B MCAT--Endocrine, Nervous Systems Flashcards

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1
Q

cerebellum

A

Part of brain affiliated with intricate muscle movements, posture and balance.

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2
Q

cerebrum

A

The cerebrum comprises gray matter (the cerebral cortex) and white matter at its center.

Functions as the motor cortex and regulates temperature.

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3
Q

occipital lobe

A

Part of cerebral cortex responsible for visual processing.

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4
Q

brainstem

A

Brain stem is responsible for basic vital life functions; breathing and cardio.

Includes medulla oblongata, which connects the brain to the spinal cord and is responsible for regulating breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.

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5
Q

basal ganglia

A

smooth motor movements and posture.

(Parkinson’s disease is a result of damage to the basal ganglia)

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6
Q

frontal lobe

A

Part of cerebral cortex affiliated with personality changes.

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7
Q

hippocampus

A

Part of limbic system of brain responsible for formation and consolidation of memories.

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8
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

Prefrontal cortex is responsible for processing and displaying negative emotion; rational decision-making, reducing impulsive behaviors.

Covers the front of the frontal lobe in the brain’s cerebral cortex.

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9
Q

cerebellum

A

coordinates and regulates muscle activity–balance and posture

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10
Q

pons

A

Part of brain close to the stem.

Relays info and regulates arousal, sleep, autonomic functions.

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11
Q

medulla oblongata

A

Regulates critical autonomic functions of breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.

Located at top of brainstorm. Connects the brainstorm to the brain.

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12
Q

Anterior cingulate cortex

A

region of brain involved in higher order cognition–impulse control and decision-making.

Located beneath cerebral cortex.

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13
Q

Path of sensory receptors

A

stimulus > receptor (sensory cell or nerve ending) > sensory ganglion > central nervous system

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14
Q

photoreceptors

A

Sensory receptors that detect light

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15
Q

hair cells

A

Sensory receptors that help with hearing–linear/rotational movement and acceleration.

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16
Q

Nociceptors

A

Sensory receptors that detect pain

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17
Q

Thermoreceptors

A

Sensory receptors that detect temperature

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18
Q

Osmoreceptors

A

Sensory receptors that detect osmolarity/salinity; the concentration of solutes of something.

Important in blood to sense correct volume of water and solutes–hydration.

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19
Q

Olfactory receptors

A

Sensory receptors that detect smell.

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20
Q

Taste receptors

A

Sensory receptors that detect taste.

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21
Q

Term for the Somatosensation of pain

A

nociception

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22
Q

Sense of knowing where you and your limbs are in space

A

Proprioception.
Also called kinesthetic sense

23
Q

Sense of keeping balance and detecting acceleration

A

Vestibular sense

24
Q

Sense of touch–vibration, pressure, temperature, and nociception

A

somatosensation

25
Q

Ganglion Cells

A

In the visual pathway, ganglion cells collect information from all the retinal cells (including the rods and cones), grouping it to form the optic nerve.

26
Q

Neurotransmitter–Acetylcholine

A

Involved in CNS & PNS.

Voluntary muscle control; involved in Parasympathetic nervous system.

27
Q

Neurotransmitters–Epinephrine, Neuroepinephrine

A

Involved in PNS.

(Adrenalin) Fight or flight responses, wakefulness, alertness

28
Q

Neurotransmitters–Dopamine

A

Involved in CNS.

Coordinates smooth movements, postural stability. Involved in pleasure center (septal nuclei).

29
Q

Neurotransmitter–Serotonin

A

Involved in CNS.

Mood, sleep, eating, dreaming.

30
Q

Neurotransmitter–GABA

A

Involved in CNS.

INHIBITORY. Involved in stabilization. Increase in GABA = decrease in brain activity. Calming effect.

31
Q

Neurotransmitter–Endorphins

A

Involved in CNS.

Brains natural painkillers.
Act directly on spinal cord. Pain info brought in, endorphins shut down info in spinal cord before pain signals make it to brain.

Opioids and morphine are famous for functioning in a similar way to endorphins

32
Q

Endocrine Signaling

A

endo-crine = into the blood.

A form of cell-to-cell communication.

Hormones secreted into the bloodstream.

Travel to distant locations to cause changes in cellular expression.

Signaling can act DIRECTLY on target tissue (e.g. growth hormones on bone) or TROPICLY where it requires an intermediary (gland) to release a second (or third) direct hormone.

33
Q

Glands of the endocrine system

A

HYPOTHALAMUS: In the brain. Controls endocrine system. Mood, hunger and thirst, sleep patterns and sexual function.

PITUITARY: Pea-sized gland in the base of brain. Makes hormones that control several other glands. How your body grows.

THYROID: butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Metabolism.

PARATHYROID: 4 tiny glands. Control calcium (necessary for heart, kidneys, bones and nervous system).

ADRENAL: 2 adrenal glands, 1 on top of each kidney. They control metabolism, blood pressure, sexual development and response to stress.

PINEAL: Manages sleep via melatonin.

PANCREAS: Insulin.

OVARIES: 2 in lower abdomen of women. Release estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

TESTES: In men, the 2 testes (testicles) make sperm and release the hormone testosterone, also affecting muscle strength and sex drive.

34
Q

Paracrine Signaling

A

Cell-to-cell communication between nearby cells through extracellular fluid.

presynaptic membrane > synapse > postsynaptic membrane

para = Greek for side-by-side.

35
Q

Juxtacrine Signaling

A

Cell-to-cell communication between cells that are in close contact with each other or directly adjacent.
(no intermediate fluid necessary)

36
Q

Autocrine Signaling

A

Cell-to-cell communication where signals are released and accepted by the same cell.

auto = Greek for self.

37
Q

Peptide hormones

A

Peptide hormones are made of amino acids chains. All hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the blood.

Can not pass through the plasma membrane of cells. Relatively polar.

Bind to very specific extracellular receptors.

Affect translation, not transcription.

Fast onset. Short acting.

Ex. Oxytocin, insulin, epinephrine. Tend have”-in” ending. Also glucagon, ATCH.

38
Q

Steroid Hormones

A

Made of cholesterol. All hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the blood.

Slower onset. Longer lasting change.

CAN pass through the plasma membrane of cells and into the nucleus. Relatively hydrophobic.

Can bind to DNA, changing transcription.

Can NOT travel through the bloodstream easily; need carrier proteins (e.g. sex hormone binding globulin, albumin).

Ex. Testosterone. Tend to have “-ol”, “-one”, “-oid” endings.

39
Q

Hormones of the anterior pituitary gland

A

Portal system. They take the path: hypothalamus > (via GnRH) > anterior pituitary gland > (via FSH to) > organ. Organ can be gonads, thyroid, or adrenals.

FLAT PEG
FLAT are all tropic hormones.
PEG are all direct hormones.

FSH - Maturation of germ cells
LH - secretion of androgens
ACTH - secretion of corticosteroids
TSH - influences metabolism

Prolactin - production and secretion of milk
Endorphins - inhibit pain
GH - Bone and muscle cell growth

40
Q

Hormones of the posterior pituitary gland

A

Unique in that rather than a portal system, the posterior pituitary glad is an axon; its cell body is in the hypothalamus, that is where the hormone is made; then stored and released by the posterior pituitary gland. Think of as posterior pituitary “purse”.

ADH- increases water reabsorption in kidney

Oxytocin- promotes uterine contraction, milk letdown

41
Q

Hormones of the thyroid

A

Generally responsible for metabolism.

T3/T4 - regulates basal metabolic rate

Calcitonin - decreases calcium in blood (antagonist to PTH hormone)

42
Q

Hormone of the parathyroid gland

A

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) - Increases calcium in blood

43
Q

Hormones of the adrenal glands
(above the kidney)

A

Glucocorticoids - Increase blood glucose

Mineral corticoids - increase sodium reabsorption

Cortical sex hormones - stimulate sexual differentiation

Adrenaline

epinephrine / norepinephrine- active in the fight or flight response (from the adrenal medulla)

44
Q

Hormones of the pancreas

A

Pancreas is site of many digestive hormones.

Insulin - uptake and storage of glucose (released when you eat a lot of food)

Glucagon- breakdown of glycogen (released when food is sparce)

Somatostatin- inhibits release of insulin and glucagon; brings back to status quo

45
Q

Root words CORTEX vs. MEDULLA

A

Cortex refers to the outer layer of an organ or gland.
Medulla refers to the inner layer of an organ or gland.

46
Q

Hormones of the gonads

A

Gonad glands are responsible for:

Estrogen-Female differentiation

Testosterone- male differentiation

47
Q

Hormone of the pineal gland

A

Melatonin - regulates circadian rhythms

48
Q

cortisol

A

cortisol = stress hormone; secreted from adrenal cortex.

49
Q

aldosterone

A

aldosterone = hormone related to blood pressures; secreted from the adrenal cortex.

50
Q

glial cells

A

Glial cells are a type of cell that provides physical and chemical support to neurons and maintain their environment.

51
Q

What are the two types of glial cells that form myelin?

A

There are two types of glial cells that form myelin.
Oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system,
and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system.

Note, MS targets the demyelination of oligodendrocyte nerve cells in the central nervous system.

52
Q

electrotonic spread and saltatory conduction in a neuron

A

Electrotonic spread is the spread/dissipating of charge across the axon of a neuron.

Saltatory conduction is the boosts of charge along an axon due to periodic gated channels, triggered in response to electrotonic spread. A charge threshold on the voltage gradient is met so that opens the channels and allows NA^2+ to flood in, boosting the signal.

53
Q

neuroplasticity– potentiation and depression

A

neuro potentiation represents neuro plasticity/changes based on increased use. Synaptic changes might include more neurotransmitter released, less reuptake, more receptors. Structural changes may include sprouting of more dendrites and axons. INCREASED RESPONSE.

neuro depression happens when a neuron is not active. Opposite effect.