SA: Chapter 4 ~ The Nervous System

The process of maintaining our internal environment within certain limits is called ___.

homeostasis

In addition to neurons, the brain contains an even larger number of another cell type known as ___.

glia

Which of these is NOT one of the four important regions found in every neuron?

-cell body

-dendrites

-axon

-glia

glia

Gated ion channels for sodium and potassium open and close in rapid succession, causing the neuron to depolarize and then return to its normal resting level, during each ___.

action potential

Cocaine selectively blocks Na+ (sodium) channels, which is the mechanism that leads to ___.

local anesthetic effects

The disease ___ results from a loss of myelin wrappings.

multiple sclerosis

Parasympathetic and sympathetic refer to the two branches of the ___.

autonomic nervous system

Parkinson's disease produces tremors and muscular rigidity because of damage to ___.

dopamine neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway

The neurotransmitter at the end organ of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system is ___.

norepinephrine

The ___ is an important link between the brain and the pituitary gland, and is involved in feeding, drinking, temperature regulation and sexual behavior.

hypothalmus

Neural centers controlling vomiting and respiration are found in the ___.

Brain stem

Which chemical pathway appears to be important both in some types of psychotic behavior and in the reinforcing properties of various drugs?

mesolimbic dopamine pathway

Weight control, aggression, impassivity and psychological depression have all been associated with ___.

serotonin pathways

Natural chemicals in the brain that produce effects similar to those of morphine and other opium-derived drugs are called ___.

endorphins

The process in which enzymes within neurons convert precursors into neurotransmitter molecules is called ___.

synthesis

Neurotransmitter molecules are released into the small space between two neurons called the ___.

synapse

Specialized structures that recognize neurotransmitter molecules and when activated may cause a change in the electrical activity of the neuron, are called ___.

receptors

Which of the following neurotransmitters is found in most parts of the brain and is considered inhibitory?

GABA

Whether the effect of a neurotransmitter is excitatory or inhibitory depends on ___.

the type of receptor

Drugs can effect neurotransmitter systems in two main ways: either by altering the availability of the neurotransmitter in the synapse, or by ___.

acting directly on the receptors

Suppose you wanted to prescribe a hypothetical drug that would have an overall excitatory effect on the nervous system. Which would you choose?

-a glutamate metabolizer

-a dopamine metabolizer

-a GABA antagonist

-a norepinephrine antagonist

a GABA antagonist

The brain imaging technique that involves injection of radioactive chemicals in order to measure brain function is called ___.

positron emission tomography (PET)