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General Biology: Nervous System and Brain Functions

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Termini in questo insieme (31)

  • Cerebrum
    The largest part of the brain responsible for voluntary activities, sensory perception, and higher cognitive functions.
  • Somatic vs. Autonomic Neurons
    Somatic neurons control voluntary movements; autonomic neurons regulate involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion.
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
    A neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis.
  • Divergence in Neural Pathways
    A single neuron sends signals to multiple neurons, amplifying the signal.
  • Pons
    Part of the brainstem that relays signals between the cerebrum and cerebellum and regulates breathing.
  • Sensory vs. Motor Neurons
    Sensory neurons carry signals to the CNS; motor neurons carry signals from the CNS to muscles or glands.
  • Graded Potentials
    Changes in membrane potential that vary in size; can lead to an action potential if threshold is reached.
  • Action Potential
    A rapid, all-or-none electrical impulse that travels along a neuron when threshold is reached.
  • Membrane Potential
    The voltage difference across a cell membrane due to ion distribution.
  • Threshold
    The membrane potential level that must be reached to trigger an action potential.
  • Hyperpolarization
    An increase in membrane potential making the inside more negative than the resting potential.
  • Blood-Brain Barrier
    A selective barrier that protects the brain by preventing many substances in the blood from entering brain tissue.
  • Medulla Oblongata
    Brainstem region controlling vital autonomic functions like heartbeat and breathing.
  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) vs. Central Nervous System (CNS)
    CNS includes brain and spinal cord; PNS includes all nerves outside the CNS.
  • Short-term vs. Long-term Memory
    Short-term memory holds information briefly; long-term memory stores information for extended periods.
  • Interneurons
    Neurons that connect sensory and motor neurons within the CNS.
  • Hypothalamus
    Brain region that regulates homeostasis, including temperature, hunger, and hormone release.
  • Myelin Sheath
    Insulating layer around axons that speeds up electrical signal transmission.
  • Absolute Refractory Period
    Time during which a neuron cannot fire another action potential, ensuring one-way signal propagation.
  • Synaptic Cleft
    The small gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals.
  • Cranial Nerves
    Twelve pairs of nerves that emerge directly from the brain to control head and neck functions.
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
    An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, disrupting nerve signals.
  • Synaptic Vesicles
    Membrane-bound sacs in the presynaptic neuron that store neurotransmitters.
  • Spinal Nerves: Dorsal and Ventral Roots
    Dorsal roots carry sensory information to the spinal cord; ventral roots carry motor commands away.
  • Norepinephrine
    A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, alertness, and the fight-or-flight response.
  • Acetylcholine
    A neurotransmitter important for muscle activation and memory functions.
  • Stages of Sleep
    Sleep cycles include REM and non-REM stages, important for memory consolidation and body restoration.
  • Limbic System
    Brain structures involved in emotion, motivation, and memory.
  • Synaptic Transmission Steps
    Action potential arrives → synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitters → neurotransmitters bind receptors → signal transmitted.
  • Spinal Reflex
    An automatic response to a stimulus, such as withdrawing a foot from pain, processed by the spinal cord without brain input.
  • Importance of Sleep
    Sleep supports memory, immune function, and overall health; deprivation impairs cognitive and physical performance.