BIO 168 Anatomy and Physiology I: Nervous System and Muscular System Concepts

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and definitions for the Nervous and Muscular Systems as outlined in the lecture notes.

Nerve

A bundle of fibers that transmits electrical impulses throughout the body.

Tract

A bundle of axons in the central nervous system that connects different regions.

Ganglion

A collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.

Nucleus

A collection of nerve cell bodies in the central nervous system.

White Matter

Area of the nervous system consisting primarily of myelinated axons; found deep within the cerebrum.

Gray Matter

Area of the nervous system containing unmyelinated cell bodies; found in the outer layer of the cerebrum.

Cerebral Lobes

Regions of the brain (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital) responsible for different functions.

Thalamus

Brain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory information.

Hypothalamus

Brain region controlling hormones, behavior, and homeostasis.

Cerebellum

Part of the brain that coordinates muscle movement and balance.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Fluid that cushions and nourishes the brain and spinal cord.

Ascending Tracts

Nerve pathways that carry sensory information to the brain.

Descending Tracts

Nerve pathways that carry motor commands from the brain to the body.

Dermatome

An area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve's sensory fibers.

Reflex

An involuntary and instantaneous response to stimuli.

Reflex Arc

The neural pathway involved in reflex actions, typically consisting of five components: receptor, sensory neuron, integration center, motor neuron, and effector.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The part of the nervous system responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions.

Sympathetic Division

The part of the ANS responsible for the fight or flight response.

Parasympathetic Division

The part of the ANS responsible for rest and digestion.

Tendon

A fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone.

Ligament

A fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones.

Origin

The fixed attachment point of a muscle that is usually proximal.

Insertion

The movable attachment point of a muscle that is usually distal.

Antagonist Muscle

A muscle that opposes the action of another muscle.

Trapezius

A muscle in the upper back that stabilizes the shoulder blade and helps in head movement.

Deltoid

The muscle covering the shoulder that is responsible for arm movements.

Gastrocnemius

The calf muscle that flexes the knee and plantarflexes the foot.

Gracilis

A muscle of the inner thigh that adducts the thigh and flexes the knee.

Biceps Brachii

A muscle that flexes the elbow and supinates the forearm.

Tibialis Anterior

A muscle that dorsiflexes and inverts the foot.