Ch.2

Front 1

Neuron

Back 1

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Front 2

Dendrite

Back 2

the branches of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the body cell

Front 3

Axon

Back 3

The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Front 4

Myelin sheath

Back 4

A layer of fatty tissue that covers many neurons. It helps increase the speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one part of the node to the next

Front 5

Action Potential

Back 5

A brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. It is caused by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axons membrane

Front 6

Neurotransmitter

Back 6

Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons. Some well known neurotransmitters related to mental health include serotonin, dopamine, and GABA

Front 7

Synapse

Back 7

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap

Front 8

Frontal lobe

Back 8

anterior region of the brain bounded by the central sulcus and the sylvan fissure. It is involved in speaking and muscle movements as well as in making plans and judgements

Front 9

Parietal Lobe

Back 9

Posterior region of the brain behind the frontal lobe and in front of the occipital cortex. It controls somatosensation and spatial understanding

Front 10

Temporal Lobe

Back 10

Lower region of the brain near the ears and below the sylvan fissure. It controls hearing and complex visual recognition

Front 11

Occipital Lobe

Back 11

A region of the rear brain that controls primitive vision--edges, movement, color, ect.

Front 12

Central sulcus

Back 12

Groove separating frontal from partial lobe

Front 13

Sylvian fissure

Back 13

Groove scparting frontal from temporal lobe

Front 14

Brainstem

Back 14

at the base of the brain and at the top of the spinal cord; it consists of the pons (at top) and the medulla (at bottom)

Front 15

Cerebellum

Back 15

Structure below the occipital cortex involved in motor coordination and possibly primitive learning

Front 16

Thalamus

Back 16

a little larger than an almond and found in the center of the brain, this structure receives nearly all incoming sensory messages and than relays them to appropriate cortical lobes (cortex refers to the outer layer of the brain)

Front 17

Limbic System

Back 17

A group of structures deep in the brain, primarily the temporal lobe, involved in emotion and learning.

Front 18

Hippocampus

Back 18

A structure in deep temporal lobe, part of the limbic system, involved in memory formation

Front 19

Amygdala

Back 19

A structure in deep temporal lobe, part of the limbic system, involved in the regulation of stress and aggression