Midterm (Chapters 1-3)

Question 1

nervous system

Answer 1

an extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body

Question 2

neuron

Answer 2

the basic cell that makes up the nervous system. receives and sends messages within the system.

Question 3

dendrites

Answer 3

branchlike structures that receive messages from the other neurons

Question 4

soma

Answer 4

the cell body of the neuron, responsible for maintaining the life of the cell (neuron)

Question 5

axon

Answer 5

long, tubelike structure that carries the neural message to other cell (middle man)

Question 6

glial cells

Answer 6

grey fatty cells. provide support to the neurons to grow on and around (like glue), deliver nutrients to neurons, produce myelin, cleans up waste products and dead neurons (digestive system of the brain)

Question 7

myelin

Answer 7

glial cell. fatty substance that coats the axons of the neurons to insulate, protect, and speed up the neural impulse

Question 8

nerves

Answer 8

bundles of axons that travel together throughout the body

Question 9

ions

Answer 9

charged particles
inside of the neuron: positive
outside: negative

Question 10

resting membrane potential

Answer 10

the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse (resting state)

Question 11

action potential

Answer 11

the release of the neural impulse consisting of a reversal of the electrical charge within the axon

Question 12

all-or-none

Answer 12

referring to the fact that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all

Question 13

axon terminal

Answer 13

branches at the end of axon

Question 14

synaptic knob

Answer 14

rounded areas on the end of axon terminals (like a button)

Question 15

synaptic vesicles

Answer 15

sacklike structures found inside the synaptic knob containing neurotransmitters

Question 16

neurotransmitter

Answer 16

chemical that, when released, has an effect on the next cell

Question 17

synaptic gap

Answer 17

fluid-filled space between the end of the axon terminals of one cell and he dendrites of the next one

Question 18

receptor sites

Answer 18

holes in the surface of the dendrites that are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters

Question 19

excitatory neurotransmitter

Answer 19

causes receiving cell to fire

Question 20

inhibitory neurotransmitter

Answer 20

causes the receiving cell to stop firing

Question 21

agonists

Answer 21

mimic or enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter on the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of that cell

Question 22

antagonists

Answer 22

block or reduce a cell’s response to the action of neurotransmitter

Question 23

acetylcholine

Answer 23

slows heart muscle, stimulates skeletal muscles to contract. affects memory.

Question 24

glutamate

Answer 24

excitatory neurotransmitter. role in memory, learning and nervous system development (MLD)

Question 25

GABA

Answer 25

neurotransmitter. calms anxiety. is enhanced by alcohol

Question 26

serotonin

Answer 26

neurotransmitter. role in sleep, appetite and mood (SAM). low levels = depression

Question 27

dopamine

Answer 27

neurotransmitter. role in pleasure, emotional pleasure and motor behaviour, motivation. plays a role in drug addiction

Question 28

endorphins

Answer 28

neurotransmitter. body natural morphine. pain controlling chemicals

Question 29

central nervous system

Answer 29

brain and the spinal cord.

Question 30

spinal cord

Answer 30

bundle of neurons that carries messages to the body and the brain. responsible for reflexes.

Question 31

sensory neuron

Answer 31

carries information from the senses to the central nervous system

Question 32

interneuron

Answer 32

in the center of the spinal cord; receives information from the sensory neurons and sends commands to the muscles through the motor neurons.

Question 33

motor neuron

Answer 33

carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles

Question 34

reflex arc

Answer 34

connection of the sensory neurons, interneurons, motor neurons, resulting in a reflex action

Question 35

peripheral nervous system

Answer 35

all nerves and neurons that are not contained in the brain and spinal cord. divided into the somatic and autonomic nervous system.

Question 36

somatic nervous system

Answer 36

nerves that carry information from the senses to the CNS, and from the CNS to the voluntary muscles of the body. (soma = body)

Question 37

autonomic nervous system

Answer 37

nerves that control all the involuntary muscles, organs , and glands

Question 38

sympathetic divison

Answer 38

fight-or-flight. responsible for reacting to stressful events and bodily arousal

Question 39

parasympathetic division

Answer 39

restores the body to normal functioning. day-to-day functioning

Question 40

hindbrain

Answer 40

continuation of the spinal cord inside the skull. roles in heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. consists of the Medulla, the Pons, the Cerebellum and part of the Reticular Formation.

Question 41

medulla

Answer 41

lowest part of the brain. responsible for breathing, swallowing and heart rate.

Question 42

pons

Answer 42

above the medulla. connects the top of the brain to the bottom. roles in sleep, dreaming, left-right body coordination and arousal.

Question 43

reticular formation

Answer 43

area of neurons traveling through the middle of the medulla and the pons. roles in selective attention.

Question 44

cerebellum

Answer 44

behind the pons. roles in rapid, involuntary fine motor movement

Question 45

midbrain

Answer 45

lies above the hindbrain. includes part of the Reticular Formation.

Question 46

forebrain

Answer 46

largest and most complex part of the brain. outer surface is called the Cerebral Cortex.

Question 47

limbic system (ADHD)

Answer 47

group of several structures located under the cortex involved in learning, emotion, memory, and motivation

Question 48

thalamus (except smell)

Answer 48

relays and filters information from the senses (except for smell) and sends it to the cortex.

Question 49

olfactory bulbs

Answer 49

two projections just under the front of the brain that receive information from the receptors in the nose that are located just below

Question 50

cerebral cortex

Answer 50

outer layer of the cerebrum consisting of densely packed neurons, responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory input.

Question 51

hypothalamus

Answer 51

located below the thalamus and is responsible for motivational behaviour such as sleep, hunger, thirst, aggression, and sex.

Question 52

hippocampus

Answer 52

responsible for the formation of long-term memories

Question 53

amygdala

Answer 53

responsible for many emotions, especially fear responses and memory of fear

Question 54

corticalization

Answer 54

wrinkling of the cortex. allows more cortical cells to exist in the small space inside the skull. divided into two halves (hemispheres (right and left)), which are separated by the corpus callosum. each hemisphere has four lobes.

Question 55

occipital lobes

Answer 55

at the bottom and rear. visual centers

Question 56

parietal lobes

Answer 56

at the top and back. centres for touch, taste, and temperature sensations.

Question 57

temporal lobes

Answer 57

on the side (behind the temples). responsible for hearing and meaningful speech (left-only). somatosensory cortex

Question 58

frontal lobes

Answer 58

front and top. responsible for higher mental processes (decision making, planning), production of fluent speech (Broca's area - left only). contains motor cortex which coordinates muscles movements.

Question 59

split brain research

Answer 59

study of with severed corpus callosum. sends messages to one side of the brain. demonstrates right and left brain specialization

Question 60

left brain

Answer 60

controls math, language, logical thought analysis, writing, processes information sequentially

Question 61

right brain

Answer 61

controls emotions, recognizing faces, spatial perception, patterns, melodies, emotional expressions. processes information globally.