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David Meyers Chapter 2 Vocab Flashcards

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207428485Neurona nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system. (p. 49)0
207428486Sensory Neuronsneurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. (p. 49)1
207428487Motor Neuronsneurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands. (p. 49)2
207428488Interneuronsneurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs. (p. 493
207428489Dendritethe bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body. (p. 494
207428490Axonthe extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands. (p. 49)5
207428491Myelin Sheathlayer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next. (p. 49)6
207428492Action Potentiala neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. (p. 49)7
207428493Thresholdthe level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse. (p. 50)8
207428494Synapsethe junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft. (p. 51)9
207428495Neurotransmitterschemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse. (p. 51)10
207428496Reuptakea neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron. (p. 51)11
207428497Endorphins"morphine within"—natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. (p. 53)12
207428498Nervous Systemthe body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems. (p. 55)13
207428499Central Nervous System (CNS)the brain and spinal cord. (p. 55)14
207428500Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body. (p. 55)15
207428501Nervesbundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs. (p. 55)16
207428502Somatic Nervous Systemthe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system. (p. 55)17
207428503Autonomic Nervous Systemthe part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms. (p. 55)18
207428504Sympathetic Nervous Systemthe division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations. (p. 55)19
207428505Parasympathetic Nervous Systemthe division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy. (p. 56)20
207428506Reflexa simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response. (p. 57)21
207428507Endocrine Nervous Systemthe body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. (p. 58)22
207428508Hormoneschemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues. (p. 58)23
207428509Adrenal Glandsa pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and nor-epinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress. (p. 59)24
207428510Pituitary Glandthe endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. (p. 59)25
207428511Lesiontissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue. (p. 61)26
207428512Electroencephalogram (EEG)an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. (p. 61)27
207428513PET (Positron Emission Tomography)a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task. (p. 62)28
207428514MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy. (p. 62)29
207428515fMRI (functinoal MRI)a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function. (p. 62)30
207428516Brainstemthe oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions. (p. 63)31
207428517Medullathe base of the brainstem; controls heart-beat and breathing. (p. 63)32
207428518Reticular Formationa nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal. (p. 63)33
207428519Thalamusthe brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla. (p. 64)34
207428520Cerebellumthe "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance. (p. 64)35
207428521Limbic Systemneural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives. (p. 65)36
207428522Amygdalatwo lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion. (p. 65)37
207428523Hypothalamusa neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward. (p. 66)38
207428524Cerebral Cortexthe intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center. (p. 68)39
207428525Glial Cellcells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons. (p. 68)40
207428526Frontal Lobesportion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments. (p. 68)41
207428527Parietal Lobesportion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position. (p. 68)42
207428528Occipital Lobesportion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields. (p. 68)43
207428529Temporal Lobesportion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear. (p. 68)44
207428530Motor Cortexan area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements. (p. 69)45
207428531Sensory Cortexarea at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations. (p. 71)46
207428532Association Areasareas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking. (p. 72)47
207428533Plasticitythe brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience. (p. 73)48
207428534Neurogenesisthe formation of new neurons. (p. 74)49
207428535Corpus Callosumthe large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them. (p. 75)50
207428536Split Brainsa condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them. (p. 75)51

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