| Question |
Answer |
| neuron |
a cell of the nervous system |
| denrite |
a branching treelike figure produced on or in a mineral by a foreign mineral |
| axon |
The usually long process of a nerve fiber that generally conducts impulses away from the body of the nerve cell. |
| nerve impuls |
the elictical signal generated when a neuron is activfe, which normally passes from the dentrites along the axon, to the terminals |
| synapse |
The junction across which a nerve impulse passes from an axon terminal to a neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell |
| myelin |
in a neuron, an insulating sheath around the axon, composed of spirally-wound membarnce of Schwann calls, which serves to improve the efficiency of neural condidion |
| neurotransmitters |
a chemical released by the terminals of a neuron which plays a role in communication between neurons, across the synapse |
| acetylcholine |
A white crystalline derivative of choline, that is released at the ends of nerve fibers in the somatic and parasympathetic nervous systems and is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses in the body. |
| dopamine |
a monoamine neurotransmitter found in the brain and essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system; as a drug (trade names Dopastat and Intropin) it is used to treat shock and hypotension |
| Seretonin |
a neurotransmitter involved in e.g. sleep and depression and memory |
| agonists |
A drug that binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by the cell |
| antagonists |
against and blocks an action |
| excitation |
The activity produced in an organ, tissue, or part, such as a nerve cell, as a result of stimulation |
| inhibition |
Conscious or unconscious restraint of a behavioral process, a desire, or an impulse |
| central nercous system (CNS) |
the brain, together with the nerve pathways of the spinal cord |
| peripheral nervous system(PNS) |
those nerve pathways which lie outside the CNS, involving sensation, motor control, and regulation of internal organs |
| sensory neurons |
neural pathways in the PNS which carry information from the sense receptors to the CNS |
| interneurons |
A nerve cell found entirely within the central nervous system that acts as a link between sensory neurons and motor neurons. |
| motor neurons |
those neurons that are responsible for initiating muscle activity |
| somatic nervous system |
Portion of the peripheral nervous system that carries efferent motor nerves to skeletal muscles |
| autonomic nervous system |
A division of the peripheral nervous system that controls what are normally involuntary activities, such as heart rate, respiration, body core temperature, blood pressure, and urinary output |
| cerebral hemispheres |
two half spheres, made up of the cortex and underlying structures, which comprise themajor part of the brain |
| corpus callosum |
a wide band of nerve fibers which connest the two hemispheres of the brain |
| endocrine system |
The bodily system that consists of the endocrine glands and functions to regulate body activities. |
| hormones |
a chemical secreted by an endorcine gland: hormones are involved in many aspects of metabolism and long-term function of the body |
| pituitary gland |
A small oval endocrine gland attached to the base of the vertebrate brain and consisting of an anterior and a posterior lobe, the secretions of which control the other endocrine glands and influence growth, metabolism, and maturation. |
| endorphins |
a neuropeptide which plays a significant in pain and mood states |
| limbic system |
a series of subcortical structures which connect the cortex with other parts of the brain and which are important in many basic functions: among the main parts of the limbic system are the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala and hippocampus |
| hypothalmus |
one of the most important parts of the limbic system, the hypothalamus both regulates behaviors associated with hunger, thirst, sex and other basic drives, and also plays a role in regulation hormonal functions |
| hippocampus |
a structure within the limbic system which is important to memory function |
| amygdala |
an alomnd- shaped structure in the linbic system which plays a role in basic emotions, and possible memory and stimulus evaluation |
| basal ganglia |
The corpus striatum, or the corpus striatum and the thalamus considered together as the important subcortical centers. |
| association areas |
areas of the cortex which have no primary function (such as receving direct sensory data), but rather play a role in intergrating activity from other brain areas |
| cerebral cortex |
The extensive outer layer of gray matter of the cerebral hemispheres, largely responsible for higher brain functions, including sensation, voluntary muscle movement, thought, reasoning, and memory |
| frontal lobes |
The largest and most anterior part of each cerebral hemisphere |
| occipital lobe |
The posterior lobe of each cerebral hemisphere, having the shape of a three-sided pyramid and containing the visual center of the brain. |
| temporal lobe |
The lower lateral lobe of either cerebral hemisphere, located in front of the occipital lobe and containing the sensory center of hearing in the brain. |
| motor cortex |
The area of the cerebral cortex where impulses from the nerve centers to the muscles originate |
| sensory cortex |
The area of the cerebral cortex of the brain to which the sensory signals are sent. The somatic senses include vision, hearing, taste, smell and equilibrium. |
| cerebellum |
two small hemispheres located beneath the cortica hemisphers, at the back of the head; the cerebellum plays an importan role in directing movement and belance |
| brainstem |
the region at the top of the spinal cord, composed of three primary structures, the medulla, the pons and the midbrain |
Science Vocab 147928
