Neuroscience

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Central nerve system (CNS)

Back 1

Brain and spinal cord

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Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Back 2

Cranial and spinal nerves and their branches (includes ANS)

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Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

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Part of nmotor system controlling what are mostly involuntary functions (function of glands, smooth muscles of gut, bronchi and blood vessels and activity of heart)

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Glia

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Supporting cells of the brain
Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia

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Neurons

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Nerve cells

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Soma/ Cell body

Back 6

Where the nucleus and most metabolic machinery are

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Nissl Substance

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Rough endoplasmic reticulum in neuron cell body

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Dendrites

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Processes from neuron onto whch synapses are made

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Dendritic spines

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Processes off of dendrites for synaptic connection

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Dendritic arbor

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The branching pattern of dendrites

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Axon

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Neuronal process along which action potentials are propagated

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Collateral

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Branching of axons

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Myelin

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Covering of axon that speeds conduction

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Node of Ranvier

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Area of axon between myelin where axon not insulated

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Electrotonic

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Passive spread of electrical potential (voltage).
Degrades with distance from site of generation

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Action potential

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Propagated (regenerated) electrical potential that travels length of axon

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Saltatory

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"Jumping" action potential from one node of Ranvier to the next

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Synapse

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Site of contact between one neuron and the next.
Usually axodendritic, axosomatic or axoaxonic

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Presynaptic and postsynaptic

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The sides of a synapse usually comprised of an axon terminal (presynaptic) that will communicate with the postsynaptic neuron usually through release of neurotransmitter

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Neurotransmitter

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Chemical released from one neuron to influence activity in another

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Reuptake

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One way of terminating action of a NT by taking it back into neuron

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Axon transport

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Flow of cellular material and constituents back and forth along axon

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Synaptic vesicle

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Vesicle in presynaptic part of nerve terminal, released in response to action potential

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Inhibitory

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Anthing that decreases the chance that a neuron will generate an action potential

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Excitory

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Anything that increases the chance that a neuron will generate an action potential

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Modulatory

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Anything that changes the likelihood of generating action potential without, itself, generating an action potential

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Nucleus

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Collection of neurons within the CNS that have similar inputs, outputs and functions

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Ganglia

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Collection of neurons outside the CNS.
May be autonomic or sensory (such as dorsal root ganglia)

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Tract/ Fasciculus

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Collection of axons in the CNS that have similar origin, termination and function

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Funiculus

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The three areas of white matter in the spinal cord (anterior, lateral or posterior to the gray matter)
Each funiculus contains several tracts/ fasciculi

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Pathway

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A series of tracts that convey a particular type of information through several relays in the CNS

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1st order, 2nd order, etc

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Sequence of neurons in a pathway.
Each neuron will have an axon that follows a different tract.

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Origin/ termination

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Term used with tracts to describe where tract start and terminates (i.e. where cell bodies and synapses are)

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Target

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Term used with tract to describe the site of termination

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Relay

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Site where one tract synapses on neurons that will give to next tract in pathway

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Decussation

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A site of tract or pathway CROSSING to opposite side of the CNS

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Commisure

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A CONNECTION between one side of the nervous system and the other

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Ipsi/contralateral

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Same side or opposite side of the body or nervous system, respectively

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Afferent vs efferent

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Literally going toward or away from.
Must be given a point of reference (e.g. afferent or efferent to/ from a nucleus)
If none is given then the CNS is considered the point of reference and afferent = sensory and efferent = motor.

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Somatotopy

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Topographic representation of the body in the nervous system

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Horizontal (axial) plane

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Seprates body into superior and inferior portions

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Brain stem

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Rostral to spinal cord. Consists of medulla, pons and midbrain through which tracts pass from the spinal cord, containing nuclei of cranial nerves and enters for many involuntary function

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Cerebellum

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Dorsal to brain stem and most involved in coordination and learning of movement

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Diencephalon

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Rostral to brain stem and consisting of hypothalamus, thalamus and epithalamus

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Telencephalon

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Rostral to thalamus
Consist of cerebral cortex ad basal ganglia (a misnomer)