Anatomy / Biology

neurons/nerve cells

basic building block of nervous system (78)

dendrite

branching extension of neuron that receives messages from other cells, and conduct impulses toward cell body (78)

axon

passes messages through branches to other neurons/muscles (78)

myelin sheath

insulating tissue that not only protects axon but enables axon a greater transmission speed as neural impulses go place to place (78)

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps between neurons (80)

endorphins

natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure (82)

hormones

another form of neurotransmitters; travels thru bloodstream + affects other tissues (90)

nervous system (NS)

body’s speedy, electrochemical, communication network which consists of all nerve cells of PNS (peripheral) and CNS (central) (86)

central nervous system (CNS)

brain and spinal cord, body’s decision maker (86)

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

sensory + motor neurons that connect CNS to rest of body (nerves), responsible for gathering info + transmitting CNS decisions to body parts (86)

nerves

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electrical cables formed of bundles of axons, linking CNS decision to other body parts (86)

sensory/afferent neurons

carry INCOMING info from sensory receptors to CNS (86)

interneurons

take message from sensory neurons to the motor neuron / neurons within CNS that communicate internally and intervene btwn sensory INPUTS and motor OUTPUTS (87)

motor/efferent neurons

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take info from brain to rest of body / carry OUTGOING info from CNS to muscles + glands (87)

somatic/skeletal nervous system

enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles (87)

autonomic nervous system

self regulating, controls glands + muscles of internal organs (87) ex. breathing, heartbeat, digesting

sympathetic nervous system

arouses body + mobilize energy in stressful situation (87) (hyper gf)

parasympathetic nervous system

calms body + conserves energy (87) (calm bf)

endocrine system

body’s chemical communication system, includes glands that secrete hormones into body (90) travels a bit more slowly than nervous system (NS)

adrenal glands

endocrine glands that secrete (nor)epinephrine hormones that help arouse body in stressful/threatening situations (91)

pituitary glands

regulates growth + controls other endocrine glands-- top leader gland of endocrine system, but is influenced by hypothalamus (91)

ventricles (i dont think this vocab is important tho)

fluid-filled brain areas (95)

brainstem

central core of brain, responsible for automatic survival functions (starts where spinal cord swells when enters skull) (97)

medulla

controls heartbeat + breathing (located at base of brainstem) (97)

pons

helps coordinate movements (above medulla) (97)

thalamus

brain’s sensory control center; directs messages to sensory receiving areas (cortex) and transmits replies to cerebellum + medulla (97)

reticular formation

plays important role in relaying info to other brain areas, and controls arousal (travels thru brainstem + thalamus) (98)

cerebellum

coordinates voluntary movements, processes sensory inputs, enables nonverbal + learning memory (located below occipital lobes of brain, lower rear of brain, the hanging BALLS of brain) (98)

limbic system

neural system associated w emotions + drives (located below cerebral hemispheres- the two halves of the brain) (98)

amygdala

emotion-related memory formation (332)

hypothalamus

keeps body in balance, stable internal state (homeostasis), (located under thalamus) linked w emotion + reward, helps govern endocrine system through pituitary gland (clevelandclinic.org)

cerebral cortex

body’s ultimate control and info processing center, made up of interconnected neural cells (104)

cerebrum/cerebral hemispheres

85% of brain’s weight, includes both L + R hemisphere (104)

glial cells (glia)

cells in nervous system that support, nourish, protect neurons; may also play role in learning + thinking (104)

frontal lobes

involved in speaking, muscle, movement, making plans in judgements (located behind forehead) (105)

parietal lobes

receives sensory input for touch/body position (located at top of/toward read of head) (105)

occipital lobes

includes areas that receive info from visual fields (located at bottom/rear of head) (105)

temporal lobes

includes auditory areas, each receiving info from opposite ears (since brain wired oppositely: L hemisphere for right body, R hemisphere for left body) (105)

motor cortex

controls voluntary movement (located at rear of frontal lobes) (105)

somatosensory cortex

registers + processes body touch and movement sensations (located in front of parietal lobes) (107)

association area

involved in higher mental functions like learning, remembering, thinking, speaking (in cerebral cortex) (109)

corpus callosum

connects cerebrum (two brain hemispheres) + carries messages btwn them (made up of large band of neural fibers) (114)

L hemisphere

primarily responsible for speech, math, logic

R hemisphere

excel in making inferences, helps modulate speech to make meaning clear, facial/emotion recognition, visual perception, recognize patterns

chromosome

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes (23 from egg, 23 from sperm = 46 total) (124)

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes (23 from egg, 23 from sperm = 46 total) (124)

genes

biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes, segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins (124)

genome

complete instructions for making organisms (kinda like recipe) (124)

monozygotic/identical twins

twins who develop from single fertilized egg that splits into two, creating 2 genetically identical organisms (125)

dizygotic/fraternal twins

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs, sharing fetal environment (125)