Biology 17 Nervous System

Front 1

acetylcholine (ACh)

Back 1

Neurotransmitter active in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Front 2

acetylcholinesterase (AChE)

Back 2

Enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine within a synapse.

Front 3

action potential

Back 3

Electrochemical changes that take place across the axon emmbrane; the nerve impulse.

Front 4

Alzheimer disease

Back 4

Brain disorder characterized by a general loss of mental abilities.

Front 5

amygdala

Back 5

Portion of the limbic system that adds emotional overtones to memories.

Front 6

association area

Back 6

Region of the cerebral cortex related to memory, reasoning, judgement, and emotional feelings.

Front 7

autonomic system

Back 7

Branch of the perpheral nervous system that has control over the internal organs; consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Front 8

axon

Back 8

Fiber of a neuron that conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body.

Front 9

axon terminal

Back 9

Small swelling at the tip of one of many endings of the axon.

Front 10

basal nuclei

Back 10

Subcortical nuclei deep within the white matter that serves as relay stations for motor impulses and produce dopamine to help control skeletal muscle activities.

Front 11

brain stem

Back 11

Portion of the brain consisting of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain.

Front 12

Broca's area

Back 12

Region of the frontal lobe that coordinates complex muscular actions of the mouth, tongue, and larynx, making speech possible.

Front 13

cell body

Back 13

Portion of a neuron that contains a nucleus and from which dendrites and an axon extend.

Front 14

central canal

Back 14

Tube within the spinal cord that is continuous with the ventricle of the brain and contains cerebrospinal fluid.

Front 15

central nervous system (CNS)

Back 15

Portion of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Front 16

cerebellum

Back 16

Part of the brain located posterior to the nedulla oblongata and pons that coordinates skeletal muscles to produce smooth, graceful motions.

Front 17

cerebral cortex

Back 17

Outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres; receives sensory information and controls motor activities.

Front 18

cerebral hemisphere

Back 18

One of the large, paired strucutres that together consititute the cerebrum of the brain.

Front 19

cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)

Back 19

Fluid found in the ventricles of the brain, in the central canal of the spinal cord, and in association with the meninges.

Front 20

Cerebrum

Back 20

Main part of the brain consisting of two large masses, or cerebral hemispheres; the largest part of the brain in mammals.

Front 21

chemical synapse

Back 21

Junction between neurons consisting of the presynaptic (axon) membrane, the synaptic cleft, and the postsynaptic (usually dendrite) membrane.

Front 22

corpus callosum

Back 22

Mass of white matter within the brain, composed of nerve fibers connnecting the right and left cerebral hemispheres.

Front 23

cranial nerve

Back 23

Nerve that arises from the brain.

Front 24

dendrite

Back 24

Part of a neuron that sends signals toward the cell body.

Front 25

diencephalon

Back 25

Portion of the brain in the region of the thrid ventricle that includes the thalamus and hypothalamus.

Front 26

dorsal root ganglion

Back 26

Mass of sensory neuron cell bodies located in the dorsal root of a spinal nerve.

Front 27

electroencehalogram (EEG)

Back 27

Graphic recording of the brain's electrical activity.

Front 28

episodic memory

Back 28

Capacity of the brain to store and retrieve information about persons and events.

Front 29

ganglion

Back 29

Collection or bundle of neuron cell bodies usually outside the central nervous system.

Front 30

gray matter

Back 30

Nonmyelinated nerve fibers and cell bodies int eh entral nervous system.

Front 31

hippocampus

Back 31

Part of the cerebral cortex where memories form.

Front 32

hypothalamus

Back 32

Part of the brain lcoated below the thalamus that helps regulate the internal environment of the body and produces releasing factors that control the anterior pituitary.

Front 33

interneuron

Back 33

Neuron located within the ceentral nervous system that conveys messages between parts of the central nervous system.

Front 34

intervertebral disk

Back 34

Layer of cartilage located between adjacent vertebrae.

Front 35

learning

Back 35

Relatively permanent change in an animal's behavior that results from practice and experience.

Front 36

limbic system

Back 36

Association of various brain centers, includeing the amygdala and hippocampus; goversn learning and memory and various emotions such as pleasure, fear, and happiness.

Front 37

long-term memory

Back 37

Retention of information that lasts longer than a few minutes.

Front 38

long-term potentiation (LTP)

Back 38

Enhanced response at synapses within the hippocampus.

Front 39

medulla oblongata

Back 39

Part oft he brain stem that is continuous with the spinal cord; controls hearbeat, blood pressure, breathing, and other vital functions.

Front 40

memory

Back 40

The brain function of recalling something that has been learned.

Front 41

meninges

Back 41

Protective membranous coverings of the central nervous system.

Front 42

meningitis

Back 42

Inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

Front 43

midbrain

Back 43

Part of the brain located below the thalamus and above the pons; contains reflex centers and tracts.

Front 44

motor neuron

Back 44

Nerve cell that conducts nerve impuses away from the central nervous system and innervates effectors (muscles and glands).

Front 45

multiple sclerosis (MS)

Back 45

Disease in which the outer, myelin layer of nerve fiber insulation becomes damaged, interfering with normal conduction of nerve impulses.

Front 46

myelin sheath

Back 46

White, fatty material - derived from the membrane of Schwann cells - that forms a covering for nerve fibers.

Front 47

nerve

Back 47

Bundle of nerve fibers outside the central nervous system.

Front 48

nerve impulse

Back 48

Action potential (electrochemical change) traveling along a neuron.

Front 49

neuroglia

Back 49

Nonconducting nerve cells that are intimately associated with neurons and function in a supportive capacity.

Front 50

neuron

Back 50

Nerve cell that characteristically has 3 parts: cell body, dendrites, and an axon.

Front 51

neurotransmitter

Back 51

Chemical stored at the ends of axons that is responsible for transmission across a synapse.

Front 52

node of Ranvier

Back 52

Gap in the myelin sheath around a nerve fiber; increases the speed of nerve impulse conduction.

Front 53

norepinephrine (NE)

Back 53

Neurotransmitter of the postganglionic fibers in the sympathetic division of the autonomic system; also, a hormone produced by the adrenal medulla.

Front 54

oligodendroglial cells

Back 54

Cells that form the myelin sheaths surrounding axons in teh central nervous system.

Front 55

parasympathetic division

Back 55

That part of the autonomic system that is active under normal conditions; uses acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter.

Front 56

Parkinson disease (PD)

Back 56

Progressive deterioration of the central nervous system due to a deficiency in the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Front 57

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Back 57

Nerves and ganglia that lie outside the central nervous system.

Front 58

pons

Back 58

Portion of the brain stem above the medulla oblongata and below the midbrain; assists the medulla oblongata in regulating the breathing rate.

Front 59

prefrontal area

Back 59

Association area in the frontal lobe that receives information from other association areas and uses it to reason and plan actions.

Front 60

primary motor area

Back 60

Area in the frontal lobe where voluntary commands begin; each section controls a part of the body.

Front 61

primary somatosensory area

Back 61

Just dorsal to the central culcus in the parietal lobe;sensory information from skins and skeeltal muscles arrives here, each part of the body is sequentially represented.

Front 62

reflex

Back 62

Automatic, involuntary response of an organism to a stimulus.

Front 63

refractory period

Back 63

Time following an action potential when aneuron is unable to conduct another nerve impulse.

Front 64

resting potential

Back 64

Polarity across the plasma membrane of a resting neuron due to an unequal distribution of ions.

Front 65

Schwann cell

Back 65

Cell that surrounds a peripheral nerve fiber and forms the myelin sheath.

Front 66

semantic memory

Back 66

Capacity of the brain to store and retrieve information with regard to words or numbers.

Front 67

sensory neuron

Back 67

Nerve cell that transmits nerve impulses to the central nervous system after a sensory receptor has been stimulated.

Front 68

short-term memory

Back 68

Retention of information for only a few minutes, such as remembering a telephone number long enough to dial it.

Front 69

skill memory

Back 69

Capacity of the brain to store and retrieve information necessary to perform motor activities, such as riding a bike.

Front 70

sodium-potassium pump

Back 70

Carrier protein in the plasma membrane that moves sodium ions out of and potassium ions into cells; important in nerve and muscle cells.

Front 71

somatic system

Back 71

The portion of the peripheral nervous system containing motor neurons that control skeletal muscles

Front 72

spinal cord

Back 72

Part of the central nervous system; the nerve cord that is continuous with the base of the brain and housed within the vertebral column.

Front 73

spinal nerve

Back 73

Nerve that arises from the spinal cord.

Front 74

stroke

Back 74

Condition resultign when an arteriole in the brain bursts or becomes blocked by an embolism; also called a cerebrovascular accident.

Front 75

sympathetic division

Back 75

The part of the autonomic system that usually promotes activities associated with emergency (fight-or-flight) situations; uses norepinephrine as a neurotransmitter.

Front 76

synaptic cleft

Back 76

Small gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes of a synapse.

Front 77

synaptic integration

Back 77

Summing up of excitatory and inhibitory signals by a neuron or by some part of the brain.

Front 78

thalamus

Back 78

Part of the brain located in the lateral walls of the thrid ventricle that serves as the integrating center for sensory input; plays a role in arousing the cerebral cortex.

Front 79

threshold

Back 79

Electrical potential level (voltage) at which an action potential or nerve impulse is produced.

Front 80

tract

Back 80

Bundle of myelinated axons in the central nervous system.

Front 81

ventricle

Back 81

Cavity in an organ, such as a lower chamber of the heart of the ventricles of the brain.

Front 82

Wernicke's area

Back 82

Brain area involved in language comprehension.

Front 83

white matter

Back 83

Myelinated axons in the central nervous system.