chapter 2 key terms

Sensory neurons

Neurons that transmit sensory information from sensory information from sensory receptor cells of the body to the spinal cord or brain for processing

Motor neurons

Neurons that transmit signals of motor movement from theb rain and spinal cord out to the body for volitional and autonomic movement 

Interneurons

Neurones that connect to one another within the brain and are involved in processing information rather than transmitting information

myelin

An insulating layer of protein and fatty substances that forms around the axons of certain neurons and that allows for fast and effective transmission of neural impulses

astrocytes

Starlike shaped glial cells that have multiple function within the nervous system including structural support for neurones assisting in establishing the blood-brain barrier, and maintenance of homeostasis within the central nervous system

schwann cells

Gilal cells that produce myelin for the peripheral system

CNS

The brain and spinal cord

PNS

The nerve tracks outside of the central nervous system that connects the CNS to the rest of the body

Cerebrum

The rounded grey section of the brain with gyri and sulci

Cerebral cortex

The most superficial layer of the cerebrum

gray matter

Unmyelinated neurons responsible for processing and regulating information with the nervous system

White matter

Myelinated neurones specializing in transmitting information over relatively long distance with the body such as from one area of the brain to another or between the brain and the body

Projection fibers

White matter tracks that project from the brain to the spinal cord and transmits motor signals from the CNS out of the PNS and transmit sensory signals from the peripheral nervous system back up through the lower central nervous system to be processed in the brain

Gyri

Rigids on the visible portion of the cerebral cortex

Sulci

Inward folds of the cerebral cortex

Cerebral meninges

Three layers of tissues with various functions that encase envelop the brain and the spinal cord

dura mater

1. A dense fibrosis protective layer of tissue that envelops the brain and spinal cord

2. This is the most superficial layer of the cerebral meninges

arachnoid mater

A layer of tissue of cerebral meninges that exists between the dura mater and the pia mater and plays a large role in supplying blood to the surface of the brain through many blood vessels that it contains

pia mater

The inner most and most delicate layer of the cerebral meninges that hugs the surface of the brain and spinal cord closely as it rises and falls along the gyri, culci, and fissures

choroid plexus

The tissue within the CNS responsible for producing cerebrospinal fluid

longitudinal fissure

A deep groove running front to back along the brain that divides the brian into the left and right cerebral hemisphere

corpus callosum

A mass of white matter tracks located at the base of the longitudinal fissures that connects the analogous areas between the two hemispheres

brocas area

The inferior posterior region of the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere that is a specialized area of the cerebrum responsible for finding and assembling words for the appropriate expression of thought

wernickes area

A specialised portion of the cerebrum located at the superior marginal gyrus of the left hemispheres temporal lobe that is responsible for interpreting deriving meanings from the speech of others

central sulcus

A deep groove that runs down the middle lateral surface of each cerebral hemisphere

lateral sulcus

A deep groove that begins at the lower frontal aspect of each of the two cerebral hemispheres and travels at an upward angle, passes the central sulcus, and then terminates

frontal lobe

Anterior sections of the cerebral hemisphere that are delineated posteriorly by the central sulcus and the inferiorly by the lateral sulcus, and that houses expresses language within the left and deals heavily in motor movement bilaterally

primary motor cortex

A strip of tissue oriented vertically along the last gyrus of each frontal obe that plays a large role in voluntarily motor movements

motor homunculus

A visual illustration of amount of cortical tissue dedicated to the movement of each body part within the primary motor cortex 

parietal lobes

Sections of the cerebrum located posteriorly to the frontal lobe and interiorly to the occipital lobes that are largely responsible for receiving and processing sensory information concerning the body

primary sensory cortex

A section or cortex along the first gyrus of the parietal lobe dedicated to receiving and processing sensory information

sensory homunculus

A visual illustration of amount cortical tissue within the primary sensory cortex dedicated to processing sensory information from each body part

temporal lobes

Sections of the cerebrum inferior to the parietal lobe that are largely responsible for memory and processing auditory stimuli

hippocampus

A region that temporal lobe responsible for storing and creating memories

primary auditory cortex

A region of the cortex located within the temporal lobes responsible for receiving and processing neural impulses related to sound

occipital lobes

The posterior sections of the cerebrum that are dedicated to receiving and processing neural impulses related to vision

primary visual cortex

The most posterior section of the occipital lobe dedicated to receiving neural impulses of visions from the eyes

subcortex

The portion of the brain located beneath the cortex that deals less in reasoning abilities and higher levels cognitions and more in autonomic and life sustaining functions

Brain stem

A subcortical structure that connects the spinal cord to the rest of the brain and houses many structure involves autonomic functions

medulla

The most inferior section of the brainstem that connects the spinal cord to the pons and that is the site of decussation of a large portion of the motor tracks descending through the brain stem

pons

The middle and slightly bulbus portion of the brainstem that provides an attachment between the cerebellum and the rest of the CNS

midbrain

Most superior section of the brainstem that houses the substantia nigra

cerebellum

A subcortical structure hanging off the back of the pons and under the occipital lobe that is known as an error control device for the body movement and that ensures that the body movements are smoothly coordinated and as error free as possible

vermis

The midline grey matter that connects the two cerebellar hemispheres and receives somatosensory information about the body through projection coursing through the pons

thalamus

A subcortical structure rests on top of the brainstem beneath the cerebrum and functions as a relay station for neural impulses of sensations

Basal ganglia

A group of subcortical structures located deep within the cerebral hemispheres on the either side of the thalamus that words to regulate body movement

spinal cord

A bundle of white matter tracks and grey matter housed within the bony vertebral collum that enables afferent (sensory) impulses coming from the body to be transmitted to the brain and efferent (motor) impulses from the brain to the transmitted to the body

circle oef willis

A series of anastomoses that connects the internal carotid and vertebral basilar system that ensures equal blood flows to all areas to the brain and acts as a safety valve occlusion occurs within it or below it

anastomoses

Connections between blood vessels

phrenic nerve

A spinal nerve that provides innervation to the diaphragm 

cranial nerves

Nerves the course between the brain or brainstem in the head, neck, and face and that are either motor/efferent, sensory/afferent, or mixed sensory motor in the function