Nervous System

Question 1

Brain

Answer 1

the body’s control center, responsible for everything from basic functions like breathing to complex processes like thinking and memory

Question 2

Spinal cord

Answer 2

a vital part of the central nervous system, acting as a pathway for communication between the brain and the rest of the body

Question 3

Cranial nerves

Answer 3

12 pairs of nerves that originate from the brain and brainstem, connecting the brain to various parts of the head, neck, and upper torso.

Question 4

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 4

a component of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary physiologic processes including heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion, and sexual arousal.

Question 5

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 5

part of your nervous system that lies outside your brain and spinal cord.

Question 6

Dura mater

Answer 6

the outermost and toughest layer of the three meninges that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord

Question 7

Pia mater

Answer 7

the delicate innermost membrane enveloping the brain and spinal cord.

Question 8

Arachnoid mater

Answer 8

the middle layer of the meninges, the protective tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Question 9

Broca’s area

Answer 9

a region in the left frontal lobe of the brain primarily responsible for speech production and articulation.

Question 10

Medulla

Answer 10

the lowest part of the brainstem, connecting the brain to the spinal cord

Question 11

Cerebellum

Answer 11

a part of the brain located at the back of the head, below the cerebrum and above the brainstem.

Question 12

Pons

Answer 12

the part of the brainstem that links the medulla oblongata and the thalamus.

Question 13

Midbrain

Answer 13

coordinating motor functions, particularly eye movements, and processing visual and auditory information.

Question 14

Cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 14

a clear, colorless, watery fluid that circulates around the brain and spinal cord, acting as a cushion to protect them from impact and injury.

Question 15

Blood-brain barrier

Answer 15

a highly selective, semi-permeable membrane that separates the blood from the brain tissue, protecting the central nervous system from harmful substances

Question 16

Hypothalamus

Answer 16

a small but vital part of the brain located at the base, responsible for regulating many bodily functions, including body temperature, hunger, and the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.

Question 17

Diencephalon

Answer 17

acts as a primary relay and processing center for sensory information and autonomic control

Question 18

Stroke

Answer 18

a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, either by a blockage (ischemic stroke) or bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke)

Question 19

Brainstem

Answer 19

in the lowest part of the brain (just above the back of the neck) and is made up of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Question 20

Cerebral cortex

Answer 20

the outermost layer of the brain, responsible for higher-level thinking and processing.

Question 21

Limbic system

Answer 21

The limbic system is involved in lower order emotional processing of input from sensory systems and consists of the amygdala

Question 22

Phineas Gage

Answer 22

the physical structure of his brain, particularly the area damaged by the accident.

Question 23

Acetylcholine

Answer 23

a vital neurotransmitter and neurochemical that plays a crucial role in various physiological functions, including muscle movement, heart rate regulation, and cognitive processes

Question 24

Dopamine

Answer 24

a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the brain’s reward system, influencing pleasure, motivation, and reward-seeking behavior.

Question 25

GABA

Answer 25

a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger in your brain.

Question 26

Glutamate

Answer 26

primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system

Question 27

Norepinephrine

Answer 27

a hormone and neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the body's fight-or-flight response.

Question 28

Serotonin

Answer 28

a chemical messenger in the body and brain that plays a crucial role in regulating mood, sleep, appetite, digestion, and other bodily functions

Question 29

Central nervous system

Answer 29

the main processing center for the body, comprising the brain and spinal cord

Question 30

Somatic nervous system

Answer 30

a part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements and receives sensory information from the body.

Question 31

Neuroglia

Answer 31

another term for glia.

Question 32

Astrocytes

Answer 32

a type of glial cell in the central nervous system (CNS) that perform various functions, including supporting neuronal function, regulating the blood-brain barrier, and participating in neurotransmission

Question 33

Microglia

Answer 33

primary immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), acting as the brain's resident macrophages.

Question 34

Ependymal cells

Answer 34

specialized glial cells lining the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord.

Question 35

Oligodendrocytes

Answer 35

a glial cell similar to an astrocyte but with fewer protuberances, concerned with the production of myelin in the central nervous system.

Question 36

Schwann cells

Answer 36

support axons, primarily by forming the myelin sheath around axons, which speeds up nerve impulse conduction.

Question 37

Satellite cells

Answer 37

a type of glial cell found in the peripheral nervous system, specifically surrounding the cell bodies of sensory and autonomic ganglia

Question 38

Dendrites

Answer 38

to receive information from other neurons, called pre-synaptic neurons, or from the environment.

Question 39

Axon hillock

Answer 39

a specialized region on a neuron's cell body where the axon, or nerve fiber, originates.

Question 40

Axon terminal

Answer 40

the specialized distal end of an axon

Question 41

Myelin

Answer 41

a white, fatty substance that acts as an insulator, or sheath, around nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, as well as the peripheral nervous system.

Question 42

Nodes of Ranvier

Answer 42

gaps in the myelin sheath coating on the neural axon

Question 43

Depolarization

Answer 43

a biological process where the electrical charge difference across a cell membrane decreases, becoming less negative (more positive).