Neurology Flashcards
(56 cards)
Neuron
Nerve cell
Phrenology (Franz Gall)
Study of the bumps on your head
Action Potential
Neural impulse that carries information along the axon of a neuron
Synapse
Junction between axon tip of sending neuron and the dendrite of the recieving neuron
Neurotransmitters
Chemicals travel across the synapse influencing an action potential
Serotonin
Mood regulation, sleep, and depression
Dopamine
Movement, attention, and learning; imbalance involved in Schizophrenia; loss of dopamine-creating nerves causes Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
Difficulty starting and stopping voluntary movements
Acetocholine (ACH)
Learning, memory, muscle contractions
Alzheimer’s Disease
Deterioration of memory, reasoning, and language skills; loss of ACH
Endorphins
Pain and pleasure; response to pain; Runner’s High
Norepinephrine
“Fight or Flight” response; learning, memory, depression
Nerves
Neural “cables”
Nervous System
Speedy, electrochemical communication system
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Connects the Central Nervous System (CNS) to the rest of the body
Somatic Nervous System
Controls the body’s skeletal system
Autonomic Nervous System
Controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart)
Sympathetic Nervous System
Arouses the body in stressful situations; part of the Autonomic Nervous System
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Calms the body; part of the Autonomic Nervous System
Brainstem
Automatic Survival Functions (ex. Breathing, Heartbeat)
Spinal Cord
Transmits information into and out of the brain
Reticular Formation
Role in controlling arousal
Medulla
Controls heartbeat and breathing
Pons
Respiration, movement, waking, sleeping, and dreaming
