The Human Animal Flashcards
Dendrites
Branch extension of a neuron that receives incoming messages
Corpus callosum
A bundle of nerve fibers that make communication possible between both hemispheres of the brain
Axon
The other Branchy end of the neuron that sends outgoing messages
Nervous system
The brain and body’s network of neurons coordinates all internal body functions and body’s response to external stimuli
Stimulus
Incoming information that causes the body to respond
Synapse
Space or gaps that separates neurons
Neurotransmitter
Chemicals that act as messengers that transmit the signal across the gap between neurons across (the synapse)
Reflex arc
A pathway that Messages travel back to muscles in your arms. A signal pathway that goes from sensory neuron to spinal cord to motor neuron day passing the brain to keep us safe
What are the two parts of the central nervous system?
The two parts of the central nervous system are the brain and the spinal cord
What are the characteristics of the human hand?
Strong precise grasp, flexible, long thumb, opposable thumb
What is a power grip?
Grasping objects with palm and curl fingers around can apply pressure to the whole hand
What is a Percision grip?
A more intricate grab that requires a specific alignment of the thumb with one or more fingers some applies pressure against another finger or fingers in order to accomplish a precise motion (ex: picking up a coin)
What does the cerebrum control?
Learning, memory, language, speech, voluntary body movements, sensory perception (higher thinking)
What does the cerebellum control?
Balance, posture, and coordination
What does the brainstem control?
Breathing rate, heart rate, and blood pressure. Considered the most primitive part of the brain, responsible for support systems.
What part of the brain would you expect to be very small in primitive organisms?
I would expect the cerebrum to be very small in primitive organisms
What does a neurobiologist do?
Studies different regions of the brain and works to learn more about how they function in with the control (studies the nervous system)
What does the motor cortex do?
Iit controls the movement of your body
What does the sensory cortex do?
It lets you feel sensations from your body
What does the corpus callosum do?
It makes communications possible between both hemispheres of the brain (connects right and left hemispheres)
What are the parts of a neuron and what does each do?
- Dendrite: acts like an antenna to receive incoming messages
- Axon: sends outgoing messages
- Cell body: contains nucleus
Explain how Messages move from neuron to neuron
- Electrical signal is turn from electrical energy to chemical energy neurotransmitter at the end of the axon
- neurotransmitter crosses the synapse -the narrow transmitter is change from chemical energy back into electrical energy at the dendrites of the next cell
Explain the functioning of a reflex arc
It’s a signal from sensory neurons the spinal cord to motor neuron that bypasses the brain (for speed) to keep us safe fast
What are the criteria for a testable question?
A question that can be tested by an experiment and gathering concrete did not just an opinion has to describe a test that you can actually do
What does the left hemisphere control?
Language and speech, as well as mathematics, and other analytical abilities and the right side of the body
What does the right hemisphere control?
Visual and spatial processing and the left side of the body
How do you brands of higher and lower primates differ?
Brains of how your primates tend to have a bigger cerebrum and more wrinkles on the brain than lower primates
What does the peripheral nervous system include?
Transmits information between the central nervous system and the rest of the body (somatic and autonomic)
What is the somatic nervous system responsible for?
It connects the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles (requires thought)
What is the autonomic nervous system responsible for?
It connects the central nervous system to the heart and other internal organs (takes information from internal organs to the brain, happens automatically)
Describe the pathway of a reflex arc
Nerve pathway that consist of a sensory neuron carrying a signal to an Internet which sends a signal to a motor neurons by passing the brain
