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BIO 141 - Human Physiology > Unit 2 > Flashcards

Unit 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Central Nervous System

A

The brain and spinal cord

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2
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

Consists of nerve fibers that carry information between the CNS and the other parts of the body (periphery)

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3
Q

Afferent division

A

Carries information to the CNS about the external environment and the status of internal activities being regulated by the nervous system

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4
Q

Efferent division

A

Transmits instructions from the CNS to effector organs - muscles and glands that carry out the orders to bring about the desired effect

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5
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

Consists of the fibers of motor neurons that supply the skeletal muscles

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6
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

Consists of fibers that innervate smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands

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7
Q

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems

A

Innervate most of the organs supplied by the autonomic system

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8
Q

Enteric Nervous System

A

Extensive nerve network in the wall of the digestive tract

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9
Q

Afferent neuron

A

Lie primarily in the PNS. Shaped different than efferent neurons and interneurons. Has a sensory receptor at its peripheral ending. Cell body devoid of dendrites and presynaptic inputs

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10
Q

Sensory receptor

A

Generates action potentials in response to a particular type of stimulus

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11
Q

Efferent neuron

A

Lie primarily in the PNS. Cell bodies originate in the CNS. Many presynaptic inputs converge on them to influence their outputs to effector organs.

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12
Q

Interneuron

A

99% of all neurons are interneurons (100 billion). Lie between the afferent and efferent neurons and integrate peripheral information to peripheral responses.

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13
Q

Glial cells (neuroglia)

A

90% of the cells in the CNS. Don’t initiate or conduct nerve impulses. Communicate with neurons and among themselves through chemical means

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14
Q

Astrocyte

A

Most abundant glial cell. Glue that holds the neurons together. Induce the capillaries of the brain to establish the blood-brain barrier. Transfer nutrients from the blood to the neurons. Help repair brain injuries. Take up and degrade local NTs. Take up excess potassium in the brain. Enhance synaptic formation and modify synaptic transmission.

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15
Q

Oligodendrocyte

A

Form insulative myelin sheaths around axons in the CNS.

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16
Q

Microglia

A

Immune defense cells of the CNS. Release nerve growth factor

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17
Q

Ependymal cells

A

Line the internal, fluid-filled cavaties of the CNS. Serve as neural stem cells that can form new glial cells and neurons. Help in formation of cerebrospinal fluid

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18
Q

Name 4 things that help protect the CNS from injury

A

1) It’s enclosed by hard, bony structures - the cranium encases the brain and the vertebral column surrounds the spinal cord, 2) the meninges lie between the bony covering and the nervous tissue, 3) the brain floats in a special cushioning fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and 4) a highly selective blood-brain barrier limits the access of blood borne materials into the vulnerable brain tissue.

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19
Q

Dura mater

A

Tough, inelastic covering that consists of two layers

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20
Q

Arachnoid mater

A

Delicate, richly vascularized layer with a cobwebby appearance

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21
Q

Pia mater

A

Innermost meningeal layer. Highly vascular and closely adheres to the surfaces of the brain and spinal cord

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22
Q

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

A

Surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord. Acts as a strong, shock absorbing fluid that prevents the brain from bumping against the skull

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23
Q

Choroid plexuses

A

Found in particular regions of the ventricles in the brain. Consist of richly vascularized, cauliflower-like masses of pia mater tissue that dip into pockets formed by ependymal cells

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24
Q

Cognition

A

The act or process of “knowing”, including awareness and judgement

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25
Brain stem
Oldest part of the brain. Consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla. Controls many life-sustaining processes like respiration, circulation, and digestion (vegetative functions). Origin of most peripheral cranial nerves. Reception and integration of all synaptic input from spinal cord. Arousal and activation of cerebral cortex. Role in sleep-wake cycle.
26
Cerebellum
Attached at the top rear portion of the brain stem. Helps maintain proper position of the body in space and subconscious coordination of motor activity (movement). Helps in learning skilled motor tasks
27
Diencephalon
Tucked into the interior of the cerebellum. Consists of the thalamus and the hypothalamus
28
Thalamus
Performs some primitive sensory processing
29
Hypothalamus
Controls many homeostatic functions important in maintaining stability of the internal environment
30
Cerebrum
Outer part of the brain consisting of the cerebral cortex and the basal nuclei
31
Cerebral cortex
Outer layer of the cerebrum which caps an inner core that houses the basal nuclei. Plays key role in the most sophiticated neural functions - voluntary initiation of movement, final sensory perception, conscious thought, language, personality traits, and other factors we associate with the mind or intellect
32
Basal nuclei
Inner core of cerebrum surrounded by the cerebral cortex. Responsible for the inhibition of muscle tone, the coordination of sustained movements, and the suppression of useless patterns of movement
33
Corpus callosum
Thick band consisting of around 300 million neuronal axons that connect the two cerebral hemispheres. Acts as the bodies "information superhighway" between the left and right brains
34
Gray matter
Thin outer shell of cerebrum. Consists mostly of densely packed neuronal cell bodies and their dendrites, in addition to most glial cells
35
White matter
Bundles of myelinated nerve fibers (axons) in the inner part of the cerebrum
36
Gyri
Wrinkles in the surface of the cerebral cortex that are densely packed with neurons
37
Sulci
Deeper crevices in the cerebral cortex that divide the cerebrum into sections or lobes
38
Occipital lobes
Located at the back of the head. Carry out the initial processing of visual input
39
Temporal lobes
Located on the sides of the head. Carry out the initial processing of auditory stimuli
40
Parietal lobes
Located at the rear of the central sulcus on each side. Responsible for receiving and processing sensory input.
41
Central sulcus
Deep infolding in the cerebral cortex that runs roughly down the middle of the lateral surface of each hemisphere
42
Frontal lobes
Located at the front of the central sulcus. Responsible for voluntary motor activity, speaking ability, and elaboration of thought
43
Somesthetic sensations
Sensations from the surface of the body such as touch, pressure, heat, cold, and pain.
44
Somatosensory cortex
Located at the front portion of each parietal lobe. Site for initial cortical processing and perception of both somesthetic and proprioceptive input.
45
Proprioception
Awareness of body position
46
Homunculus
Distorted "little man" image that depicts how much the sensory and motor portions of the brain are allocated to different parts of the body
47
Broca's area
Located in the left frontal lobe in close association with the motor areas of the cortex that control the muscles necessary for speaking. Governs speaking ability. Damage causes failure of word formation
48
Wernicke's area
Located in the left cortex at the juncture of the parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. Concerned with language comprehension. Damage causes difficulty in understanding words we see or hear - can speak fluently, but words make no sense
49
Primary motor cortex
Voluntary control over movement produced by skeletal muscles
50
Premotor cortex
Involved in coordination of complex movements
51
Limbic association cortex
Involved in memory, emotion, and motivation
52
Plasticity
Ability of the brain to change or be functionally remodeled in response to the demands placed on it
53
Left cerebral hemisphere
Excels in logical, analytical, sequential, and verbal tasks such as math, language forms, and philosophy
54
Right cerebral hemisphere
Excels in nonlanguage skills, especially spatial perception and artistic and musical talents
55
Subcortical regions
Interact extensively with the cortex in the performance of their functions. Includes the basal nuclei, thalamus, and hypothalamus
56
Limbic system
Plays a central role in all aspects of emotion. Includes portions of the cerebral cortex, the basal nuclei, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus. Also includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and olfactory bulb
57
Habituation
Decreased responsiveness to repetitive presentations of an indifferent stimulus
58
Sensitization
Increased responsiveness to mild stimuli following a noxious or strong stimulus
59
Vestibulocerebellum
Important for maintaining balance and controls eye movements
60
Spinocerebellum
Enhances muscle tone and coordinated skills, voluntary movements
61
Cerebrocerebellum
Plays a role in planning and initiating voluntary activity by providing input to the cortical motor areas
62
Cranial nerves
12 pairs of cranial nerves arise from the brain stem and supply structures in the head and neck with both sensory and motor fibers
63
Vagus nerve
Most branches of this nerve supply organs in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. Major nerve in the parasympathetic nervous system
64
Reticular formation
A widespread network of interconnected neurons that runs throughout the entire brain stem and into the thalamus. Receives and integrates all incoming sensory synaptic input
65
Reticular activating system (RAS)
Controls the overall degree of cortical alertness and is important in the ability to direct attention
66
Spinal cord
Long, slender cylinder of nerve tissue that extends from the brain stem
67
Ascending tracts
Bundle of nerve fibers that transmit afferent input signals from the spinal cord to the brain
68
Descending tracts
Relay messages from the brain to efferent neurons
69
Dorsal horn
(Posterior) Contains cell bodies of interneurons on which afferent neurons terminate
70
Ventral horn
(Anterior) Contains cell bodies of the efferent motor neurons supplying skeletal muscles
71
Lateral horn
Autonomic nerve fibers supplying cardiac and smooth muscle and exocrine glands originate at cell bodies found in the lateral horn
72
Dorsal root
Afferent fibers carrying incoming signals from peripheral receptors enter the spinal cord through the dorsal root
73
Dorsal root ganglion
Clusters of afferent neurons at each level of spinal cord
74
Ventral root
The cell bodies for the efferent neurons originate in the grey matter and send axons out through the ventral root
75
Spinal nerve
Where dorsal and ventral roots at each level of the spine join and emerge from the vertebral column
76
Nerve
A bundle of neuronal axons, both afferent and efferent, enclosed by connective tissue covering and following the same pathway
77
Dermatome
Each spinal nerve carries sensory fibers from a particular region on the body surface called a dermatome
78
Reflex
Any response that occurs automatically without conscious effort
79
Simple (basic) reflexes
Built-in, unlearned responses
80
Acquired (conditioned) reflexes
Result from practice or learning
81
Reflex arc
The neural pathway involved in accomplishing reflex activity
82
Sensory receptor
Responds to a particular stimulus
83
Stimulus
A detectable physical or chemical change in the environment of the receptor
84
Afferent pathway
Relays the action potential produced by a receptor to the integrating center
85
Integrating center
Processes the information sent by the receptor and determines appropriate response to be transmitted through the efferent pathway
86
Efferent pathway
Carries the message from the integrating center to the effector organ
87
Effector
(Muscle or gland) Carries out the desired response to the original stimulus.
88
Spinal reflex
All of the components necessary for linking afferent input to an efferent response are present within the spinal cord
89
Monosynaptic
Only synapse in the reflex arc is the one between the afferent neuron and the efferent neuron
90
Polysynaptic
Interneurons are interposed in the reflex pathway causing a number of synapses to be involved

BIO 141 - Human Physiology (3 decks)

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