Neuroscience 101: Key Terms and Definitions, Quizzes of Biology

Download Neuroscience 101: Key Terms and Definitions and more Quizzes Biology in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Acetylcholine DEFINITION 1 Acetylcholine is an organic, polyatomic ion that acts as a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) in many organisms including humans. Acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter for cardiac muscles (causes lower heart rate) and plays a role in skeletal muscles. TERM 2 Action Potential DEFINITION 2 In physiology, an action potential is a short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. TERM 3 Autonomic NS DEFINITION 3 The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. It controls heart rate, breathing, hormone production that stuff. TERM 4 Axon DEFINITION 4 An axon is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that typically conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body. TERM 5 Axon Hillock DEFINITION 5 The axon hillock is a specialized part of the cell body of a neuron that connects to the axon. TERM 6 Bilateral Symmetry DEFINITION 6 Symmetry in biology is the balanced distribution of duplicate body parts or shapes. The body plans of most multicellular organisms exhibit some form of symmetry, either radial symmetry or bilateral symmetry or "spherical symmetry". TERM 7 Calcium DEFINITION 7 Calcium is the chemical element with symbolCa and atomic number20. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust. Physiologically, calcium acts a signal for many cellular processes. It also is the mineral used in bones. TERM 8 Cell Body DEFINITION 8 The soma, or perikaryon (pl. perikarya), or cyton, is the bulbous end of a neuron, containing the cell nucleus. TERM 9 Central NS DEFINITION 9 The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals-that is, all multicellular animals except radially symmetric animals such as sponges and jellyfish. TERM 10 Complex Reflex Arc DEFINITION 10 In homeostatic control system belong to the general category of stimulus response sequences know as reflexesComposed of:1.) Receptor, site of the stimulus2.) Sensory Neuron, transmits afferent impulses to CNS3.) Integration Center, either mono or polysynaptic4.) Motor Neuron, conducts efferent impulses to efferent organ5.) Effector, muscle fiber or gland that responds to impulses TERM 21 Neurotransmitter DEFINITION 21 Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals that transmit signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse. TERM 22 Nerve Impulse DEFINITION 22 In physiology, an action potential is a short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. TERM 23 Nervous System DEFINITION 23 The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. TERM 24 NO DEFINITION 24 Nitric Oxide. Plays an important role in physiological processes such as the relaxation of the smooth muscle, which in turn causes vasodilation. TERM 25 Node of Ranvier DEFINITION 25 Myelin sheath gaps or nodes of Ranvier are the gaps (approximately 1 micrometer in length) formed between the myelin sheaths generated by different cells. TERM 26 Noradrenaline DEFINITION 26 Norepinephrine (abbreviated norepi or NE), or noradrenaline (BAN) (abbreviated NA, NAd, or norad), is a catecholamine with multiple roles including as a hormone and a neurotransmitter. the stress hormone basically, responsible for fight or flight, raises heart rate, increases breathing, based in the amygdala etc. TERM 27 Parasympathetic NS DEFINITION 27 One branch of the ANS, responsible for rest and digest. TERM 28 Peripheral NS DEFINITION 28 Consists of the nerves and ganglia outside of the CNS. Responsible for connecting the CNS to organs. TERM 29 Potassium DEFINITION 29 Important for neuron functions, and also maintains osmotic balance within cells. TERM 30 Repolarization DEFINITION 30 In neuroscience, repolarization refers to the change in membrane potential that returns the membrane potential to a negative value after the depolarization phase of an action potential has just previously changed the membrane potential to a positive value; the repolarization phase usually returns the membrane potential back to the resting membrane potential. TERM 31 Sensory Neurons DEFINITION 31 Sensory neurons are typically classified as the neurons responsible for converting various external stimuli that comes from the environment into corresponding internal stimuli. TERM 32 Serotonin DEFINITION 32 Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from tryptophan, serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system (CNS) of animals including humans. Thought to be related to feelings of "happiness" in humans. Also acts as a growth factor and vasoconstrictor. TERM 33 Skeletal Muscle DEFINITION 33 Skeletal muscle is a form of striated muscle tissue existing under control of the somatic nervous system; that is to say, it is voluntarily controlled. TERM 34 Smooth Muscle DEFINITION 34 Smooth muscle is an involuntary non-striated muscle. It is divided into two sub-groups; the single-unit and multiunit smooth muscle. TERM 35 Sodium DEFINITION 35 Regulates blood volume, blood pressure, osmotic equilibrium, and pH. TERM 46 White Matter DEFINITION 46 White matter is one of the two components of the central nervous system and consists mostly of glial cells and myelinated axons that transmit signals from one region of the cerebrum to another and between the cerebrum and lower brain centers. TERM 47 Cerebrum DEFINITION 47 The cerebrum or telencephalon, together with the diencephalon, constitutes the forebrain. In humans, the cerebrum is the most superior region of the vertebrate central nervous system. Responsible for voluntary actions. TERM 48 Forebrain DEFINITION 48 In the anatomy of the brain of vertebrates, the prosencephalon is the rostral-most (forward-most) portion of the brain. Consists of the parts that control autonomic functions, such as the thalamus and hypothalamus, and cerebrum. TERM 49 Frontal Lobe DEFINITION 49 The frontal lobe is an area in the brain of mammals, located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere and positioned anterior to the parietal lobe and superior and anterior to the temporal lobes. TERM 50 Hippocampus DEFINITION 50 The hippocampus is a major component of the brains of humans and other vertebrates. It belongs to the limbic system and plays important roles in the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory and spatial navigation. TERM 51 Hind Brain DEFINITION 51 The rhombencephalon is a developmental categorization of portions of the central nervous system in vertebrates. Contains pons and cerebellum. TERM 52 Hypothalamus DEFINITION 52 The hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions. Regulates autonomic functions, as well as linking the nervous system and endocrine system together with the pituitary gland. TERM 53 Limbic System DEFINITION 53 The limbic system is a set of brain structures, including the hippocampus, amygdalae, anterior thalamic nuclei, septum, limbic cortex and fornix, which seemingly support a variety of functions including emotion, behavior, motivation, long- term memory, and olfaction. TERM 54 Medulla Oblongata DEFINITION 54 The medulla oblongata is the lower half of the brainstem. In discussions of neurology and similar contexts where no ambiguity will result, it is often referred to as simply the medulla. Controls breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. TERM 55 Mid Brain DEFINITION 55 The midbrain or mesencephalon is a portion of the central nervous system associated with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake, arousal (alertness), and temperature regulation. TERM 56 Occipital Lobe DEFINITION 56 The occipital lobe is the visual processing center of the mammalian brain containing most of the anatomical region of the visual cortex. TERM 57 Olfactory Bulb DEFINITION 57 The olfactory bulb is a structure of the vertebrate forebrain involved in olfaction, the perception of odors. TERM 58 Parietal Lobe DEFINITION 58 The parietal lobe is a part of the brain positioned above the occipital lobe and behind (posterior to) the frontal lobe. Integrates sensory information from different places, determining spatial sense and navigation TERM 59 Pineal Gland DEFINITION 59 The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. Produces melatonine TERM 60 Pituitary Gland DEFINITION 60 In vertebrate anatomy the pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing in humans. Regulates 9 hormones that control homeostasis.