Key terms

Question 1

ACTH

Answer 1

Hormone released by the pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal glands to release adrenaline into the bloodstream

Question 2

action potential

Answer 2

A spike in electric charge in an axon caused by ions crossing the cell membrane.

Question 3

autonomic nervous system

Answer 3

Sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary responses like breathing and heart rate

Question 4

axon

Answer 4

A single long slender fiber that carries the nerve impulse away from the cell body

Question 5

axon terminal

Answer 5

The end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters and makes synaptic contact with the next neuron in the chain

Question 6

central nervous sytem

Answer 6

Sub-system of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord

Question 7

chromosome

Answer 7

Hold the genetic material that is passed between parents and offspring. Humans have 23 pairs

Question 8

cognitive neuroscience

Answer 8

An academic field that studies the influence of brain structures on mental processes using techniques such as brain scans

Question 9

concordance rates

Answer 9

The extent to which both twins share the same characteristic

Question 10

dendrites

Answer 10

Root like structures protruding from the cell body that receive signals from other neurons

Question 11

endocrine system

Answer 11

A collection of organs that secrete hormones into the blood stream

Question 12

excitation

Answer 12

Occurs when a link between a neurotransmitter and receptor site in a synapse makes the receptor site’s cell more likely to act

Question 13

genotype

Answer 13

A person’s unique genetic make-up that is coded in their chromosomes and fixed at conception

Question 14

hormones

Answer 14

Biochemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream in order to target specific organs

Question 15

hypothalamus

Answer 15

Part of the brain that links the nervous system to the endocrine system. Releases hormones that stimulate the pituitary gland

Question 16

inhibition

Answer 16

occurs when a link between a neurotransmitter and receptor site in a synapse makes the receptor site’s cell less likely to act.

Question 17

motor neuron

Answer 17

Carries signals from the central nervous system to internal organs and muscles

Question 18

myelin sheath

Answer 18

A fatty layer that protects the exon and speeds up the electrical transmission of the nerve impulse

Question 19

nervous sytem

Answer 19

Bodily system consisting of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system that provides rapid responses to stimuli

Question 20

neuron

Answer 20

Cells within the nervous system that process and transmit messages

Question 21

neurotransmitter

Answer 21

Chemicals that transfer signals from one neuron to another across the synapses that lie between them

Question 22

parasympathetic nervous sytem

Answer 22

Sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that controls the ‘rest and digest’ response

Question 23

peripheral nervous system

Answer 23

Sub-system of the nervous system that transmits messages from the body to the central nervous system and back again

Question 24

pituatary gland

Answer 24

The ‘master gland’ of the endocrine system which is located in the brain and controls the release of hormones from other glands

Question 25

post synaptic receptor sites

Answer 25

In the dendrites of the receiving neuron, they take up the neurotransmitter once it has crossed the synaptic gap

Question 26

relay neuron

Answer 26

Carries signals between sensory and motor neurons or connect to other relay neurons within the central nervous system

Question 27

sesnory neuron

Answer 27

Carries signals from the senses to the central nervous system

Question 28

somatic nervous system

Answer 28

Sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors

Question 29

stimulus

Answer 29

Anything in the environment detectable by the senses e.g. sound, smell

Question 30

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 30

Sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that controls the 'fight or flight' response

Question 31

synapse

Answer 31

The tiny gap between one neuron and the next

Question 32

synaptic transmission

Answer 32

The way that signals between neurons are transmitted chemically across the synaptic gap