exam 1 - the brain & neuroanatomy

encephalization quotient

shows the positive correlation between body weight and brain size/weight

how do genes affect the brain?

they code for “indirect factors” to influence larger-scale processes; proteins can affect neuron growth, death, type

nerve growth factor (ngf)

type of protein that regulates growth, survival, and proliferation of neurons

sonic hedgehog protein

type of protein that regulates tissue patterning and growth, especially during embryonic development

cell adhesion molecules (CAMs)

facilitate cell adhesion, allowing neurons to bind together

Huntington’s disease

a hereditary disease involving restless movements; arises from a mutation in the Huntingtin gene that causes abnormal and ineffective proteins to build up & kill nerve cells

dorsal is also known as

superior

ventral is also known as

inferior

anterior is also known as

rostral

posterior is also known as

caudal

a sagittal section of the brain results from

slicing vertically right between the eyes

a coronal section (frontal) of the brain results from

slicing vertically, splitting the front frm the back

a horizontal (axial) section of the brain results from

slicing horizontally, splitting the top from the bottom

dorsal vs ventral depends on the position of _, which varies between two and four-legged organisms

the neuraxis

the nervous system is separated into

the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

nerves are composed of

groups of neurons bundled together, allowing long-scale communication

ganglion

a bundle of nerve cell bodies (nerve) found in the peripheral nervous system

nuclei

a bundle of nerve cell bodies (nerve) found in the central nervous system

afferent nerves

are sensory and receive sensory input from the periphery to deliver to the brain

efferent

are motor and carry output from the brain to the periphery

somatic nervous system

voluntary system - communicates with sense organs (ex. eyes, nose, ears) and involves motor commands; includes afferent (sensory input) and efferent (motor output) branches

autonomic nervous system

involuntary system - communicates with internal organs and involves glands; includes sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

sympathetic nervous system

responsible for arousal, fight-or-flight, etc. (ex. increasing heartbeat, inhibit activity of stomach, stimulate release of glucose)

parasympathetic nervous system

“rest and digest” system (ex. increase activity of stomach and intestines, slow heartbeat, constrict pupils)

the central nervous system is made up of

the brain and spinal cord

the spinal cord is responsible for

1. receiving sensory input from the periphery and sending it to the brain

2. receiving motor output from the brain and sending it to the periphery

Bell-Magendie law

spinal nerve roots conduct impulses in one direction; dorsal nerves convey sensory input from the periphery to the vertebrae, while ventral nerves carry motor output out towards the muscles

case study - Christopher Reeve

sustained injury in C2 vertebrae —> paralysis from head-down. implication: spinal cord injury’s location correlates with how much is paralyzed; no sensory/motor info is exchanged beyond those areas