Chapter 3 Flashcards
(104 cards)
1
Q
frame of reference
A
something already known that we can compare concepts to
2
Q
neurons
A
specialized cells that transmit electrical impulses; basic building block of nervous system
- have a cell body, nucleus, and internal machinery similar to other living cells
- limited ability to regenerate
3
Q
glial cells
A
provide supporting functions
4
Q
neural
A
relating to the nerve or nervous system
5
Q
epigenetic factors
A
environmental influences that change expression of genetic material
6
Q
“junk” DNA
A
DNA that does not encode proteins contain switches that can turn genes on and off when triggered by the environment
7
Q
histones
A
enzymes that influence how proteins
8
Q
central nervous system (CNS)
A
composed of brain and spinal cord - all cells and supporting structures inside skull and vertebral column
9
Q
peripheral nervous system
A
composed of all parts of nervous system outside brain and spinal cord
10
Q
neuronal membrane
A
lipid bilayer containing contents of cell contributes to neuron’s ability to conduct electrical activity
11
Q
neuroplasticity
A
ability of neurons and their network to change
12
Q
dendrites
A
look like branches of a tree that spread out to communicate with other neurons
13
Q
receptors
A
proteins of the dendrites; bind with neurotransmitters
14
Q
soma
A
cell body
15
Q
axon
A
only one
16
Q
axon terminals
A
end of axon
17
Q
terminal buttons/synaptic knobs
A
houses vesicles containing neurotransmitters whose contents are to be released
18
Q
synpase/synaptic cleft
A
small fluid-filled gap between cells
19
Q
myelin
A
acts like insulation wrapped around wires; keeps electrical impulse flowing down axon
20
Q
Nodes of Ranvier
A
breaks in myelin; channels are exposed to allow ions to flow in and out of axon - charge can leap down the axon, speeding up the process
21
Q
glial cells
A
support neurons; 10:1 ratio - caretakers of neuron to provide structural support, bringing nutrients, removing waste and dead neurons and speeding up electrical impulses
22
Q
leaky channels
A
passively allow potassium to escape, but keep negative ions in and positive sodium ions out
23
Q
electrical potential
A
energy needed to move charged particle from point A to point B
24
Q
specificity
A
each kind of channel attracts a specific ion
25
influx
admitted
26
efflux
ejected
27
Action potential
sudden and large increase in positive charge (electrical activation) produced by movement of Na+ through its specific channel at the right time
28
voltage-gated channels
open when inside of the cell is positive enough
29
Nodes of Ranvier
places where voltage-gated Na+ channels are exposed
30
propagation
process where electrical impulses are sent to the end of the neuron
31
Secondary injury
initial impact kills neurons and release glutamate, SO overstimulation of neurons open too many ion channels at once (Na+ and Ca 2+ and water)
32
excitatory neurotransmitters
increase probability of neuron becoming electrically active; causing hyperpolarization form the influx of negative ions like Cl-
33
inhibitory neurotransmitters
decrease probability the neuron is activated; causing depolarization from the influx of positive ions like Na+
34
Agonist
mimic action of endogenous (naturally produced by the body) neurotransmitter
35
antagonists
prevent action of endogenous neurotransmitter
36
dopamine
perceive experiences as rewarding and can produce euphoria
37
serotonin
elevate mood, when released in the right amounts
38
neural networks
complex connections between dendrites and axons of many neurons
39
efferents
axons carrying electrical impulses away from command central to trigger neurotransmitter or hormone release at the organ/muscles
40
afferents
carrying impulses back from the organs/muscles
41
neocortex
outer layer of brain uses sensory info, memories, and thoughts to form plans - conscious thought/decision-making (like a CEO)
42
medulla
help control basic life functions like breathing, heart rate, and reflexes (like workers)
43
superior
on top of
44
inferior
below
45
anterior/rostral
toward the forehead
46
posterior
toward the back of the head
47
dorsal
top of the head
48
ventral
lower toward the chin
49
medial
toward the inside, behind the nose
50
lateral
closer to the ears
51
vertebral column
all bones of the spine together
52
vertebrae
individual joints
53
meninges
coverings under the skull
54
pia mater
innermost later is thinnest and most vulnerable, create intricate network of blood vessels
55
subarachnoid later
houses trabeculae
56
cerebrospinal fluid
cushion and bathe brain in fluid to support blood flow
57
dura mater
toughest, thickest covering for protection
58
gray matter
neurons and glia; local processing of information
59
white matter
bundles of myelinated axons; helps different areas of the brain share info by connecting neurons via axons and dendrites
60
somatic nervous system
contains all neurons and nerves that supply control of muscles for voluntary movement and bring sensory info from body below the brain
61
autonomic
"automatic" regulates all automatic functions needed to stay alive, functional, and healthy
62
sympathetic
"go" increase in heart rate and breathing, inhibition of digestive activity
63
parasympathetic
"relax" help recover, digest, and become sexually aroused
64
differentiating
cells become specialized in structure and function
65
medulla oblongata
for breathing, heart beating, and swallowing
66
pons
regulate arousal, coordinate senses with cerebellum, serve as a bridge for tracts, houses several cranial nerve nuclei for facial expression and movement, help brain sense body and regulate left-right coordination
67
Reticular Activating System (RAS)
bridges functions of body and brain via connections to the spinal cord and thalamus; helps regulate our level of arousal and focus of attention
68
Limbic system
regulate endocrine systems as well as emotions and emotional memory
69
amygdala
- increases electrical activity in its neurons when we are under threat
- aggression responses to threat and romantic love
- increase of norepinephrine (adrenalin)
- memories associated tied to strong emotions
- receives sensory input to make calculations about value of stimulus
70
hippocampus
synapses actually strengthen, making more receptors and neurotransmitters, when exposed to high-frequency stimulation over time
71
cingulate gyrus
increased activity when experiencing physical or emotional pain as it may cause potential damage and death
72
hypothalamus
helps control several functions in the autonomic and endocrine systems; regulating hunger responses, sexual behaviour, temperature, and agression
73
basal ganglia
modulate movement commands in the brain before they reach the spinal cord; modulate movement commands in the brain before they reach the spinal cord
74
Parkinson's "cogwheel rigidity"
hard time initiating and terminating movements
75
substantia nigra
cells that are dopaminergic (neurons secrete dopamine) die off and part of circuit that initiates and terminates movement is lost
76
cerebellum
rhythm and timing machine, coordinates thought and problem-solving and control emotional responses
77
spinocerebellar
helps match sensory input with motor plans in order to fine tune movement patters
78
vestibulocerebellar
processes info from inner ear via vestibular nuclei to adjust posture and balance
79
cerbroverebellar
manages connections with pons and thalamus to adjust timing and planning of movements
80
thalamus
all senses, except smell, pass through before interpretation and action plans
81
frontal lobes
decision-making and movement, help encode our personalities
82
hippocampus
forming new memories; in charge of declarative memory not procedural memory
83
homonculus
graphical representation of number of neurons dedicated to particular parietal part/function
84
parietal lobes
for processing numbers and performing calculations; if one side of lobe injured, space navigation and sensation will be misinterpreted from the other side
85
contralateral
opposite
86
synapses
connections between neurons
87
temporal lobe neurons
forming memories and processing sound input from auditory nerves
88
lesions
focused area where cells have died
89
olfactory info
(smell) sensory info that does not pass through thalamic relay synapses
90
occipital lobes
processing light stimuli
91
laterality
idea that one hemisphere performs different functions than the other
92
corpus callosum
"tough body" thick bundle of fibers whose purpose is to connect two hemispheres and allow them to share info
93
endocrine system
series of glands that release hormones (which can also act as neurotransmitters); serves as secondary control system that assists and gives valuable feedback to nervous system about what is going on in body
94
hypothalamus
secretes hormones and controls pituitary gland via direct nerve stimulation/chemicals
95
pineal gland
secretes melatonin to regulate sleep cycles
96
pituitary gland
secrete host of hormones that affect sexual behaviour, reproduction, circulatory function, hunger, and responses to agression
97
oxytocin
bonding hormone, component of love, but not love itself; released during orgasms, when we look at pictures of loved ones, and when we are near our partners
98
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis)
secretes hormones that control the pituitary gland, which in turn controls the adrenal glands
99
psychoneuroimmunology
how the nervous system modulates immune function
100
staining method
to visualize neurons
101
patch-clamp technique
small glass electrode placed on membrane of neuron, and part of membrane was pulled up into electrode using suction
102
electroencephalogram (EEG)
record directly from clusters of electrical activity in the brain
103
acetylcholine
muscle contraction
104
GABA
inihibition
