Week 11 and 12 Flashcards
Nervous System
Cells that surround and protect delicate neurons
Neuroglia (glial cells)
Excitable cells that transmit electrical signals
Neurons (nerve cells)
Brain and spinal cord of dorsal body cavity
Integration and control center
Interprets sensory input and dictates motor output
CNS
Portion of nervous system outside of CNS
Spinal nerves and cranial nerves
PNS
Neurons are branching cells; Neurons transmit electrical signals from sensory receptors and to effectors; Supporting cells support and protect neurons
Nervous tissue
Branches off of cell body; receptive region
Dendrites
Biosynthetic center; receptive region
Cell body
Impulse-generating and conducting region
Axon
Bottom of axon; fat portion
Axon hillock
Secretory region on axon
Axon terminal
Support cell; Star shaped cell that reaches out to capillaries and neurons; most abundant in CNS
Astrocytes
Support cell; defensive cells (prevent infection; Spider shaped cell in CNS
Microglial cell
Support cell; Lines cerebrospinal fluid filled cells in CNS cavities; Ciliated
Ependymal cell
Support cell; Has processes that form myelin sheaths around CNS fibers
Oligodendrocyte
Support cells; Joins with Schwann cells to surround neurons in PNS; Specifically surrounds the cell body
Satellite cell
Short, non myelinated neurons on cell bodies
Gray matter
Myelinated and non myelinated axons
White matter
Fluid filled chambers that are continuous to one another and to central canal of spinal cord
Filled with CSF
Lined by ependymal cells
Ventricles
Liquid cushion of constant volume around brain
Gives buoyancy to CNS structures
Composed of watery solution formed from blood plasma
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Cluster of capillaries that hangs from roof of each ventricle, enclosed by pia mater and surrounding layer of ependymal cells
Forms CSF
Choroid plexus
Site of conscious mind
“Executive suite”
Cerebral cortex
Localizes and interprets sensory inputs; Controls voluntary and skilled skeletal muscle activity
Functions in intellectual an emotional processing
Cortical gray matter
Subcortical motor centers
Help control skeletal muscle movements
Inner gray matter pockets
Basal nuclei
Region in diencephalon; Helps with memory processing
Thalamus
Regulates body temperature, food intake, water balance, thirst, and biological rhythms
Regulates hormonal output of pituitary gland
Hypothalamus
Contains pineal gland; secretes melatonin that helps regulate sleep-wake cycle
Epithalamus
Controls automatic behaviors necessary for survival
3 regions: midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata
Brain stem
Visual reflex centers; part of midbrain
Superior colliculi
Auditory relay centers; part of midbrain
Inferior colliculi
Contains visual and auditory reflex centers
Midbrain
Relays information from the cerebrum to cerebellum
Cooperates with the medullary respiratory centers to control respiratory rate and depth
Pons
Contains visceral nuclei controlling heart rate, blood vessel diameter, respiratory rate, vomiting, coughing
Medulla oblongata
Inferior to cerebrum;
Provides instructions to cerebral motor cortex and subcortical centers, resulting in smooth, coordinated skeletal muscle movements
Responsible for balance and structure
Cerebellum
Mediates emotional response
Involved in memory processing
Composed of: amygdaloid body, fornix, cingulate gyrus
Limbic system
