Ch. 10: Nervous System Flashcards
(42 cards)
What are nerve cells called?
neurons
What do nerve cells do?
carry electrical impulses all over the body
What are nerve cells collected into?
macroscopic nerves
What does the peripheral nervous system consist of?
cranial nerves, spinal nerves, plexuses, peripheral nerves throughout the body, autonomic nerves (parasympathetic & sympathetic nerves)
What does the central nervous system consist of?
brain & spinal cord
The peripheral nervous system consists of..
cranial nerves from the brain; spinal nerves from the spine; and autonomic system (involuntary) which has parasympathetic (rest & digest) & sympathetic (fight or flight)
What does a neuron’s structure have?
dendrite, cell nucleus, axon
what are ganglia?
small clusters of nerve cell bodies
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
controls body temp, sleep, appetite, sexual desire, and emotions; regulates release of hormones from the pituitary gland; monitors sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
What does the medulla oblongata regulate?
**regulates: blood vessels, heart, respiratory system
astrocyte
glial cell that transports water and salts from capillaries
autonomic nervous system
nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs
axon
microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell
blood-brain barrier
protective separation between the blood and brain cells that keeps substances (such as anticancer drugs) from penetrating capillary walls and entering the brain
brainstem
posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum w/ the spinal cord
cauda equina
collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord
cerebral cortex
outer region of the cerebrum; contains sheets of nerve cells; gray matter
cerebrospinal fluid
circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord
cerebrum
the largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscle activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory
Hydrocephalus (a congenital disorder)
it is a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. Although hydrocephalus was once known as “water on the brain,” the “water” is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Spina bifida cystica
A bony defect in the vertebral column that causes a cleft in that column. The meningeal membranes that cover the spinal cord and part of the spinal cord protrude through this cleft, and are clearly visible
Spina bifida occulta
hidden spina bifida- incomplete closing of the backbones
CVA- cerebrovascular accident- thrombotic
a blood clot in an artery leaving the brain
CVA- cerebrovascular accident- embolic
a dislodged clot that travels to the cerebral arteries