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83 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
acetylcholine (ACh)
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Neurotransmitter active in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.
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acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
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Enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine within a synapse.
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action potential
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Electrochemical changes that take place across the axon emmbrane; the nerve impulse.
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Alzheimer disease
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Brain disorder characterized by a general loss of mental abilities.
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amygdala
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Portion of the limbic system that adds emotional overtones to memories.
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association area
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Region of the cerebral cortex related to memory, reasoning, judgement, and emotional feelings.
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autonomic system
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Branch of the perpheral nervous system that has control over the internal organs; consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.
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axon
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Fiber of a neuron that conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body.
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axon terminal
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Small swelling at the tip of one of many endings of the axon.
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basal nuclei
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Subcortical nuclei deep within the white matter that serves as relay stations for motor impulses and produce dopamine to help control skeletal muscle activities.
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brain stem
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Portion of the brain consisting of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain.
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Broca's area
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Region of the frontal lobe that coordinates complex muscular actions of the mouth, tongue, and larynx, making speech possible.
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cell body
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Portion of a neuron that contains a nucleus and from which dendrites and an axon extend.
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central canal
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Tube within the spinal cord that is continuous with the ventricle of the brain and contains cerebrospinal fluid.
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central nervous system (CNS)
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Portion of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
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cerebellum
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Part of the brain located posterior to the nedulla oblongata and pons that coordinates skeletal muscles to produce smooth, graceful motions.
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cerebral cortex
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Outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres; receives sensory information and controls motor activities.
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cerebral hemisphere
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One of the large, paired strucutres that together consititute the cerebrum of the brain.
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cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
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Fluid found in the ventricles of the brain, in the central canal of the spinal cord, and in association with the meninges.
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Cerebrum
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Main part of the brain consisting of two large masses, or cerebral hemispheres; the largest part of the brain in mammals.
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chemical synapse
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Junction between neurons consisting of the presynaptic (axon) membrane, the synaptic cleft, and the postsynaptic (usually dendrite) membrane.
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corpus callosum
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Mass of white matter within the brain, composed of nerve fibers connnecting the right and left cerebral hemispheres.
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cranial nerve
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Nerve that arises from the brain.
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dendrite
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Part of a neuron that sends signals toward the cell body.
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diencephalon
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Portion of the brain in the region of the thrid ventricle that includes the thalamus and hypothalamus.
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dorsal root ganglion
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Mass of sensory neuron cell bodies located in the dorsal root of a spinal nerve.
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electroencehalogram (EEG)
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Graphic recording of the brain's electrical activity.
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episodic memory
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Capacity of the brain to store and retrieve information about persons and events.
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ganglion
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Collection or bundle of neuron cell bodies usually outside the central nervous system.
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gray matter
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Nonmyelinated nerve fibers and cell bodies int eh entral nervous system.
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hippocampus
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Part of the cerebral cortex where memories form.
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hypothalamus
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Part of the brain lcoated below the thalamus that helps regulate the internal environment of the body and produces releasing factors that control the anterior pituitary.
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interneuron
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Neuron located within the ceentral nervous system that conveys messages between parts of the central nervous system.
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intervertebral disk
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Layer of cartilage located between adjacent vertebrae.
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learning
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Relatively permanent change in an animal's behavior that results from practice and experience.
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limbic system
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Association of various brain centers, includeing the amygdala and hippocampus; goversn learning and memory and various emotions such as pleasure, fear, and happiness.
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long-term memory
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Retention of information that lasts longer than a few minutes.
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long-term potentiation (LTP)
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Enhanced response at synapses within the hippocampus.
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medulla oblongata
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Part oft he brain stem that is continuous with the spinal cord; controls hearbeat, blood pressure, breathing, and other vital functions.
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memory
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The brain function of recalling something that has been learned.
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meninges
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Protective membranous coverings of the central nervous system.
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meningitis
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Inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
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midbrain
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Part of the brain located below the thalamus and above the pons; contains reflex centers and tracts.
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motor neuron
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Nerve cell that conducts nerve impuses away from the central nervous system and innervates effectors (muscles and glands).
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multiple sclerosis (MS)
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Disease in which the outer, myelin layer of nerve fiber insulation becomes damaged, interfering with normal conduction of nerve impulses.
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myelin sheath
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White, fatty material - derived from the membrane of Schwann cells - that forms a covering for nerve fibers.
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nerve
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Bundle of nerve fibers outside the central nervous system.
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nerve impulse
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Action potential (electrochemical change) traveling along a neuron.
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neuroglia
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Nonconducting nerve cells that are intimately associated with neurons and function in a supportive capacity.
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neuron
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Nerve cell that characteristically has 3 parts: cell body, dendrites, and an axon.
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neurotransmitter
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Chemical stored at the ends of axons that is responsible for transmission across a synapse.
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node of Ranvier
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Gap in the myelin sheath around a nerve fiber; increases the speed of nerve impulse conduction.
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norepinephrine (NE)
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Neurotransmitter of the postganglionic fibers in the sympathetic division of the autonomic system; also, a hormone produced by the adrenal medulla.
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oligodendroglial cells
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Cells that form the myelin sheaths surrounding axons in teh central nervous system.
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parasympathetic division
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That part of the autonomic system that is active under normal conditions; uses acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter.
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Parkinson disease (PD)
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Progressive deterioration of the central nervous system due to a deficiency in the neurotransmitter dopamine.
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peripheral nervous system (PNS)
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Nerves and ganglia that lie outside the central nervous system.
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pons
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Portion of the brain stem above the medulla oblongata and below the midbrain; assists the medulla oblongata in regulating the breathing rate.
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prefrontal area
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Association area in the frontal lobe that receives information from other association areas and uses it to reason and plan actions.
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primary motor area
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Area in the frontal lobe where voluntary commands begin; each section controls a part of the body.
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primary somatosensory area
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Just dorsal to the central culcus in the parietal lobe;sensory information from skins and skeeltal muscles arrives here, each part of the body is sequentially represented.
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reflex
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Automatic, involuntary response of an organism to a stimulus.
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refractory period
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Time following an action potential when aneuron is unable to conduct another nerve impulse.
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resting potential
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Polarity across the plasma membrane of a resting neuron due to an unequal distribution of ions.
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Schwann cell
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Cell that surrounds a peripheral nerve fiber and forms the myelin sheath.
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semantic memory
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Capacity of the brain to store and retrieve information with regard to words or numbers.
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sensory neuron
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Nerve cell that transmits nerve impulses to the central nervous system after a sensory receptor has been stimulated.
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short-term memory
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Retention of information for only a few minutes, such as remembering a telephone number long enough to dial it.
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skill memory
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Capacity of the brain to store and retrieve information necessary to perform motor activities, such as riding a bike.
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sodium-potassium pump
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Carrier protein in the plasma membrane that moves sodium ions out of and potassium ions into cells; important in nerve and muscle cells.
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somatic system
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The portion of the peripheral nervous system containing motor neurons that control skeletal muscles
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spinal cord
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Part of the central nervous system; the nerve cord that is continuous with the base of the brain and housed within the vertebral column.
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spinal nerve
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Nerve that arises from the spinal cord.
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stroke
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Condition resultign when an arteriole in the brain bursts or becomes blocked by an embolism; also called a cerebrovascular accident.
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sympathetic division
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The part of the autonomic system that usually promotes activities associated with emergency (fight-or-flight) situations; uses norepinephrine as a neurotransmitter.
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synaptic cleft
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Small gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes of a synapse.
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synaptic integration
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Summing up of excitatory and inhibitory signals by a neuron or by some part of the brain.
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thalamus
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Part of the brain located in the lateral walls of the thrid ventricle that serves as the integrating center for sensory input; plays a role in arousing the cerebral cortex.
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threshold
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Electrical potential level (voltage) at which an action potential or nerve impulse is produced.
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tract
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Bundle of myelinated axons in the central nervous system.
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ventricle
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Cavity in an organ, such as a lower chamber of the heart of the ventricles of the brain.
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Wernicke's area
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Brain area involved in language comprehension.
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white matter
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Myelinated axons in the central nervous system.
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