AP physics unit 2

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

autonomic and somatic nervous systems

the neuron

cell that sends and receives messages within that system

dendrites

branch like structures that receives messages from other neurons

soma

cell body for the neuron responsible for maintaining the life of the neuron

axon

carries messages to other cells

myelin

substance coating the axon to insulate, protect and speed up the neural impulse

nerves

bundles of axons coated in myelin that travel through the body

resting potential

the state of a neuron not firing

action potential

release of the neural impulse consisting of a reversal of the electrical charge in the axon

axon terminals

branches at the end of a axon

synaptic knob

rounded areas at the end of axon terminals

synaptic vesicles

found inside synaptic knob containing chemicals

neurotransmitter

chemical in vesicles that when release has an effect on the next cell

synapse

microscopic fluid filled space between knob of one cell and dendrites of the next

receptor sites

holed inssurface of dendrites which are shaped to fit certain neurorransm

excitator synapse

synapse where neurotransmirrer causes recieveing cell to fire

inhibitory synapse

synapse where neurotransmitter causes receiving cell to stop firing

reuptake

process where neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles

enzymes

break down neurotransmitters

acetyicholine

enables muscles action, learning and memory (voluntrary muscle contraction and alzheimers’s)

dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention and emotion

serotonin

affects mood, hunger sleep and arousal

norepinephrine

helps control altetrness, arousal and mood

GABA

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in sleep

glutamine

a major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory learning and nervous system developement

endorphins

inhibitory neural regulators involved in pain relief

afferent(sensory)

messages from senses to spinal cord

efferent(motor)

carry messages from spinal cord to muscles and glands

interneurons

connect the two

neuroplacicity

ability of the brain to change structure and function of cells in result to major trauma

somatic

carry info from senses to CNS sensory pathway and the sends messages to the muscles the motor pathway

sympathetic

prepares body for emergencies or strenuous activity (flight)

parasympathertic

works to conserve energy and enhance the body’s ability to recover (fight)

MRI

produces detailed images of the brain

PET

radioactive sugar is injected into the subject and computer provides color coded image of the activity of the brain

medulla

top of spinal cord and lowest part of the Brian responsivbe for life sustaining functions like breathing swallowing and heart rate

pons

bridge between the lower ad upper parts of the brain plays a role in sleep dreaming and coordination

recticular formations

neurons in middle of medulla and pons plays a role in arousal, alterness and sleep

cerebelleum

part of the lower brain that coordinates involuntary, rapid and fine motor movement

limbic system

inner margin of the margin of the upper brain

thalamus

relays sensory info from lower part of the Brain to the cortex

hippocampus

responsible for formation and storage of long term memories

hypothalamus

responsible for motivational behavior

amygdala

responsible for fear responses

cortext

outer most part of the brain responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory outputs

occipital lobe

back, processes visual information

parietal lobe

top and back, processes info from the skin and internal body touch and temp

temporal lobe

contains area most involved in language

frontal lobe

gigher mental functions of the Brain planning, personality, memory and descisi8on making

brocas area

left frontal love devoted to the area of speech

wernickas area

left temporal love involved in understanding meaning of words

endocrine glands

secrete chemicals call hormones into bloodstream(hormones affect behavior)

piituitary gland

master gland secretes human growth hormone and influences all other glands

pineal gland

secretes melatonin influences sleep

thyroid gland

regulates metabolism through thuroxin

pancreas

controls blood sugar by secreting insulin

adrenal glands

on kidneys, secretes 30 different hormones

left

understanding

right

creating