A & P Test # 3 Nervous System

Front 1

CNS Central Nervous System

Back 1

Brain
Spinal Cord

Front 2

PNS Peripheral nervous system

Back 2

cranial nerves
spinal nerves

Front 3

Neuron

Back 3

individual nerve cell

Front 4

Ganglia

Back 4

small clusters of nerve cells

Front 5

Glia cells

Back 5

maintain health of nervous system

do not transmit impulses

Front 6

Acetylcholine

Back 6

Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells.

Front 7

afferent nerve

Back 7

Carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve).
Afferent comes from af- (a form of ad-, meaning toward) and -ferent
(meaning carrying).

Front 8

arachnoid membrane

Back 8

Middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the
brain and spinal cord. The Greek arachne means spider.

Front 9

astrocyte

Back 9

Type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from
capillaries.

Front 10

autonomic nervous system

Back 10

Nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and
internal organs.

Front 11

axon

Back 11

Microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell.

Front 12

blood-brain barrier

Back 12

Protective separation between the blood and brain cells. This makes it
difficult for substances (such as anticancer drugs) to penetrate capillary
walls and enter the brain.

Front 13

brainstem

Back 13

Posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the
spinal cord; includes the pons and medulla oblongata.

Front 14

cauda equina

Back 14

Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord.

Front 15

cell body

Back 15

Part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus.
central nervous

Front 16

cerebellum

Back 16

Posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and
maintains balance.

Front 17

cerebral cortex

Back 17

Outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray
matter of the brain.

Front 18

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Back 18

Circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord.

Front 19

cerebrum

Back 19

Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity,
vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory.

Front 20

cranial nerves

Back 20

Twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain with
regard to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve).

Front 21

dendrite

Back 21

Microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to
receive the nervous impulse.

Front 22

dura mater

Back 22

Thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the
brain and spinal cord. Latin for “hard mother.”

Front 23

efferent nerve

Back 23

Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve.
Efferent comes from ef- (meaning away from) and -ferent (meaning to
carry).

Front 24

glial cell (neuroglial cell)

Back 24

Supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous
impulses. Examples are astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells,
and oligodendrocytes. Glial cells can reproduce themselves, as opposed
to neurons.

Front 25

gyrus (plural: gyri)

Back 25

Sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the
cerebral cortex; convolution.

Front 26

hypothalamus

Back 26

Portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body
temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland.

Front 27

medulla oblongata

Back 27

Part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing,
heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here.

Front 28

meninges

Back 28

Three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

Front 29

microglial cell

Back 29

Phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central
nervous system.

Front 30

motor nerve

Back 30

Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and
organs; efferent nerve.

Front 31

myelin sheath

Back 31

Covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a
nerve cell. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.

Front 32

nerve

Back 32

Macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons and dendrites) that
carry electrical impulses.

Front 33

neuron

Back 33

Nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body; parenchyma of
the nervous system.

Front 34

neurotransmitter

Back 34

Chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates or
inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland
cell. Examples of neurotransmitters are acetylcholine, norepinephrine,
dopamine, and serotonin.

Front 35

oligodendroglial cell

Back 35

Glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. Also called
oligodendrocyte.

Front 36

parasympathetic nerves

Back 36

Involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions
such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.

Front 37

parenchyma

Back 37

Essential, distinguishing tissue of any organ or system. The parenchyma
of the nervous system includes the neurons and nerves that carry
nervous impulses. Parenchymal cells of the liver are hepatocytes, and
parenchymal tissue of the kidney includes the nephrons, where urine is
formed. Note the pronunciation: pa˘r-E˘ N-kı˘-ma˘ .

Front 38

peripheral nervous system

Back 38

Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord: cranial, spinal, and autonomic
nerves.

Front 39

pia mater

Back 39

Thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges.

Front 40

plexus (plural: plexuses)

Back 40

Large, interlacing network of nerves. Examples are lumbosacral,
cervical, and brachial (brachi/o means arm) plexuses. The term
originated from the Indo-European plek, meaning to weave together.

Front 41

pons

Back 41

Part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla
and the rest of the midbrain (Latin pons means bridge). It is a bridge
connecting various parts of the brain.

Front 42

receptor

Back 42

Organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent
nerves. The skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds are receptors.

Front 43

sciatic nerve

Back 43

Nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg,
and foot. Sciatica is pain or inflammation along the course of the nerve.

Front 44

sensory nerve

Back 44

Carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord from a receptor;
afferent nerve.

Front 45

spinal nerves

Back 45

Thirty-one pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord.