CH2 Flashcards
(102 cards)
1
Q
absolute refractory period
A
Short period of time after an action potential characterized by the inability to open Na B41B73 channels and the inability to respond to subsequent stimuli
2
Q
action potential
A
Rapid change in electrical signal that is transmitted down the axon
3
Q
amygdala
A
Part of the limbic system that helps to modulate emotional behavior
4
Q
arachnoid
A
Membrane consisting of a weblike sublayer that covers the brain and spinal cord One of the three meninges
5
Q
area postrema
A
Area in the medulla of the brain stem that is not isolated from chemicals in the blood It is responsible for inducing a vomiting response when a toxic substance is present in the blood
6
Q
astrocytes
A
Starshaped cells of the nerve tissue that have numerous extensions and that modulate the chemical environment around neurons metabolically assist neurons and provide phagocytosis for cellular debris
7
Q
axon
A
Long tubular extention from the soma of the nerve cell that conducts electrical signals away from the cell body and toward the axon terminals
8
Q
axon collaterals
A
Branches formed when an axon splits giving the neuron the ability to signal more cells
9
Q
axoplasmic transport
A
Method of transporting proteins along the microtubules of the cytoskeleton to designations throughout a neuron
10
Q
basal ganglia
A
Nuclei of the telencephalon that includes the caudate putamen and globus pallidus The structures help regulate motor control
11
Q
brainstem
A
Portion of the brain consisting of the medulla pons and midbrain
12
Q
central canal
A
Channel within the center of the spinal cord filled with CSF
13
Q
cerebellar peduncles
A
Large bundles of axons that connect the cerebellum to the pons midbrain or medulla oblongata
14
Q
cerebellum
A
Large structure of the metencephalon that is located on the dorsal surface of the brain and that is connected to the pons by the cerebellar peduncles It is an important sensorimotor control center of the brain
15
Q
cerebral ventricles
A
Cavities within the brain filled with CSF
16
Q
chromatin remodeling
A
One type of environmentallyinduced epigenetic modification that increases or decreases gene transcription
17
Q
chromosomes
A
Linear strands of DNA that carry genes
18
Q
coding region
A
Portion of the gene that codes for the amino acid sequence of a protein
19
Q
convergence
A
Process by which neurons receive and integrate the numerous signals from other cells
20
Q
corpus callosum
A
Large pathway connecting corresponding areas of the two brain hemispheres allowing communication between each half of the brain
21
Q
cytoplasm
A
Salty gelatinous fluid of the cell outside of the nucleus and bounded by the cell membrane
22
Q
cytoskeleton
A
Structural matrix of a cell that is composed of tubular materials
23
Q
dendrites
A
Projections from the soma that receive signals and information from other cells
24
Q
dendritic spines
A
Projections from dendrites that increase the receiving surface area
25
depolarization
Change in membrane potential making the inside of the cell more positive
26
divergence
Process by which neurons transmit their integrated signals back out to many neurons
27
DNA methylation
Environmentallyinduced epigenetic covalent attachment of methyl groups to a gene decreases its expression
28
dorsal
Located toward the top of the brain and back of the body in humans
29
dura mater
The outer layer of the meninges It is the strongest of the three meninges layers
30
electrostatic pressure
Force drawing an ion to either side of the cell membrane in an attempt to balance or neutralize ionic charges
31
equilibrium potential
Point at which the electrostatic forces and the concentration gradient for an ion are balanced
32
excitatory postsynaptic potential EPSP
Small localized membrane depolarization of a postsynaptic neuron that results from neurotransmitters binding to specific receptors on the cell EPSPs move the membrane potential closer to the threshold for firing
33
extracellular fluid
Salty fluid surrounding nerve cells that provides oxygen nutrients and chemical signals and that removes secreted cell waste
34
fissures
Deep grooves of the cerebral cortex
35
frontal lobe
One of four lobes of the cerebral cortex It is responsible for movement and executive planning
36
ganglia
A cluster of cell bodies outside the CNS
37
gated channels
Ion channels that are normally in a closed configuration that can be opened momentarily by specific stimuli
38
gene
Portion of a chromosome that codes for a particular protein
39
glial cells
Supporting cells of the nervous system that insulate protect and metabolically support neurons
40
gyrus pl gyri
Bulge of tissue between the grooves in the cerebral cortex
41
hippocampus
Subcortical structure of the limbic system that helps to establish longterm and spatial memories The hippocampus is where LTP was first discovered and is also one of the brain areas damaged in Alzheimer B66B56s disease
42
hyperpolarization
Act of making the inside of a cell more negative relative to the resting potential reducing the likelihood that the cell will fire an action potential
43
hypothalamus
Structure of the diencephalon located at the base of the brain ventral to the thalamus It provides many functions important for survival including the maintenance of body temperature and salt balance regulation of hunger and thirst control of the ANS and pituitary gland and modulation of emotional responses
44
inhibitory postsynaptic potentials IPSPs
Hyperpolarizing responses of a postsynaptic cell that result from neurotransmitters binding to specific receptors on the cell IPSPs move the membrane potential farther from threshold for firing hence decrease the likelihood of an action potential
45
integration
Process at the axon hillock whereby several small depolarizations or hyperpolarizations will add together to create one large change in membrane potential Similarly simultaneous depolarizations and hyperpolarizations will cancel each other out
46
interneurons
Nerve cells in the CNS that possess short axons and mediate local information transmission
47
ligandgated channel
Type of ion channel that is regulated by an active ligand binding to a receptor site associated with the channel
48
limbic system
Neural network that integrates emotional responses and regulates behavior and learning Some major structures include the limbic cortex amygdala nucleus accumbens and hippocampus
49
local potential
Small localized shortlived change in voltage across the cell membrane
50
locus coeruleus LC
Collection of noradrenergic neurons in the reticular formation of the pons that supplies most of the NE to the cortex limbic system thalamus and hypothalamus These cells cause arousal and increased attention when active
51
median raphe nucleus
Structure located in the area of the caudal midbrain and rostral pons that contains a large number of serotonergic neurons In conjunction with the dorsal raphe nucleus it is responsible for most of the serotonergic fibers in the forebrain Together they regulate sleep aggression impulsiveness and emotions
52
medulla
Structure located in the caudal brain stem responsible for regulating heart rate digestion respiration blood pressure coughing and vomiting
53
meninges
Layers of protective tissue located between the bones of the skull and vertebrae and the tissue of the brain and spinal cord
54
microglia
Small nonneuronal cells in the CNS that collect at points of cell damage or inflammation and demonstrate phagocytic behavior
55
mitochondrion pl mitochrondria
Organelle of the cell that produces energy in the form of ATP from glucose
56
motor efferents
Nerve fibers originating at the ventral horn of the spinal cord and traveling to the skeletal muscles controlling voluntary movements
57
motor neuron
Nerve cell that transmits electrical signals from the CNS to muscles
58
myelin
A fatty insulating sheath surrounding many axons that increases the speed of nerve conduction It is produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS and by Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system
59
Na A66K pump
Protein pump that helps to maintain the resting membrane potential by removing Na from inside the cell Three Na ions are exchanged for two K ions maintaining a negative charge inside the cell It also forces the ions against their concentration gradients following an action potential
60
nerves
Bundles of neurons that transmit electrical signals for nervous system function
61
neurons
Nerve cells that form the brain spinal cord and nerves and that transmit electrical signals throughout the body
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neurotransmitter
Chemical substance released by a neuron to communicate with another cell which may be a different neuron a muscle cell or a hormoneproducing cell in an endocrine gland
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nodes of Ranvier
Gaps in the myelin sheath that expose the axon to the extracellular fluid
64
nuclei
Localized cluster of nerve cell bodies in the brain or spinal cord
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nucleus accumbens NAcc
Structure of the limbic system that helps to modulate emotional behavior and also plays an important role in the reinforcing and incentive salience effects of many abused drugs
66
occipital lobe
One of four lobes of the cerebral cortex It contains the primary visual cortex and helps integrate visual information
67
oligodendroglia
Glial cells that myelinate nerve axons of the CNS Also known as oligodendrocytes
68
parasympathetic
Division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for conserving energy digestion glucose and nutrient storage slowing the heart rate and decreasing respiration
69
parietal lobe
One of four lobes of the cerebral cortex It contains the primary somatosensory cortex and helps integrate information about body senses
70
periaqueductal gray PAG
Structure of the tegmentum located around the cerebral aqueduct and connecting the third and fourth ventricles It is important for regulating pain B101B46B101 stimulation produces an analgesic effect
71
pia mater
The innermost of the meninges The pia mater is a thin tissue immediately surrounding the brain and spinal cord
72
polarized
Possessing an electrical charge
73
primary cortex
The part of each lobe of the cortex that provides conscious awareness of sensory experience and the initial cortical processing of sensory qualities
74
promoter region
Section of a gene adjacent to the coding region that controls the rate of transcription
75
receptors
Proteins located on the surface of or within cells that bind to specific ligands to initiate biological changes within the cell
76
relative refractory period
Short hyperpolarizing phase after an action potential during which a more intense excitatory stimulus is necessary to obtain an action potential
77
resting membrane potential
The difference in the electrical charge inside a neuron at rest compared to the outside The inside of the cell is more negative and that potential is B9270 mV
78
reticular formation
Collection of nuclei within the core of the pons forming a network that extends into the midbrain and medulla These nuclei are important for arousal attention sleep muscle tone and some cardiac and respiratory reflexes
79
ribosome
Organelles in the cytoplasm that using the coding from messenger RNA mRNA link together appropriate amino acids to create a protein This is the translation stage of protein synthesis
80
saltatory conduction
Mode of action potential conduction along a myelinated neuron characterized by jumps from one node of Ranvier to the next
81
Schwann cells
Glial cells that myelinate peripheral nerve axons
82
secondary cortex
Section of the cerebral cortex containing the neuronal circuits responsible for analyzing and recognizing information from the primary cortex and for memory storage
83
sensory afferents
Neurons carrying sensory information from the body surface or internal organs into the CNS
84
sensory neurons
Nerve cells that are sensitive to environmental stimuli and convert the physical stimuli into electrical signals
85
soma
Cell body of a neuron containing all of the organelles needed to maintain the cell
86
substantia nigra
Collection of dopaminergic cell bodies within the tegmentum of the mesencephalon that innervate the striatum by way of the nigrostriatal tract Damage to cells in this region leads to Parkinsons disease
87
sulcus pl sulci
Small grooves of the cerebral cortex
88
sympathetic
Division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for providing energy expenditure to deal with a challenge by triggering the fightorflight response increasing heart rate increasing blood pressure stimulating adrenaline secretion and increasing blood flow to skeletal muscles
89
synapse
Structural unit of information transmission between two nerve cells It consists of the presynaptic nerve terminal the synaptic cleft and a small area of the postsynaptic cell typically associated with a dendrite or region of the cell body that receives the incoming signal
90
synaptic vesicles
Saclike structures located in the axon terminal that are filled with molecules of neurotransmitter
91
tegmentum
Division of the midbrain The tegmentum is composed of several important structures including the PAG substantia nigra and the VTA
92
temporal lobe
One of four lobes of the cerebral cortex It contains the primary auditory cortex and helps integrate auditory information
93
terminal buttons
Small enlargements at the axon terminal in close proximity to the dendrites of the postsynaptic cell containing synaptic vesicles Also known as boutons
94
tertiary association areas
Section of the cerebral cortex where the three sensory lobes can interact providing a higher order of perception and memory
95
thalamus
Structure of the diencephalon that is responsible for processing and distributing sensory and motor signals to the appropriate section of the cerebral cortex
96
threshold
Membrane potential typically B659450 mV at which voltagegated Na channels will open generating an action potential
97
tracts
Bundles of nerve axons in the CNS sharing a common origin and target
98
transcription
Process whereby mRNA is produced as a complementary copy of an active gene
99
transcription factors
Nuclear proteins that regulate gene transcription within a cell
100
translation
Process whereby proteins are produced using mRNA code to direct the amino acid sequence Translation is performed by ribosomes
101
ventral tegmental area VTA
Region containing dopaminergic cell bodies within the tegmentum of the mesencephalon midbrain that form the mesolimbic and mesocortical tracts
102
voltagegated channels
Type of ion channels that are regulated by voltage differences across the membrane
