Lab 4: The Nervous System

Vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from the lecture on the nervous system.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Composed of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for integrating sensory information and controlling responses.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Includes cranial and spinal nerves that transmit information between the CNS and the rest of the body.

Myelin Sheath

A whitish, fatty material covering axons; produced by Schwann cells in the PNS and oligodendrocytes in the CNS.

Gray Matter

The outer layer of the cerebral cortex composed mainly of neuron cell bodies.

White Matter

Fiber tracts located deep to the gray matter in the brain, consisting of myelinated axons.

Thalamus

Acts as a relay station for sensory information going to the cerebral cortex, except for smell.

Hypothalamus

Major center for homeostasis, regulating functions such as hormone secretion, hunger, thirst, and body temperature.

Autonomic Nervous System

Regulates involuntary bodily functions and consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that conserves energy and promotes 'rest and digest' activities.

Reflex Arc

The neural pathway that mediates a reflex action, consisting of a receptor, sensory neuron, interneuron, motor neuron, and effector.

Cerebellum

Responsible for adjusting posture, maintaining balance, and fine-tuning voluntary movements.

Cranial Nerves

Twelve pairs of nerves that originate from the brain and are responsible for sensory and motor functions in the head and neck.

Dura Mater

The tough outermost layer of the meninges that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

Arachnoid Mater

The middle layer of the meninges, characterized by web-like structures that span the subarachnoid space.

Pia Mater

The innermost layer of the meninges, adhering closely to the surface of the brain.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the cerebrum composed of gray matter, involved in high-level brain functions.

Hemispheric Lateralization

The specialization of the left and right hemispheres of the brain for different tasks, such as verbal/language skills in the left and spatial abilities in the right.

Spinal Cord

A nerve column that runs from the brain and is responsible for transmitting information between the brain and the body.

Dermatome

An area of skin supplied by a specific spinal nerve, used to assess sensory function.