Pgs 101 Ch. 3

Front 1

neurons

Back 1

individual cells in the nervous system that recieve, integrate, and transmit info

Front 2

soma

Back 2

(cell body) contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells

Front 3

dendrites

Back 3

parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information

Front 4

axon

Back 4

a long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Front 5

terminal buttons

Back 5

small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters

Front 6

synapse

Back 6

a junction where info is transmitted from one neuron to another

Front 7

resting potential

Back 7

stable negtive charge when the cell of a neuron is inactive

Front 8

action potential

Back 8

a very brief shift in a neuron's electrical charge that travels along an axon

Front 9

absolute refractory period

Back 9

the minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin

Front 10

synaptic cleft

Back 10

a microscopic gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron

Front 11

neurotransmitters

Back 11

chemicals that transmit info from one neruon to another

Front 12

postsynaptic ptotential (PSP)

Back 12

a voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane

Front 13

reuptake

Back 13

a process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane

Front 14

agonist

Back 14

chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter

Front 15

antagonist

Back 15

a chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter

Front 16

endorphins

Back 16

internally produced chemicals that resemble opiates in structure and effects

Front 17

peripheral nervous system

Back 17

made up of all thsoe nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord

Front 18

somatic nervous system

Back 18

made up of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors

Front 19

afferent nerve fibers

Back 19

axons that carry info inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body

Front 20

efferent nerve fibers

Back 20

axons that carry info outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body

Front 21

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Back 21

made up of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands

Front 22

central nervous system (CNS)

Back 22

consists of the brain and the spinal cord

Front 23

hindbrain

Back 23

includes teh cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brainstem: the medulla and the pons

Front 24

midbrain

Back 24

the segment of the brainstem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain

Front 25

forebrain

Back 25

largest and most complex region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum

Front 26

thalamus

Back 26

structure in the forebrain through which all sensory info (except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortex

Front 27

hypothalamus

Back 27

a structure found near the base of the forebrain that is involved in the regulation of basic biological needs

Front 28

limbic system

Back 28

a loosely connected network of structures located roughly along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas

Front 29

cerebral cortex

Back 29

the convoluted outer layer of the cerebrum

Front 30

cerebral hemispheres

Back 30

the right and left halves of the cerebrum

Front 31

corpus callosum

Back 31

the major structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres

Front 32

split-brain surgery

Back 32

bundle of fibers that conects the cerebral hemispheres (the corpus callosum) is cut to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures