Nervous, Muscular & Endocrine Systems – Lecture Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key anatomical, physiological, and pathological terms from the lecture notes, useful for exam review.

Spinal nerve

Mixed nerve formed by the union of dorsal and ventral roots at each spinal segment.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges surrounding brain and spinal cord, often infectious in origin.

Subarachnoid space

CSF-filled space where lumbar puncture needles are placed for diagnostic sampling.

C3–C5 spinal segment injury

Damage that can paralyze arms, trunk, legs and impair breathing via diaphragm involvement.

Medulla oblongata

Brain-stem region housing autonomic centers for blood pressure, heart rate and digestion.

Internal carotid & vertebral arteries

Major vessels supplying oxygenated blood to the brain.

Cerebellum

Coordinates posture, balance and rapid adjustments of skeletal muscle activity.

Substantia nigra

Midbrain nucleus that produces dopamine; degeneration leads to Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease

Motor disorder marked by increased muscle tone and tremor due to dopamine deficiency.

Precentral gyrus

Cerebral cortical surface that contains the primary motor cortex.

Occipital lobe

Posterior cerebral lobe dedicated to visual processing.

Wernicke’s aphasia

Language disorder from left temporal-lobe damage; words heard but phrases not understood.

Thyroid hormone (skeletal muscle effect)

Elevated levels stimulate energy use and heat production in muscle fibers.

Slow muscle fibers

Fatigue-resistant fibers prevalent in postural muscles such as the calf.

Fast muscle fibers

Rapid-contracting fibers that dominate muscles requiring quick movements; eye muscles are exclusively fast.

Rectus abdominis

Midline abdominal muscle often cut lateral to linea alba during surgery.

Diaphragm

Primary muscle of quiet breathing; damage severely impairs respiration.

Gluteus maximus

Large posterior thigh/hip muscle used as a preferred adult intramuscular injection site.

Somatic nervous system

Division of the nervous system that controls skeletal muscle contractions.

Synapse

Site of communication between a neuron and another cell.

Microglia

Motile CNS neuroglia that phagocytose debris and pathogens.

Blood-brain barrier

Protective CNS capillary endothelium limiting passage of many blood-borne substances.

Depolarization

Event caused by opening Na⁺ channels in an axonal membrane, making the interior less negative.

Cholinergic receptor (postsynaptic)

Receptor that, when stimulated, allows Na⁺ influx to excite the neuron.

Spinal nerves (functional type)

Mixed nerves containing both sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) fibers.

Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)

Cranial nerve carrying sensations of hearing and balance.

Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Cranial nerve numbed for mandibular dental anesthesia; conveys facial pain and touch.

Baroreceptors

Stretch receptors in the aorta (and carotid sinuses) that monitor blood pressure.

Sympathetic activation

Fight-or-flight response causing elevated HR, BP, glucose and sweating.

Reticular activating system (RAS)

Brain-stem network that maintains consciousness and alertness.

Neuron regeneration limit

Most CNS neurons lose the ability to divide and replace themselves during development.

Lens accommodation

Process in which the eye’s lens changes shape to focus light on photoreceptors.

Fovea

Central retinal area containing only cones; region of highest visual acuity.

Iris

Pigmented muscular ring that regulates the amount of light entering the eye.

Optic disc

Blind spot on retina where optic nerve exits; lacks photoreceptors.

Middle ear

Air-filled cavity that receives sound via tympanic membrane and contains auditory ossicles.

Auditory (Eustachian) tube

Passage connecting middle ear to nasopharynx, equalizing air pressure.

Tympanic membrane

Eardrum; converts sound waves into mechanical vibrations.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Posterior pituitary hormone that increases renal water reabsorption.

Oxytocin

Hypothalamic peptide promoting uterine and prostate contractions and milk ejection.

Diabetes mellitus (untreated)

Condition with hyperglycemia, glucosuria, polyuria and excessive thirst.

Thymosin

Thymic hormone that promotes T-cell maturation for immune competence.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Kidney hormone that increases the production of red blood cells.