Ch 8 - Nervous System

Front 1

acetylcholinesterase

Back 1

an enzyme that rapidly destorys acetylcholine once it has reached the target tissue

Front 2

action potentials

Back 2

electrical signals passing along nerve fibers

Front 3

adrenergic

Back 3

description of a neuron that secretes the neurotransmitter norepinephrine

Front 4

adrenergic receptor

Back 4

a receptor stimulated by the neurotransmitter norepinephrine

Front 5

afferent nerves
-
sensory nerves

Back 5

nerves that carry impulses from the body to the brain and provide input to the brain about sensations

Front 6

afferent tracts

Back 6

fibers that carry sensory information from the periphery to the brain; also called ascending fibers

Front 7

alpha receptors

Back 7

one of two adrenergic receptors classified into two structural and functional categories. Further subdivided into type 1 and type 2

Front 8

arachnoid

Back 8

the middle membrane of the three meninges that enclose the brain and spinal cord

Front 9

ascending fibers
-
ascending tracts

Back 9

fibers that carry sensory information from the periphery to the brain

Front 10

ascending reticular activating system

Back 10

several structures located throughout the brain stem that are responsible for maintenance of consciousness

Front 11

autonomic nervous system

Back 11

a division of the nervous system that operates without conscious control and regulates the function of the internal organs, glands, and smooth muscle

Front 12

axon
- AND -
dendrite

Back 12

a projection from a neuron that makes connections with adjacent cells

Front 13

basal ganglia

Back 13

structures located deep within the cerebrum, diencephalon, and midbrain that play an important role in coordination of motor movements and posture

Front 14

beta-blocker

Back 14

a common class of cardiac drugs that blocks beta effects, causing a decrease in the workload of the heart by reducing the speed of contraction, as well as reducing blood pressure

Front 15

beta receptor

Back 15

one of two adrenergic receptors classified into two structural and functional categories. They are further divided into type 1 and type 2

Front 16

brain

Back 16

part of the central nervous system, located within the cranium and containing billions of neurons that serve a variety of vital functions

Front 17

brain stem

Back 17

the midbrain, pons, and medulla collectively

Front 18

cauda equina

Back 18

numerous individual nerve roots that extend from the spinal cord at the level of the second lumbar vertebra

Front 19

central nervous system

Back 19

the brain and the spinal cord

Front 20

cerebellar peduncles

Back 20

one of three bands of nerve fibers through which the cerebellum communicates with other regions of the CNS

Front 21

cerebellum

Back 21

the region of the brain essential in coordinating muscle movements of the body

Front 22

cerebral cortex
-
cerebrum

Back 22

the largest portion of the brain, it controls the higher thought processes

Front 23

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Back 23

fluid produced in the ventricles of the brain that flows in the subarachnoid space and bathes the meninges

Front 24

cholinergic

Back 24

description of a neuron that secretes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine

Front 25

choroid plexus

Back 25

specialized cells within hollow areas in the ventricles of the brain that produce CSF

Front 26

cranial nerves

Back 26

the 12 pairs of nerves that arise from the base of the brain

Front 27

curare

Back 27

an agent that blocks transmission of neural motor impulses at the neuromuscular junction

Front 28

dermatome

Back 28

an area of skin supplies by a given spinal nerve

Front 29

descending fibers
-
efferent tracts

Back 29

fibers that carry motor impulses from the brain to the fibers of the peripheral nervous system

Front 30

diencephalon

Back 30

the part of the brain between the brain stem and the cerebrum that includes the thalmus, the subthalamus, hyopthalamus, and epithalamus

Front 31

dorsal root

Back 31

one of two roots of a spinal nerve that passes posteriorly unto the spinal cord and contains the dorsal root ganglion

Front 32

dorsal root ganglion

Back 32

a gangilon on the dorsal root of each spinal nerve

Front 33

dura mater

Back 33

the outermost of the three meninges that enclose the brain and spinal cord, it is the toughest membrane

Front 34

efferent nerves
-
motor nerves

Back 34

nerves that carry commands from the brain to peripheral muscles

Front 35

epithalamus

Back 35

part of the diencephalon with uncertain functions

Front 36

flexor reflex

Back 36

a withdrawal reflex in the muscles of the limbs that contract in response to an unpleasant stimulus

Front 37

foramen magnum

Back 37

a large opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord exits the brain

Front 38

frontal lobe

Back 38

the portion of the brain that is important in voluntary motor actions and personality traits

Front 39

ganglia

Back 39

collections of nerve cell bodies located outside the CNS

Front 40

ganglionic synapse

Back 40

a separation between two nerves, in a series between the CNS and the organs innervated

Front 41

gyri

Back 41

the numerous folds in the cerebrum, which greatly increase the surface area of the cortex

Front 42

hypothalamus

Back 42

the most inferior portion of the diencephalon, it is responsible for control of many bodily functions including heart rate, digestion, sexual development, temperature, emotion, hunger, thirst, and regulates sleep cycle

Front 43

intervertebral foramen

Back 43

openings between successive vertebrae through which nerves exit the vertebral column

Front 44

limbic system

Back 44

structures within the cerebrum and diencephalon that influence emotions, motivation, mood, and sensations of pain and pleasure

Front 45

lobes

Back 45

subdivisions of each hemisphere of the cerebrum named for the bone of the skull that overlies it

Front 46

longitudinal fissure

Back 46

the crevasse that separates the right and left hemispheres of the brain

Front 47

lumbar puncture

Back 47

a needle insertion into the vertebral canal to obtain a specimen of CSF

Front 48

medulla

Back 48

the inferior portion of the midbrain, which serves as a conduction pathway for both ascending and descending nerve tracts

Front 49

meninges

Back 49

a set of three tough membranes, the dura mater, arachnoid, and pia matter, that encloses the entire brain and spinal cord

Front 50

meningitis

Back 50

an inflammation of the meninges and CSF, usually caused by infection

Front 51

muscarinic receptors

Back 51

receptors at the target tissue that are stimulated by acetylcholione and can also be stimulated by the compound extracted from specific mushrooms.

Front 52

myelin sheath

Back 52

a membrane formed by Schwann cells, which cover the axons of certain neurons

Front 53

myelinated nerves

Back 53

an axon surrounded by a membrane sheath produced by Schwann cells

Front 54

nerve

Back 54

nervous tissue that connects the nervous system with body parts or organs

Front 55

nerve fibers

Back 55

groups of nerve cells that are bundled together

Front 56

neuroeffector cells

Back 56

the target tissues of the autonomic nervous system

Front 57

nerogila

Back 57

one of to basic types of neural tissue, these support, protect, defend, and aid in the repair of injury of neural tissue

Front 58

neuromuscular blocker

Back 58

a group of drugs derived from curare that are used in anesthesia to induce muscle relaxation

Front 59

neuromuscular junction

Back 59

the receptor on the muscle for nerve impulses

Front 60

neurons

Back 60

cells that transmit nervous system impulses

Front 61

neurotransmitters

Back 61

chemicals produced by the body that stimulate electrical reactions in adjacent neurons

Front 62

nicotinic receptors

Back 62

receptors in the postganglionic neuron that can be stimulated in the laboratory by the alkaloid nicotine

Front 63

Nodes of Ranvier

Back 63

regions between individual Schwann cells in myelinated neurons, between which action potentials jump

Front 64

acetylcholine
-and-
norepinephrine

Back 64

two neurotransmitters secreted by the autonomic nervous system

Front 65

occipital lobe

Back 65

the portion of the brain that is responsible for the processing of visual information

Front 66

parasympathetic nervous system

Back 66

the part of the autonomic nervous system that relaxes the body

Front 67

parasympathetic-blocking drug

Back 67

a drug that blocks acetylcholine at the neuroeffector synapse

Front 68

parietal lobe

Back 68

portion of the brain that is the site for reception and evaluation of most sensory information, except smell, hearing, and vision

Front 69

peripheral nerves

Back 69

nerves that arise from the different plexuses to branch and supply motor function and sensation to many areas of the body

Front 70

peripheral nervous system

Back 70

the portion of the nervous system that consists of nerves that extend from the CNS to structures outside the CNS

Front 71

pia mata

Back 71

the innermost of the three meninges that enclose the brain and spinal cord, it rests directly on the brain and spinal cord

Front 72

pineal body

Back 72

part of the epithalamus in the diencephalon

Front 73

plexus

Back 73

an organized intermingling formed by several nerves

Front 74

pons

Back 74

portion of the brain stem that lies below the midbrain and contains nerve fibers that effect sleep and respiration

Front 75

popliteal fossa

Back 75

the space behind the knee

Front 76

postganglionic neuron

Back 76

the second of two nerves separated by a synapse in a series between the CNS and the organs that are innervated

Front 77

preganglionic neuron

Back 77

the first of two nerves separated by a synapse in a series between the CNS and the organs that are innervated

Front 78

presynaptic terminal

Back 78

the end of a nerve where neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft

Front 79

proprioception

Back 79

information about the body's position and of its parts in relations to itself, one another, and to the pull of gravity

Front 80

reticulospinal tracts

Back 80

ascending fiber tracts that are involved in involuntary body movements

Front 81

rootlet

Back 81

a small nerve

Front 82

Schwann cells

Back 82

nervous tissue that helps form the myelin sheath around certain cells

Front 83

sciatic nerve

Back 83

the longest peripheral nerve in the body, formed by the combination of the common peroneal nerve and the tibial nerve

Front 84

spinal cord

Back 84

the part of the central nervous system that extends downward from the brain through the foramen magnum and is protected by the spine

Front 85

spinal nerves

Back 85

nerves in the peripheral nervous system that arise from numerous rootlets along the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the spinal cord

Front 86

spinal reflex arcs

Back 86

automatic reactions to stimuli that occur without conscious thought

Front 87

spinal tap

Back 87

a needle insertion into the vertebral canal to obtain a specimen of CSF

Front 88

stroke

Back 88

a disruption of the circulation to the brain, causing brain damage and abnormal neurological findings

Front 89

subarachnoid hemorrhage

Back 89

a hemorrhage between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater

Front 90

subarachnoid space

Back 90

the space located between the pia mater and the arachnoid mater

Front 91

substantia nigra

Back 91

a layer of gray matter located in the midbrain

Front 92

subthalamus

Back 92

the part of the diencephalon that is involved in controlling motor functions

Front 93

sulci

Back 93

grooves located between the gyri in the cerebrum

Front 94

superior oblique muscle

Back 94

controls the downward gaze of the eyeball

Front 95

sympathetic pathway

Back 95

the part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for the body's response to shock and stress

Front 96

synapse

Back 96

a gap between nerve cells across which nervous stimuli are transmitted

Front 97

synaptic cleft

Back 97

the space between neurons where electrical impulses trigger the release of neurotransmitters, which in turn stimulate an electrical reaction in adjacent neurons

Front 98

synaptic vesicles

Back 98

vesicles that contain neurotransmitters

Front 99

temporal lobe

Back 99

the portion of the brain that plays an important role in hearing and memory

Front 100

thalamus

Back 100

the part of the diencephalon the processes the most sensory input and influences mood and general body movements, especially those associated with fear or rage

Front 101

tracts

Back 101

pathways withing the spinal cord that contain nerves

Front 102

transient ischemic attack

Back 102

an episode of neurological impairment that lasts less than 24 hours and is sign of an impending stroke

Front 103

unmyelinated axon

Back 103

a neuron without myelin sheath or white matter

Front 104

ventral root

Back 104

one of two roots of a spinal nerve that is formed from six to eight rootlets

Front 105

vertebral canal

Back 105

the bony canal formed by vertebrae that houses and protects the spinal cord

Front 106

vesribulospinal tracts

Back 106

ascending fiber tracts that are involved with involuntary body movements

Front 107

white matter

Back 107

bundles of myelinated nerves

Front 108

postsynaptic terminal

Back 108

the end of a nerve where electrical impulses are received from the synaptic cleft