Human Anatomy & Physiology I: The Brain & Autonomic Nervous System

This set of flashcards includes key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on the brain and the autonomic nervous system, assisting in understanding and remembering critical terms and their definitions.

Diencephalon

A part of the brain that includes the thalamus and hypothalamus.

Telencephalon

The largest part of the brain that includes the cerebral hemispheres.

Cerebellum

The part of the brain responsible for muscle coordination and balance.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain that is divided into left and right hemispheres.

Central sulcus

A prominent landmark of the brain separating the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe.

Alzheimer's disease

A neurological condition characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline.

Neurons

The basic functional unit of the nervous system responsible for transmitting information.

Hippocampus

A brain structure involved in memory formation.

Amygdala

A brain structure involved in emotion regulation and response.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions in the body.

Sympathetic nervous system

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for 'fight or flight' responses.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for 'rest and digest' functions.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to adapt and reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.

Lateral sulcus

Also known as the Sylvian fissure, it separates the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes.

Cortex

The outer layer of the brain, involved in many high-level functions.

Thalamus

A brain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory signals.

Hypothalamus

A brain region that regulates many homeostatic functions including hunger and temperature.

Limbic system

A complex system of structures involved in emotions and memory.

Optic vesicle

A key structure in the early development of the eye.

Cerebral lateralization

The specialization of certain functions in either the left or right hemisphere of the brain.

Motor cortex

The region of the brain responsible for planning and executing movement.

Sleep cycle

The repeated pattern of various stages of sleep throughout the night.

REM sleep

A sleep stage characterized by rapid eye movement and vivid dreaming.

EEG (electroencephalogram)

A test that measures electrical activity in the brain.

Emotional regulation

The ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences.

Cognition

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding.

Neurodegeneration

The gradual loss of function or structure of neurons.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

A clear fluid found in the brain and spinal cord that provides cushioning.

Principal neurons

The primary information-processing cells in the brain.

Polysynaptic reflex

A reflex pathway with multiple synapses.

Vascular supply

The blood flow that supplies the brain and its functions.

White matter

The part of the brain made up of myelinated axons.

Gray matter

The region in the brain that contains most of the brain's neuronal cell bodies.

Oligodendrocytes

Glial cells that form the myelin sheath around neurons in the central nervous system.

Pons

A part of the brainstem involved in regulating sleep and relaying signals between the cerebrum and cerebellum.

Medulla oblongata

The part of the brainstem that controls involuntary functions like breathing and heart rate.

Corticospinal tract

A major neural pathway that transmits motor signals from the brain to the spinal cord.

Sensory receptors

Specialized cells that detect and respond to sensory stimuli.

Heart rate variability

The variation in time interval between heartbeats, reflecting autonomic nervous system activity.

Decussation of the pyramids

The crossing over of motor fibers from one side of the brain to the other.

Basal nuclei

Clusters of nuclei involved in the control of movement.

Choroid plexus

A structure in the ventricles of the brain that produces cerebrospinal fluid.

Somatic nervous system

The part of the peripheral nervous system associated with voluntary control of body movements.

Fight or flight response

The body's acute stress response, preparing it to confront or flee from perceived danger.

Cranial nerves

Nerves that emerge directly from the brain and brainstem.

Visceral reflexes

Reflex actions that are mediated by the autonomic nervous system and involve internal organs.

Gastrointestinal activity

Processes of digestion and absorption that occur in the digestive tract.

Afferent pathways

Nerve pathways that carry sensory information to the central nervous system.

Efferent pathways

Nerve pathways that carry motor commands from the central nervous system to effectors.

Neural integration

The process by which multiple neural signals are processed together.