Biol 216 Neuron/Nervous System Unit

ependymal

makes cerebrospinal fluid

microglia

ingests and breaks down pathogens and waste in central nervous system

astrocytes

cover surface of blood vessels in the central nervous system. structural support, maintains concentrations in interstitial fluid

satellite

cover surface of blood vessels in peripheral nervous system. structural support and maintains fluid concentrations.

schwann

form myelin sheaths in peripheral nervous system

oligodendrolyte

form myelin sheaths in central nervous system

node of ranvier

gaps in myelin sheaths, determine the speed of the rate of impulse

acetylcholine

between muscle and nerves, in brain in heart

degeneration of neurons releasing this is associated with Alzheimer’s

GABA

inhibitor of neurotransmission; opens Cl- channels on post synaptic membrane

glycine

inhibitor of neurotransmission

glutamate

involved with memory and learning, generally excitatory

norepinephrine and epinephrine

hormones and neurotransmitters derived from tyrosine

attention and mental focus

excitatory or inhibitory, involved in pleasure/reward pathway, motor control

dopamine

voluntary movement, motivation and reward, inhibition of prolactin production, sleep, mood, attention, learning

parkinson’s: degeneration of cells releasing this in the substantia nigra, loss of muscle control

serotonin

derived from tryptophan

regulates intestinal movement, involved with mood, appetite, sleep

which neurotransmitters are neuropeptides?

endorphins and enkephalins

endorphins

released during pleasurable experiences, reduce perception of pain, works in peripheral nervous system

enkephalins

works in central nervous system, modulate pain response. a kind of endorphin

substance P

released by the spinal cord, increases perception of pain

NO

involved in learning, muscle movement, relaxes smooth muscle in blood vessels, vasodilation

CO

regulates release of hormones from hypothalamus

SSRI

inhibits serotonin uptake, antidepressant

SSNRI

inhibits serotonin and norepinephrine uptake, antidepressant

ganglia

functional cluster of neurons

cadherins

Ca dependent adhesion molecules

blood brain barrier

keeps large molecules from passing into fluids surrounding the brain. facilitates intake of metabolic molecules but blocks pathogens from entering. alcohol, CO2, anesthesia, and glucose can pass through. 

meninges

layers of connective tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. provides support for blood vessels

pia

innermost layer of the meninges

arachnoid

middle layer of the meninges

dura mater

outermost layer of the meninges

Cerebrospinal fluid

produced by choroid plexus. found in the brain and spinal cord. circulates nutrients, chemicals, and removes waste. in subarachnoid space and ventricular system.

protects brain from hitting the cranium and adds buoyancy and support against gravity. lets brain attain a decent size without sinking onto the floor

ventricular system

cavities within the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid. two lateral, 3rd, 4th ventricles. increase in volumes occur in Alzheimer’s

left forebrain

details, math, language, right body movement and sensory information

right forebrain

broad background, intuition, music, art, lateralization, left body movement and sensory information

cerebral cortex

outermost layer of grey matter with folds, involved in cognitive functions

primary somatosensory area

receive and integrates sensory info

primary motor area

planning, control, executes voluntary movement

association areas

integrates sensory info, responds, sends response to motor area

frontal lobe

involved in executive functions

parietal lobe

perception and integration of stimulus from the senses

occipital lobe

vision

temporal

smell, sound, forms and stores memories

cerebellum

coordinate and refine body movement, comparative function, controls voluntary movement

brain stem

connects forebrain with spinal cord, involved in vital functions

midbrain

smallest region of the brain stem, relay station of audio and visual information, eye movement

ventral tegmental area

produces dopamine and serotonin, pleasure pathway/ reward circuit

substantia nigra

control of body movement, produces dopamine, degeneration associated with Parkinson’s

reticular formation

brain stem network of neurons, connect thalamus to spinal cord, integrate and filters incoming info

ascending reticular formation

sends stimulating signal to activate cerebral cortex, different levels of alertness and consciousness, filter out irrelevant information, abnormalities result in a coma

descending reticular formation

gets info from hypothalamus, connect with interneurons of spinal cord that control skeletal muscle contraction

thalamus

relay signal from special senses and motor neurons

hypothalamus

makes and secretes hormones, links nervous system to endocrine system via pituitary gland

pituitary gland

regulates body temp, hinger, thirst, fatigue, circadian cycle, monitors osmotic balance of blood

basal nuclei

group of nuclei that act as a cohesive functional unit, surrounds thalamus, involved in voluntary movement

limbic system

functional network, “emotional brain”

amygdala

responsible for emotion and fear

hippocampus

responsible for consolidating info from short term memory and integrating it into long term memory, spatial navigation, first to suffer in Alzheimer’s

olfactory bulb

smell

sympathetic system

fight/flight response

parasympathetic system

rest/digest, housekeeping functions

somatic system

voluntary movement, motor neurons

vagus nerve

conveys sensory info about state of body’s organs

broca’s area

expresses language, coordinates lips, tongue, and jaw, initiate movement for speech, if damaged a person cannot speak well

wernicke’s area

understand and formulate coherent speech, if damaged a person can speak but makes no sense

autonomic nervous system

controls unconscious functions, divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic