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73 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
acetylcholine
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neurotransmitter released by neurons in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system |
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action potential
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self-propagating momentary change in the electrical potential of a neuron (or muscle) membrane |
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Alzheimer’s disease
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neurodegenerative disorder characterized by problems with memory and thinking |
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amygdala
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structure within the limbic system that processes fear |
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arachnoid mater
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spiderweb-like middle layer of the meninges that cover the central nervous system |
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astrocyte
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glial cell in the central nervous system that provide nutrients, extracellular buffering, and structural support for neurons; also makes up the blood-brain barrier |
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attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
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neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty maintaining attention and controlling impulses; also known as ADHD |
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autism spectrum disorder
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neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication abilities; also known as ASD |
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autonomic nervous system
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part of the peripheral nervous system that controls bodily functions |
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axon
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tube-like structure that propagates a signal from a neuron’s cell body to axon terminals |
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axon hillock
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electrically sensitive structure on the cell body of a neuron that integrates signals from multiple neuronal connections |
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axon terminal
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structure on the end of an axon that can form a synapse with another neuron |
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basal ganglia
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interconnected collections of cells in the brain that are involved in movement and motivation; also known as basal nuclei |
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brainstem
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portion of the brain that connects with the spinal cord; controls basic nervous system functions like breathing, heart rate, and swallowing |
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cerebellum
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brain structure involved in posture, motor coordination, and learning new motor actions |
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cerebral cortex
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outermost sheet of brain tissue; involved in many higher-order functions |
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cerebrospinal fluid
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clear liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord and fills the ventricles and central canal; acts as a shock absorber and circulates material throughout the brain and spinal cord; also known as CSF |
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choroid plexus
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spongy tissue within ventricles that produces cerebrospinal fluid |
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cingulate gyrus
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helps regulate emotions and pain; thought to directly drive the body’s conscious response to unpleasant experiences |
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corpus callosum
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thick fiber bundle that connects the cerebral hemispheres |
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cranial nerve
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sensory and/or motor nerve that emanates from the brain |
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dendrite
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structure that extends away from the cell body to receive messages from other neurons |
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dura mater
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tough outermost layer that covers the central nervous system |
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ependymal
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cell that lines fluid-filled ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord; involved in production of cerebrospinal fluid |
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epilepsy
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neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures |
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excitatory postsynaptic potential
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depolarization of a postsynaptic membrane caused by neurotransmitter molecules released from a presynaptic cell; also known as EPSP |
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frontal lobe
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part of the cerebral cortex that contains the motor cortex and areas involved in planning, attention, and language |
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glia
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cells that provide support functions for neurons; also known as glial cells |
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gyrus
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ridged protrusion in the cortex |
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hippocampus
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brain structure in the temporal lobe involved in processing memories |
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hyperpolarization
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change in the membrane potential to a more negative value |
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hypothalamus
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brain structure that controls hormone release and body homeostasis |
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inhibitory postsynaptic potential
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hyperpolarization of a postsynaptic membrane caused by neurotransmitter molecules released from a presynaptic cell; also known as IPSP |
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limbic system
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connected brain areas that process emotion and motivation |
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long-term depression
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prolonged decrease in synaptic coupling between a pre- and postsynaptic cell; also known as LTD |
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long-term potentiation
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prolonged increase in synaptic coupling between a pre-and postsynaptic cell; also known as LTP |
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major depression
|
mental illness characterized by prolonged periods of sadness |
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membrane potential
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difference in electrical potential between the inside and outside of a cell |
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meninge
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membrane that covers and protects the central nervous system |
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microglia
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glia that scavenge and degrade dead cells and protect the brain from invading microorganisms |
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myelin
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fatty substance produced by glia that insulates axons |
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neurodegenerative disorder
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nervous system disorder characterized by the progressive loss of neurological functioning, usually caused by neuron death |
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neuron
|
specialized cell that can receive and transmit electrical and chemical signals |
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nodes of Ranvier
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gaps in the myelin sheath where the signal is recharged |
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norepinephrine
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neurotransmitter and hormone released by activation of the sympathetic nervous system |
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occipital lobe
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part of the cerebral cortex that contains visual cortex and processes visual stimuli |
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oligodendrocyte
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glial cell that myelinates central nervous system neuron axons |
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parasympathetic nervous system
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division of autonomic nervous system that regulates visceral functions during rest and digestion |
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parietal lobe
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part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing touch and the sense of the body in space |
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Parkinson’s disease
|
neurodegenerative disorder that affects the control of movement |
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proprioception
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sense about how parts of the body are oriented in space |
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radial glia
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glia that serve as scaffolds for developing neurons as they migrate to their final destinations |
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refractory period
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period after an action potential when it is more difficult or impossible for an action potential to be fired; caused by inactivation of sodium channels and activation of additional potassium channels of the membrane |
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saltatory conduction
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“jumping” of an action potential along an axon from one node of Ranvier to the next |
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satellite glia
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glial cell that provides nutrients and structural support for neurons in the peripheral nervous system |
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schizophrenia
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mental disorder characterized by the inability to accurately perceive reality; patients often have difficulty thinking clearly and can suffer from delusions |
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Schwann cell
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glial cell that creates myelin sheath around a peripheral nervous system neuron axon |
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sensory-somatic nervous system
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system of sensory and motor nerves |
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somatosensation
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sense of touch |
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spinal cord
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thick fiber bundle that connects the brain with peripheral nerves; transmits sensory and motor information; contains neurons that control motor reflexes |
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spinal nerve
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nerve projecting between skin or muscle and spinal cord |
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sulcus
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indent or “valley” in the cortex |
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summation
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process of multiple presynaptic inputs creating EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential |
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sympathetic nervous system
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division of autonomic nervous system activated during stressful “fight or flight” situations |
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synapse
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junction between two neurons where neuronal signals are communicated |
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synaptic cleft
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space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes |
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synaptic vesicle
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spherical structure that contains a neurotransmitter |
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temporal lobe
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part of the cerebral cortex that processes auditory input; parts of the temporal lobe are involved in speech, memory, and emotion processing |
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thalamus
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brain area that relays sensory information to the cortex |
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threshold of excitation
|
level of depolarization needed for an action potential to fire |
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ventricle |
cavity within brain that contains cerebrospinal fluid |
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pia mater |
thin membrane layer directly covering the brain and spinal cord |
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depolarization |
change in the membrane potential to a less negative value |