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Ch 9 Nervous System
Holes Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology Ch 9 Vocab
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Neuron | Nerve cell |
| Nerve Impulse | The electrochemical process of depolarization and repolarization along an axon. |
| Cell Body | Portion of a nerve cell that includes a cytoplasmic mass and a nucleus from which nerve fibers extend. |
| Dendrite | Process of a neuron that receives input from other neurons. |
| Axon | A nerve fiber; it conducts a nerve impulse away from the neuron cell body. |
| Nerves | Bundles of axons |
| Neuroglial cells | Cells that are part of nervous tissue that provide physical support, insulation, and nutrients for neurons. |
| Central Nervous System | Brain and spinal cord |
| Peripheral Nervous System | Connects the CNS to the other body parts |
| Sensory Receptors | A specialized structure associated with the peripheral end of a sensory neuron specific to detecting a particular sensation and triggering a nerve impulse in response, which is transmitted to the central nervous system. |
| Effectors | A muscle or gland that effects changes in the body |
| Somatic Nervous System | Motor pathways of the peripheral nervous system that lead to the skin and skeletal muscles. |
| Autonomic Nervous System | Portion of the nervous system that controls the viscera. |
| Microglial cells | A neuroglial cell that supports neurons and phagocytizes |
| Oligodendrocytes | A type of neuroglial cell that forms myelin in the CNS |
| Astrocytes | A type of neuroglial cell that connects neurons to blood vessels |
| Ependymal cells | A membrane composed of neuroglial cells that lines the ventricles of the brain |
| Schwann cells | A type of neuroglial cell that surrounds an axon of a peripheral neuron, forming the neurilemmal sheath and myelin |
| Neurofibrils | A fine, cytoplasmic threat that extends from the cell body into the process of a neuron |
| Chromatophilic substance | Membranous sacs within cytoplasm of nerve cells that have ribosomes attached to their surfaces |
| Neurilemma | Sheath formed from Schwann cells on the outside of some axons |
| Nodes of Ranvier | Narrow gaps between Schwann cells |
| Trigger Zone | A sensitive part of an axon where a nerve impulse originates |
| Unipolar Neurons | Neurons with a single process extending from the cell body that branches into two, one side acting as an axon and the other as a dendrite. |
| Bipolar Neurons | Neurons with two processes, one of which is an axon and the other is a dendrite |
| Multipolar Neurons | Neurons with many processes, one of which is an axon and the others are dendrites |
| Ganglia | Masses of neuron cell bodies, usually outside of the CNS |
| Sensory Neurons | Carry nerve impulses from peripheral body parts into the brain or spinal cord |
| Interneurons | Lie entirely in the brain or spinal cord and direct incoming sensory impulses to the appropriate parts for processing and interpreting |
| Motor Neurons | Multipolar neurons that carry nerve impulses out of the brain or spinal cord to the effectors |
| Polarized | Electrically charged |
| Action Potential | A characteristic change in neuron membrane polarization and return to the resting state |
| Potential Difference | Difference in electrical charge between two regions |
| Resting Potential | The potential difference between the region inside the membrane and the region outside the membrane. |
| Depolarizing | The resting potential decreases |
| Threshold Stimulus | Stimulation level that must be exceeded to elicit a nerve impulse |
| Summation | Additive effect of several subthreshold stimuli |
| All-or-none response | If a neuron responds, it responds completely or not at all |
| Nerve pathways | The routes that nerve impulses travel |
| Synapse | The junction between two communicating neurons |
| Synaptic Cleft | The gap between two communicating neurons |
| Presynaptic Neuron | The neuron carrying the impulse or the sender |
| Postsynaptic Neuron | The neuron that receives the input or the receiver |
| Synaptic Transmission | The process of crossing the synaptic cleft with a message |
| Neurotransmitters | Chemical that an axon end secretes on an effector or another neuron |
| Synaptic knob | Tiny enlargement at the end of an axon that secretes a neurotransmitter |
| Excitatory | Neurotransmitters that increase the postsynaptic membrane permeability to sodium ions and bring it closer to threshold |
| Inhibitory | Neurotransmitters that decrease the postsynaptic membrane permeability to sodium ions and make it less likely that threshold will be reached |
| Neuronal Pools | Groups of neurons that make hundreds of synaptic connections with each other and work together to perform a common function |
| Facilitation | Subthreshold stimulation of a neuron that increases responsiveness to further stimulation |
| Convergence | Nerve impulses arriving at the same neuron |
| Divergence | Impulses passing into several output neurons |
| Sensory Fibers | Afferent fibers; bring sensory information to the CNS |
| Motor Fibers | Efferent fibers; carry impulses from the CNS to the effectors |
| Sensory Nerves | Nerves that conduct impulses to the brain or spinal cord |
| Motor Nerves | Nerves that conduct impulses to muscles or glands |
| Mixed Nerves | Nerves that include both sensory fibers and motor fibers |
| Reflex Arc | The simplest nerve pathway that includes only a few neurons and is the structural and functional basis for the reflexes. |
| Reflex | An automatic, subconscious response to stimuli |
| Meninges | Layered membranes that serve to protect the brain and spinal cord. |
| Dura Mater | The outermost layer of the meninges. |
| Arachnoid Mater | A thin, weblike membrane without blood vessels that lies between the dura and pia maters. |
| Pia Mater | A thin membrane that contains many nerves and blood vessels that nourishes the underlying cells of the brain and spinal cord. |
| Cerebrospinal Fluid | A clear watery fluid that is found in the ventricles of the brain, subarachnoid space of the meninges, and the central canal of the spinal cord. |
| Spinal Cord | A slender nerve column that passes downward from the brain into the vertebral canal. |
| Spinal Nerves | Nerves that branch to the various body parts and connect them with the central nervous system. |
| Ascending Tracts | Tracts in the spinal cord that carry sensory information to the brain |
| Descending Tracts | Tracts in the spinal cord that conduct motor impulses from the brain to the muscles and glands |
| Cerebrum | Portion of the brain that occupies the upper part of the cranial cavity and provides higher mental functions. |
| Brainstem | Portion of the brain that contains the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. |
| Cerebellum | Portion of the brain that coordinates skeletal muscle movement. |
| Cerebral cortex | The outer layer of the cerebrum |
| Diencephalon | Portion of the brain in the region of the third ventricle that includes the thalamus and hypothalamus. |
| Cerebral hemispheres | The large paired structures that constitute the cerebrum |
| Motor Areas | The region of the brain from which impulses to muscles or glands originate |
| Sensory Areas | A portion of the cerebral cortex that receives and interprets sensory nerve impulses |
| Association Areas | Region of the cerebral cortex controlling memory, reasoning, judgement, and emotions |