Nervous System Basics and Brain Structure

These flashcards cover the fundamental concepts of the nervous system, brain structures, and their functions for easier review and memorization.

Neuron

Nerve cell that sends messages; nervous messengers.

Cell Body (Soma)

Life support center of the neuron; support center.

Dendrites

Receive messages from other neurons; detect information.

Axon

Sends messages away from the cell body; away from the soma.

Myelin Sheath

Insulates the axon and speeds up messages; motor way insulation.

Glial Cells

Support cells that hold neurons together; glue for neurons.

Action Potential

Electrical impulse that fires; activation of the neuron.

Threshold

Level that must be reached to fire the neuron; trigger point.

Refractory Period

Pause before the neuron can fire again; recharge time.

All-or-None Response

Neuron either fires fully or not at all; like a light switch.

Synapse

Gap between neurons; space for signal transmission.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that carry signals across the synapse; transmitters.

Reuptake

Neurotransmitters are reabsorbed; return process.

Endorphins

Natural painkillers and feel-good chemicals; linked to euphoria.

Agonist

Increases firing of neurons; activator.

Antagonist

Blocks firing of neurons; anti-activator.

Nervous System

Fast body communication system; nerves for instant communication.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord; core of the nervous system.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

All other nerves in the body; perimeter of the nervous system.

Sensory Neurons

Send information from senses to the brain; senses send in.

Motor Neurons

Send information from the brain to the body; move out.

Interneurons

Connect sensory and motor neurons; in-between neurons.

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements; self-controlled.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary functions like heartbeat; automatic.

Sympathetic NS

Prepares body for fight-or-flight response; arousal system.

Parasympathetic NS

Calms the body down; rest-and-digest system.

Endocrine System

Slow hormone system via bloodstream; hormonal communication.

Adrenal Glands

Release adrenaline in response to stress; adrenaline boosters.

Pituitary Gland

Controls growth and regulates other glands; master gland.

EEG

Records electrical activity of the brain; brain wave monitoring.

CT Scan

3D X-ray of the brain structure; structural imaging.

PET Scan

Shows brain activity based on areas of function; performance imaging.

MRI

Creates detailed brain images to analyze structure; magnetic resonance.

fMRI

Shows both structure and function, including blood flow; functional imaging.

Brainstem

Regulates basic life functions; connects the brain and spine.

Medulla

Controls heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure; essential life functions.

Thalamus

Relay center for all senses except smell; sensory mail center.

Reticular Formation

Regulates arousal and alertness; wakes you up.

Cerebellum

Coordinates balance and fine movement; controlling motor skills.

Limbic System

Emotional control center of the brain; regulates emotions.

Amygdala

Processes fear and anger; emotional responses.

Hypothalamus

Controls hunger, thirst, body temperature, and pleasure; essential needs.

Hippocampus

Responsible for memory formation; memory hub.

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer of the brain responsible for complex functions; gray matter.

Frontal Lobes

Involved in thinking, planning, and control functions; future-oriented.

Parietal Lobes

Processes touch and spatial awareness; physical interaction.

Occipital Lobes

Responsible for vision; processes visual information.

Temporal Lobes

Processes hearing; auditory functions.

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary body movements; movement initiation.

Somatosensory Cortex

Processes sensory information from touch; tactile sensations.

Association Areas

Involved in higher mental functions; connects different types of information.

Plasticity

Brain's ability to reorganize and adapt; flexibility of the neural pathways.

Neurogenesis

The process of forming new neurons in the brain; creating new neural cells.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the two hemispheres of the brain; inter-hemispheric communication.

Split Brain

Condition resulting from cutting the corpus callosum; result of separation.

Contralateral Control

Cross-body control associated with left and right brain communication.

Lateralization

Specialization of brain functions in the left and right hemispheres.

Behavior Genetics

Study of how genetics affect behavior; genes and behavior link.

Chromosomes

Bundles of DNA; genetic coding structures.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the genetic blueprint; design of organisms.

Genes

Units of heredity passed down from parents; basic genetic components.

Genome

Complete set of genetic information; entirety of genetic material.

Epigenetics

How environmental factors influence gene expression; external impacts.

Broca’s Area

Region associated with speech production; speech generation center.

Wernicke’s Area

Region associated with language comprehension; understanding of language.

Visual Cortex

Brain region involved in processing visual information; vision processing center.