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Nervous System Anatomy & Physiology Study Guide

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Terms in this set (100)

  • Approximate number of neurons in the human brain
    About 20 billion neurons.
  • Structure separating the left and right cerebral hemispheres
    The longitudinal fissure.
  • Grooves on the surface of the brain
    Called sulci.
  • Ridges on the surface of the brain
    Called gyri.
  • Brain region responsible for conscious thought and memory
    The cerebrum.
  • Brain region that processes sensory information before the cerebrum
    The thalamus.
  • Structure regulating emotions, autonomic functions, and hormone production
    The hypothalamus.
  • Brain structure coordinating complex motor patterns and balance
    The cerebellum.
  • Part of the brainstem controlling heart rate and breathing
    The medulla oblongata.
  • Function of the pons
    Relays signals between brain regions.
  • Another name for the midbrain
    The mesencephalon.
  • Four fluid-filled cavities in the brain
    Called ventricles.
  • Fluid filling the brain ventricles
    Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
  • Structure producing cerebrospinal fluid
    The choroid plexus.
  • Frequency of cerebrospinal fluid replacement
    About every 8 hours.
  • Three layers of the cranial meninges
    Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.
  • Outermost meningeal layer
    The dura mater.
  • Meningeal layer directly covering the brain surface
    The pia mater.
  • Function of the blood-brain barrier
    Protects the brain from harmful substances.
  • Artery supplying arterial blood to the brain
    The internal carotid arteries.
  • Structure connecting the left and right cerebral hemispheres
    The corpus callosum.
  • Lobe processing visual information
    The occipital lobe.
  • Lobe processing auditory information
    The temporal lobe.
  • Lobe controlling voluntary skeletal muscle movement
    The frontal lobe.
  • Lobe processing touch and pressure sensations
    The parietal lobe.
  • Function of the hippocampus
    Memory formation.
  • Structure processing emotions such as fear and aggression
    The amygdala.
  • Brain structure containing the pineal gland
    The epithalamus.
  • Hormone produced by the pineal gland
    Melatonin.
  • Brain structure regulating body temperature and thirst
    The hypothalamus.
  • Structure connecting hypothalamus to pituitary gland
    The infundibulum.
  • Definition of ataxia
    Loss of coordination.
  • Brain part monitoring proprioceptive input to coordinate movement
    The cerebellum.
  • Brain area responsible for speech production
    Broca’s area.
  • Brain region responsible for understanding language
    Wernicke’s area.
  • Number of pairs of cranial nerves
    12 pairs.
  • Numbering system for cranial nerves
    Roman numerals.
  • Cranial nerve responsible for smell
    Olfactory nerve (I).
  • Cranial nerve responsible for vision
    Optic nerve (II).
  • Cranial nerve controlling most eye movements
    Oculomotor nerve (III).
  • Cranial nerve controlling the superior oblique eye muscle
    Trochlear nerve (IV).
  • Cranial nerve responsible for facial expressions
    Facial nerve (VII).
  • Cranial nerve responsible for hearing and balance
    Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII).
  • Cranial nerve controlling swallowing and taste from the tongue
    Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX).
  • Cranial nerve controlling organs in thoracic and abdominal cavities
    Vagus nerve (X).
  • Cranial nerve controlling sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles
    Accessory nerve (XI).
  • Cranial nerve controlling tongue movement
    Hypoglossal nerve (XII).
  • Origin of cranial nerves
    The brain.
  • Cranial nerve carrying parasympathetic signals to most visceral organs
    Vagus nerve.
  • Type of nerve the facial nerve is
    Mixed (sensory and motor).
  • Does the autonomic nervous system control voluntary or involuntary functions?
    Involuntary functions.
  • Two divisions of the autonomic nervous system
    Sympathetic and parasympathetic.
  • Division known as the 'fight-or-flight' system
    Sympathetic division.
  • Division known as the 'rest-and-digest' system
    Parasympathetic division.
  • Neurotransmitter released by most sympathetic postganglionic neurons
    Norepinephrine.
  • Neurotransmitter released by parasympathetic neurons
    Acetylcholine.
  • Spinal segments where sympathetic division originates
    T1–L2.
  • Cranial nerves where parasympathetic division originates
    III, VII, IX, X.
  • Cranial nerve providing most parasympathetic output
    Vagus nerve.
  • Groups of neuron cell bodies outside the CNS
    Ganglia.
  • Two neurons in an autonomic pathway
    Preganglionic and postganglionic neurons.
  • Fiber connecting CNS to the ganglion
    Preganglionic fiber.
  • Fiber connecting ganglion to the target organ
    Postganglionic fiber.
  • Structures located on both sides of vertebral column in sympathetic division
    Sympathetic chain ganglia.
  • Hormones released by the adrenal medulla
    Epinephrine and norepinephrine.
  • Receptors responding to norepinephrine in sympathetic pathways
    Adrenergic receptors.
  • Main function of the parasympathetic nervous system
    Conserving energy and digestion.
  • Effect of parasympathetic stimulation on heart rate
    Decreases heart rate.
  • Effect of parasympathetic stimulation on digestion
    Increases digestion.
  • Effect of sympathetic stimulation on metabolism
    Increases metabolism.
  • Type of reflex involving CNS in processing sensory input
    Long reflex.
  • Reflex bypassing CNS and occurring in ganglia
    Short reflex.
  • Parasympathetic stimulation is usually localized or widespread?
    Localized.
  • Enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine
    Acetylcholinesterase.
  • Sacral segments where parasympathetic fibers leave the spinal cord
    S2–S4.
  • Difference between sensation and perception
    Sensation is detection; perception is awareness.
  • Receptors that detect pain
    Nociceptors.
  • Receptors detecting temperature changes
    Thermoreceptors.
  • Receptors responding to mechanical distortion of membranes
    Mechanoreceptors.
  • Receptors detecting chemical changes in body fluids
    Chemoreceptors.
  • Receptors detecting body position
    Proprioceptors.
  • Area monitored by a single receptor
    Receptive field.
  • Term describing decreased sensitivity to constant stimuli
    Adaptation.
  • The five special senses
    Vision, hearing, taste, smell, equilibrium.
  • Location of olfactory receptors
    Olfactory epithelium.
  • Structure carrying smell signals to the brain
    Olfactory nerve.
  • Location of taste receptors
    Tongue.
  • Structures containing taste receptors
    Taste buds.
  • Typical lifespan of gustatory cells
    7–10 days.
  • Inner ear structures detecting rotation of the head
    Semicircular canals.
  • Structures detecting gravity and linear acceleration
    Utricle and saccule.
  • Structure in cochlea containing hearing receptors
    Organ of Corti.
  • Cranial nerve carrying hearing signals to the brain
    Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII).
  • Membrane vibrating when sound enters the ear
    Tympanic membrane.
  • Three bones amplifying sound vibrations in the middle ear
    Malleus, incus, stapes.
  • Part of the retina providing the sharpest vision
    Fovea centralis.
  • Photoreceptors allowing vision in dim light
    Rods.
  • Photoreceptors allowing color vision
    Cones.
  • Structure of the eye focusing light onto the retina
    Lens.
  • Condition when the retina separates from underlying tissue
    Detached retina.