Anatomy and Physiology of the CNS Flashcards
(67 cards)
The basic functional unit of the brain
neuron
for receiving electrochemical messages
dendrites
a long projection that carries electrical impulses away from the cell body
Axon
Nerve cell bodies
occurring in clusters
ganglia or nuclei
A cluster of cell bodies with
the same function
center
Neurons are
supported, protected, and nourished by what
glial cells
communicate messages from one neuron to another or from
a neuron to a target cell
neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters
are manufactured and stored in
synaptic vesicles
A neurotransmitter can either _______ or ______ activity of the target
cell
excite or inhibit
acetylcholine
both excitatory and inhibitory
serotonin
inhibitory
dopamine
inhibitory
norepinephrine
excitatory
gamma-aminobutyric acid
inhibitory
enkephalin or endorphin
excitatory
3 major areas of the brain
cerebrum, brain stem, cerebellum
cerebrum is composed of two hemispheres
thalami, hypothalamus, basal ganglia
brain stem is composed of 3
midbrain, pons, medulla
cerebellum is located where
under the cerebrum and behind the brain stem
folded layers of convolutions; accounting for the high level of activity carried out
gyri
anatomic division
sulcus or fissure
separates the cerebrum into the right and left hemispheres
great longitudinal fissure
made up of gray matter approx 2 to 5 mm in depth; contains billions of neuron cell bodies hence the gray appearance
cerebral cortex
makes up the innermost layer and is composed of myelinated nerve fibers and neuroglia cells that form tracts or pathways connecting various parts of the brain with one another
white matter