two halves of the forebrain.
Cerebral Cortex
The outer covering of the cerebral hemispheres which cons tis of nerve cell bodies and their branches.
Gyrus
A ridged or raised portion of the cortical surface.
Sulcus
A crevice or valley of the cortical surface.
Frontal Lobe
The front of the brain
Parietal Lobe
Between the frontal and occipital lobes.
Occipital Lobe
The posterior part of the brain.
Temporal Lobe
The largest lateral region at the bottom.
Sylvian Fissure
(Lateral sulcus) A deep fissure that separates the temporal and frontal lobes.
Central Sulcus
A fissure that divides the frontal and parietal lobe.
Corpus Callosum
Connects the two hemispheres
Poscentral Gyrus
The strip of parietal cortex just posterior to the central sulcus that receives somatosensory information from the body.
Precentral Gyrus
The strip of frontal cortex just anterior to the central sulcus that is crucial for motor control.
Forebrain
The frontal part of neural tube that contains the cerebral hemispheres, the thalamus and the hypothalamus.
Midbrain
The middle division of the brain.
Hindbrain
The rear part of the neural tube which contains the cerebellum, pons and medulla.
Telencephalon
The anterior part of the fetal forebrain which will become the cerebral hemispheres.
Diencephalon
The posterior part of the fetal forebrain that will become the thalamus and hypothalamus.
Brainstem
The region of the brain that is made up by the midbrain, pons and medulla
Nucleus
A collection of neuronal cell bodies in the CNS
Tract
A bundle of axons found within the CNS.
Pyramidal Cell
A type of large nerve cell that if found in the brain and looks like a pyramid.
Cortical Column
One of the vertical columns that constitute the basic organization of the cerebral cortex.
Basal Ganglia
A group of forebrain nuclei including the caudate nucleus, global pallidus, and putamen, found deep in the cerebral hemispheres.
Limbic System
A loosely defined, widespread group of brain nuclei that innerverate each other.
Amygdala
A limbic structure involved in emotional regulation
Hippocampus
Group of nuclei in the medial anterior part of the temporal lobe, important in learning and memory.
Fornix
A fibre tract that extends from the hippocampus to the mammillary body. Learning and memory.
Cingulate Gyrus
A strip of cortex that is part of many functions but is important in direction of attention.
Thalamus
Directs information to appropriate brain regions and receives instructions back about what to transmit.
Hypothalamus
Packed with discrete nuclei involved in many functions and regulating hormones.
Tectum
Top part of the midbrain. Has two pairs of bumps that have roles in sensory and visual processing.
Superior Colliculi
Paired gray matter structures in the dorsal midbrain that process visual information.
Inferior Colliculi
Paired gray matter structures of the dorsal midbrain that process auditory information.
Tegmentum
Main body of the midbrain that contains the substantial nigra, periaqueductal gray, part of the reticular formation and multiple fibre tracts.
Substantia Nigra
A brainstem structure that innervates the basal ganglia and is a major source of dopaminergic projections.
Periaqueductal Gray
A midbrain regions involved in pain perception.
Reticular Formation
An extensive region of the brainstem involved in sleep and arousal.
Cerebellum
A structure located at the back of the brain, dorsal to the pons, involved in central regulation movement and some forms of learning.
Pons
Connects the midbrain to the medulla
