The Nervous System Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering neuroanatomy, neurodevelopment, cranial nerves, neurotransmitters, and supporting structures based on lecture notes.

Neuron

A nerve cell found in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system that transmits information through chemical and electrical means, composed of dendrites, soma (body), axon, and terminal.

Glial Cells

Supportive, non-conducting cells in the central nervous system that surround neurons to provide structural support, insulation, repair, development assistance, and metabolic functions.

Astrocytes

Glial cells in the central nervous system that restrict what substances can enter the brain.

Multipolar

Neurons with multiple dendrites and a single axon are which of the following types of nervous cells?

Adipose

Which of the following types of connective tissue contain a relatively high concentration of fat cells

Schwann cells

Which type of glial cells comprise myeline of the nerves in the peripheral nervous system

Microglia

Glial cells in the central nervous system that remove cellular waste and protect against microorganisms.

Oligodendrocytes

Glial cells responsible for forming the myelin sheath around axons in the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Schwann Cells

Glial cells responsible for forming the myelin sheath around axons in the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

Unipolar Neuron

A neuron with a single axon emerging from the cell body that splits into two branches (one to the CNS and one to the PNS) with dendrite-like sensory receptors.

Bipolar Neuron

A neuron with a single dendrite and one axon, found in systems with special senses such as the sensory cochlea, vestibular ganglia, eyes, and nose.

Multipolar Neuron

A neuron with multiple dendrites and a single axon, comprising the majority of neurons in the brain and often serving a motoric function.

Neural Tube

The structure formed at 25 days of gestation when the neural plate thickens and folds in on itself, which subsequently develops into the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Neural Crest

Embryonic tissue formed during neural tube closure that gives rise to the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

Telencephalon

The secondary brain vesicle that gives rise to the adult cerebral hemispheres and lateral ventricles.

Diencephalon

The secondary brain vesicle located deep in the center of the brain that houses the thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, and third ventricle.

Mesencephalon

The midbrain structure surrounding the cerebral aqueduct, containing the corpora quadrigemina and cerebral peduncles.

Metencephalon

The secondary brain vesicle that develops into the pons, cerebellum, and upper part of the fourth ventricle.

Myelencephalon

The caudal secondary brain vesicle that matures into the medulla oblongata and the lower part of the fourth ventricle.

Sympathetic Nervous System

A division of the visceral (autonomic) nervous system that expends energy during body responses to stress in fight or flight responses.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A division of the visceral (autonomic) nervous system responsible for maintaining homeostasis.

Preganglionic Neuron

The first neuron in the autonomic nervous system two-neuron chain, having its cell body in the CNS (brainstem or spinal cord) and synapsing at ganglia in the PNS.

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the PNS that innervates skeletal muscles via motor (efferent) fibers and transmits sensory information (touch, pain, temperature, positioning) via sensory (afferent) fibers.

Commissural Fiber Tracts

White matter fiber tracts that connect corresponding cortical areas between the left and right cerebral hemispheres, such as the corpus callosum and anterior commissure.

Projection Fiber Tracts

White matter fiber tracts establishing vertical connections between higher and lower parts of the Central Nervous System.

Association Fiber Tracts

White matter fiber tracts that connect different cortical areas within the same cerebral hemisphere, such as the arcuate fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus.

Arcuate Fasciculus

A long association fiber tract connecting Broca's area and Wernicke's area within the same hemisphere.

Basal Ganglia

Subcortical telencephalic structures including the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus involved in movement, motivation, and cognition.

Thalamus

Large nuclear mass located in the diencephalon bounding the third ventricle, serving as a primary sensory and motor relay station.

Medial Geniculate Nucleus

Thalamic nucleus that receives auditory afferent fibers from the inferior colliculus and projects efferent fibers to the primary auditory cortex.

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Thalamic nucleus that receives visual afferent inputs from the optic tract and sends efferent projections to the primary visual cortex.

Corpora Quadrigemina

Midbrain structure composed of the superior colliculi and inferior colliculi, which are important for vision and hearing.

Brainstem

The collective structure comprising the mesencephalon (midbrain), metencephalon (pons), and myelencephalon (medulla oblongata).

Spinal Cord

The most caudal portion of the CNS, measuring 42-45 cm and extending from the foramen magnum to the first lumbar vertebra within the vertebral canal.

Meninges

The protective three-layer membranous covering of the Central Nervous System, consisting of the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Dura Mater

The tough, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Arachnoid Mater

The delicate, spiderweb-like middle layer of the meninges located between the dura mater and pia mater.

Pia Mater

The delicate, vascularized innermost layer of the meninges clinging directly to the surface of the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Fluid produced by the choroid plexus inside the brain ventricles that provides cushioning and nutrient support to nervous tissue.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Small molecule neurotransmitter that regulates telencephalic activity, sleep-wake cycles, and stereotyped movements in the CNS, and acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter for muscle contraction at the neuromuscular junction in the PNS.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Widespread small molecule neurotransmitter in the CNS, especially in the basal ganglia and cerebellum, serving a critical inhibitory function.

Glutamate

Widespread excitatory small molecule neurotransmitter in the CNS involved in learning and memory functions.

Broca's Area

Unimodal association cortex located in the inferior frontal gyrus (Brodmann areas 44 and 45) responsible for expressive language and motor speech planning.

Wernicke's Area

Unimodal association cortex located in the superior temporal gyrus (Brodmann area 22) responsible for receptive language.

Heschl's Gyrus

Structure located in Brodmann area 41 of the temporal lobe that serves as the primary auditory cortex.

Trigeminal Nerve (CN V)

Largest cranial nerve, emerging from the pons, responsible for sensory information from the face and mouth, and motor control for mastication, soft palate, and middle ear.

Facial Nerve (CN VII)

Cranial nerve VII, providing motor control for facial expression and lip movement, taste sensation on the anterior 2/3 of the tongue, and autonomic control of sublingual/submandibular salivary glands.

Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)

Cranial nerve IX, supplying motor innervation to pharyngeal muscles, sensory input to the pharynx and posterior 1/3 of the tongue, and autonomic stimulation to the parotid gland.

Vagus Nerve (CN X)

Cranial nerve X, known as the 'wanderer', providing motor control to all intrinsic laryngeal muscles and pharyngeal muscles, sensory input from the lower pharynx/larynx/viscera, and parasympathetic control to thoracic and abdominal organs.

Spinal Accessory Nerve (CN XI)

Purely motor cranial nerve with cranial and spinal roots that innervates the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, and muscles of the palate, pharynx, and larynx.

Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII)

Purely motor cranial nerve emerging from the medulla that controls tongue movement for speech and swallowing, as well as extrinsic laryngeal muscles.

Striated

Cardiac muscle exhibits which of the following characteristics