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Biology 1040 > Nervous System Key Terms > Flashcards

Nervous System Key Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Acetylcholine

A

A neurotransmitter that slows the heart rate and makes skeletal muscles contract

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2
Q

Action Potential

A

a massive change in membrane voltage that transmits a nerve signal along an axon.

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3
Q

Adderall

A

works by increasing levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, thus bringing the brain from a state of overstimulation to a normal state of stimulation

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4
Q

Alzheimers Disease (AD)

A

A form of mental deterioration, or dementia; is characterized by confusion and memory loss.

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5
Q

amygdala

A

Integrated center of the cerebrum; part of limbic system that is central in laying down emotional memories.

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6
Q

Association area(s)

A

a region of the cortex of the brain which connects sensory and motor areas, and which is thought to be concerned with higher mental activities.

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7
Q

astrocytes

A

the most numerous cell type within the central nervous system (CNS) and perform a variety of tasks, from axon guidance and synaptic support, to the control of the blood brain barrier and blood flow.

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8
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.

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9
Q

Axon

A

a much longer extension that transmits signals to other cells, which may be other neurons or effector cells.

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10
Q

Basal nuclei

A

groups of neurons under the corpus that are important in motor coordination

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11
Q

Bilateral symmetry

A

the property of being divisible into symmetrical halves on either side of a unique plane.

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12
Q

Biogenic amine

A

regulate brain functions such as movement, behavior, emotions, temperature, blood pressure and endocrine secretion. ex. norepinephrine, dopamine etc

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13
Q

Bipolar disorder (depression)

A

characterized by extreme mood swings

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14
Q

Brainstem

A

Conducts data to and from other brain centers; helps maintain homestoasis; and coordinates large scale body movement such as climbing

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15
Q

Cell body

A

Contains the nucleus and other cell organelles, and long, thin extensions that convey signals

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16
Q

Central canal

A

transports cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which comes from the brain’s ventricular system.

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17
Q

Central nervous system

A

Consists of the brain and, in vertebrates, the spinal cord.

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18
Q

Centralization

A

the evolutionary development of a single organ or a single organic system formed by the union of individual cells, tissues, or organs that perform related functions

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19
Q

Cerebellum

A

Coordinates body movement; plays a role in learning and in remembering motor responses

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20
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

A folded sheet of grey matter forming the surface of the cerebrum; contains integrating centers for higher brain functions such as reasons, speech, language and imagination

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21
Q

Cerebral Spinal Fluid

A

acts like a cushion that helps protect your brain and spinal cord from sudden impact or injury. The fluid also removes waste products from the brain and helps your central nervous system work properly.

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22
Q

Cerebral hemispheres

A

Right and left half of the cerebrum

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23
Q

Cephalization

A

evolutionary trend in which, over many generations, the mouth, sense organs, and nerve ganglia become concentrated at the front end of an animal, producing a head region.

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24
Q

Circadian rhythm

A

a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep–wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours.

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25
Continuous conduction
occurs in non-myelinated axons. The action potential travels along the entire length of the axon.
26
Corpus callosum
A thick band of nerve that facilitates communication between the hemispheres.
27
Cranial nerves
One of twelve pairs of nerves that pass from the brain, through openings in the skull, to different areas of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen; send information between the brain and the sense organs (the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue).
28
Dendrites
highly branched, often short, extensions that receive signals from other neurons and convey this information toward the cell body
29
Dopamine
a neurotransmitter made in your brain. It plays a role as a “reward center” and in many body functions, including memory, movement, motivation, mood, attention
30
Dorsal nerve cord
develops an anterior enlargement comprising the brain and a more posterior part comprising the spinal cord with the two together making up the central nervous system
31
Endorphins
are chemicals (hormones) your body releases when it feels pain or stress.
32
Enteric division
consists of networks of neurons in the digestive tract, pancreas, and gallbladder; control secretion as well as the activity of smooth muscles that produce peristalsis.
33
Epinephrine
relaxes the muscles in the airways and tightens the blood vessels.
34
Forebrain
Develops into the thalamus, hypothalamus and cerebrum
35
Fight or flight system
an automatic physiological reaction to an event that is perceived as stressful or frightening. The perception of threat activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers an acute stress response that prepares the body to fight or flee.
36
Ganglia
clusters of neuron cell bodies found alongside the spinal cord or near or within the organs they serve.
37
Glial cells
nourish neurons, insulate the axons of neurons, or help maintain homeostasis of the extracellular fluid surrounding neurons.
38
Glutamic acid
an amino acid used to form glutamate; helps nerve cells in the brain send and receive information from other cells.
39
Glycine
neurotransmitter in central nervous system and it has many roles such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory etc
40
Gray matter
consists mainly of neuron cell bodies and supporting glia.
41
Hindbrain
Develops into the medulla oblongata , pons, and cerebellum
42
Hippocampus
involved in the formation of memories and their recall.
43
Hypothalamus
Functions as homeostatic control center; control pituitary gland; serves as a biological clock
44
Integration
the analysis and interpretation of the sensory signals and the formulation of appropriate responses.
45
Interneurons
integrate data and then relay appropriate signals to other interneurons or to motor neurons
46
Left Hemisphere
concerned with sensation and perception, motor control, and higher level cognitive processes
47
Limbic System
a complex system of nerves and networks in the brain, involving several areas near the edge of the cortex concerned with instinct and mood. It controls the basic emotions
48
Long Term memory
The ability to hold and recall information over a lifetime
49
Major depression
characterized by a persistently depressed mood and long-term loss of pleasure or interest in life, often with other symptoms such as disturbed sleep, feelings of guilt or inadequacy, and suicidal thoughts.
50
Medulla oblongata
Controls breathing, circulation, swallowing and digestion
51
Meninges
Three layers of membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord. The delicate inner layer is the pia mater. The middle layer is the arachnoid, the outer layer is called the dura mater.
52
Microglia
the immune cells of the central nervous system and consequently play important roles in brain infections and inflammation.
53
Midbrain
Develops into sensory integrating and relay centers that send sensory information to the cerebrum
54
Motor neurons
convey signals from the CNS to effector cells.
55
Motor nervous system
the set of central and peripheral structures in the nervous system that support motor functions
56
Motor output
the conduction of signals from the integration centers through the PNS to effector cells, such as muscle cells or gland cells, which perform the body’s responses.
57
Myelin sheath
insulating material that speeds the transmission of impulses along a neuron; is composed of a series of Schwann cells each wrapped many times around the axon.
58
Nerve
Neurons bundled together and wrapped in connective tissue
59
Nerve cords
A vast bundle of nerve fibers that runs along the body's longitudinal axis
60
Nerve net
a simple, decentralized, multipolar multipolar nervous system found in animals like jellyfish
61
Nervous system
Organ system that forms a communication and coordination network between all parts of the organisms body
62
Neurotransmitter
a signaling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a synapse
63
Norepinephrine
a neurotransmitter in your brain and spinal cord, that increases alertness, arousal and attention; Constricts blood vessels,
64
Oligodendrocytes
concerned with the production of myelin in the central nervous system.
65
Parasympathetic division
primes the body for activities that gain and conserve energy for the body
66
Parkinson's Disease
a motor disorder characterized by difficulty in initiating movements, slowness of movement, and rigidity.
67
Peripheral nervous system
consists of neurons that carry information into and out of the CNS
68
Pons
Controls breathing
69
Positron emission tomography
Patients are given a positron-emitting analog of glucose that accumulates in regions of the brain engaged in high metabolic activity; accompanied by the release of gamma rays that are detected and used to create a 3D imag
70
Primary motor cortex
Upper Motor Neurons That Initiate Complex Voluntary Movements
71
Radial symmetry
symmetry around a central axis, as in a starfish
72
Reflex arc (knee-jerk)
an involuntary, unplanned sequence or action and nearly instantaneous response to a stimulus.
73
Rest and digest system
The parasympathetic nervous system controls the body's ability to relax
74
Resting potential
The voltage across the plasma membrane of a resting neuron
75
Right hemisphere
the part of the brain concerned with sensation and perception, motor control
76
Saltatory conduction
the impulses of the nerve travel rapidly jumping from node to node
77
Schizophrenia
a severe mental disturbance characterized by psychotic episodes in which patients have a distorted perception of reality
78
Schwann cells
A type of glial cell of the peripheral nervous system that helps separate and insulate nerve cells.
79
Sensory input
the flow of signals from sensory receptors, such as touch-detecting cells of the skin, through the PNS to the CNS.
80
Sensory neurons
convey signals from sensory receptors into the CNS.
81
Serotonin
constricts the blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter; plays a key role in such body functions as mood, sleep, digestion, nausea, wound healing, bone health, blood clotting
82
Short term memory
The ability to hold information for a time and then release it as it become irrelevant
83
Sodium/potassium pump
maintain the concentration gradients of these ions, using energy from ATP to actively move three Na+ out of the neuron for every two K+ in
84
Somatosensory cortex
the part of the brain within the cerebral cortex that receives all sensory information from various parts of the body
85
Stimulus
any factor that causes a nerve signal to be generated.
86
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
each of a pair of small nuclei in the hypothalamus of the brain, above the optic chiasma, thought to be concerned with the regulation of physiological circadian rhythms.
87
Sympathetic division
prepare the body for intense, energy-consuming activities, such as fighting, fleeing, or competing in a strenuous game
88
Synapse
The junction between a synaptic terminal and another cell
89
Synaptic cleft
The space between two neurons across which the impulse is transmitted by a neurotransmitter
90
Synaptic integration
a complex process which describes how neurons integrate the receiving inputs from thousands of presynaptic neurons before the generation of a nerve impulse
91
Synaptic terminal
The tip of the axon where signals are sent to another neuron
92
Synaptic vesicle
store various neurotransmitters that are released at the synapse
93
Thalamus
Serves as an input sensor for sensory data going into the cerebrum; sorts and groups all incoming sensory data for the cerebrum
94
Threshold
The level that a depolarization must reach for an action potential to occur
95
Trigeminal nerve
one set of the cranial nerves in the head. It is the nerve responsible for providing sensation to the face
96
Ventral nerve cord
receives and processes descending signals from the brain to produce a variety of coordinated locomotor outputs.
97
Ventricle
each of the four connected fluid-filled cavities in the center of the brain.
98
White matter
composed mainly of axons whose whitish myelin sheaths are responsible for the light color of this portion of the CNS

Biology 1040 (6 decks)

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