Animal Physiology Ch. 8 Vocab

Front 1

cerebrum

Back 1

the largest part and highest center of the mammalian brain; evolved from the olfactory centers of lower vetebrates

Front 2

tectum

Back 2

the highest center from processing visual info in fishes and amphibians

Front 3

pons

Back 3

the region of the vertebrate brain that lies just rostral to the medulla oblongata

Front 4

cerebral cortex

Back 4

the thin layer of gray matter that covers the cerebrum of mammals and birds

Front 5

thalamus

Back 5

a major center in the midbrain of birds and mammals that receives and transmits both sensory and motor info

Front 6

amygdala

Back 6

the region of the brain that processes info and organized output related to the emotions

Front 7

hypothalamus

Back 7

the part of the diencephaslon that forms the floor of the median ventricle of the brain; includes many subregions that contribute to control the autonomic nervous system and of endocrine function

Front 8

nuclei

Back 8

collections of somata of neurons with similar functions

Front 9

association cortex

Back 9

areas of the cerebral cortex that neither directly receive sensory info nor directly contribute to motor output; instead, these areas typically receive input from many sensory modalities and are broadly connected to other areas in the cortex and other brain centers

Front 10

sympathetic pathway

Back 10

division of the autononomic nervous system in which increased activity typically provides metabolic support for vigorous physical activity; sometimes called the fight or flight system

Front 11

parasympathetic pathway

Back 11

the division of the autonomic nervous system in which increased activity generally supports functions such as digestion and sexual activity

Front 12

preganglionic neuron

Back 12

an autonomic neuron that has its soma located in the CNS , sends an ozon into the periphery, and synapses onto postganglionic cells'

Front 13

postganglionic neuron

Back 13

an autonomic neuron that has its soma located in a peripheral ganglion, receives synaptic input from preganglionic neurons, and synapses onto target organs

Front 14

afferent nerves

Back 14

toward the center of the body

Front 15

spinal cord

Back 15

the portion of the vertebrate CNS that is encased in the vertebral column, extending from the caudal end of the medulla; consists of a core of gray matter and an outer layer of white matter

Front 16

reflex arc

Back 16

a neuronal pathway that connects sensory input and motor output; consists of afferent nerve input to a nerve center that produces activity in efferent nerves connected to an effector organ, such as a muscle

Front 17

monosynaptic reflex arc

Back 17

a simple reflex in which a sensory neuron (the receptor) synapses in the central nervous system onto a motor neuron that innervates an effector

Front 18

polysynaptic

Back 18

characterized by transmission through multiple synapses in series

Front 19

monosynaptic

Back 19

requiring or transmitted through only one synapse

Front 20

parallel processing

Back 20

a pattern of info processing in the nervous system in which multiple pathways simultaneously carry info about a particular input or output; the info is resynthesized where the pathways converge

Front 21

nerve nets

Back 21

a collection of interconnected neurons that is distributed through the body, rather than concentrated in a central location, most typical of lower organsims, such as coelenterates

Front 22

ganglia

Back 22

anatomically distinct collection of neuronal somata

Front 23

neuropil

Back 23

a dense mass of closely interwoven and synapsing neuronal processes (axon collaterals and dendrites) and glial cells

Front 24

brain

Back 24

the major neuronal center within the body; typically located at the anterior of the body

Front 25

cephalization

Back 25

the evolutionary tendency for the neurons of higher organisms to be concentrated in a brain located at the anterior end of the animal

Front 26

tracts

Back 26

within the CNS; a collection of axons that have related functions

Front 27

nerves

Back 27

a bundle of axons held together as a unit by connective tissue

Front 28

central nervous system (CNS)

Back 28

the collection of neurons and parts of neurons that are contained within the brain and spinal cord of vertebrates or within the brain, main nerve cord, and major ganglia of invertebrates

Front 29

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Back 29

the entire collection of neurons and parts of neurons that lie outside of the CNS

Front 30

efferent nerves

Back 30

toward the periphery of the body

Front 31

somatic nervous system

Back 31

the part of the nervous system that mediates conscious perception and controls voluntary activity in the skeletal muscle

Front 32

autonomic system

Back 32

efferent pathways of the nervous system that control involuntary, visceral functions; classically subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

Front 33

white matter

Back 33

tissue of the CNS that consists mainly of myelinated nerve fibers

Front 34

gray matter

Back 34

tissue of the vertebrate CNS consisting of neuronal somata, unmyelinated fibers, and glial cells

Front 35

cerebrospinal fluid

Back 35

a clear fluid that fills the cerebrasl ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord in vertebrates

Front 36

medulla oblongata

Back 36

in vertebrates, a cone-shaped neuronal mass that lies between the pons and the spinal cord

Front 37

cerebellum

Back 37

a part of the hindbrain that contributes to the corrdination of motor output and participates in the learning of motor skills