Chapter 1: Applying Research to Everyday Exercise and Sport — Neurobiology (NSB 617)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture notes on neurobiology and nervous system structure and function.

Somatic nervous system

Nerves that innervate the skin, joints, and muscles under voluntary control.

Autonomic nervous system

Also called the visceral PNS; neurons that innervate internal organs, blood vessels, and glands (involuntary control).

Ganglion

A cluster of neuronal cell bodies located outside the central nervous system.

Nerve

A bundle of neural fibers (axons) grouped together.

Central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord.

Forebrain

The anterior part of the brain, including the cerebrum and diencephalon.

Midbrain

The central part of the brainstem between the forebrain and hindbrain.

Hindbrain

The posterior part of the brain, including the cerebellum, pons, and medulla.

Cerebrum

Largest part of the brain consisting of two hemispheres and the cerebral cortex; involved in higher brain functions.

Diencephalon

Forebrain structure containing the thalamus and hypothalamus, among others.

Cerebellum

Brain region at the back of the brain responsible for coordination and balance.

Brainstem

Lower part of the brain connecting to the spinal cord; includes midbrain, pons, and medulla.

Pons

Brainstem structure that relays signals between the cerebrum and cerebellum; part of the brainstem.

Medulla oblongata

The lower portion of the brainstem with vital autonomic centers (breathing, heart rate).

Spinal cord

Main conduit for information between brain and body; also a center for reflexes.

Frontal lobe

Cerebral lobe involved in planning, decision-making, and motor control.

Parietal lobe

Cerebral lobe involved in processing somatic sensory information.

Temporal lobe

Cerebral lobe involved in auditory processing and memory.

Occipital lobe

Cerebral lobe primarily for visual processing.

Cerebral cortex

Outer layer of the cerebrum responsible for complex cognitive functions.

Corpus callosum

Large bundle of nerve fibers linking the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

Thalamus

Major sensory relay station that routes information to the cortex.

Hypothalamus

Brain region regulating autonomic function and endocrine activity; homeostasis.

Amygdala

Limbic system structure involved in emotion processing and response.

Hippocampus

Structure essential for memory formation and spatial navigation.

Basal ganglia

Group of subcortical nuclei involved in movement control and coordination.

Tectum

Midbrain region including the superior and inferior colliculi; sensory processing hub.

Tegmentum

Midbrain region involved in motor function and arousal; contains several nuclei.

Dorsal

Towards the back or upper side; in brain orientation, toward the back/top.

Ventral

Towards the belly or underside; in brain orientation, inferior or bottom.

Anterior (rostral)

Toward the front of the body or head; rostral in brain terms.

Posterior (caudal)

Toward the back of the body; caudal in brain terms.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline toward the sides.

Midline

An imaginary line down the center of the body or brain.

Midsagittal

plane that divides the left and right halves of the body or brain.

Horizontal

A plane parallel to the ground; divides superior and inferior portions.

Coronal

Plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Ependymal cells

CNS glial cells that line ventricles and produce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Oligodendrocytes

CNS glia that insulate axons with myelin; nodes of Ranvier occur along myelinated segments.

Astrocytes

Star-shaped glial cells that regulate the chemical environment and provide metabolic support.

Microglia

CNS immune cells; act as phagocytes and participate in inflammation and maintenance.

Schwann cells

PNS glia that myelinate peripheral axons; form Nodes of Ranvier in the PNS.

Neuron

Basic functional unit of the nervous system; transmits and processes information via dendrites, soma, and axon.

Unipolar neuron

Neuron with a single process that divides into two branches; common in dorsal root ganglia.

Bipolar neuron

Neuron with two processes (one axon, one dendrite); found in some sensory systems like the retina.

Pseudo-unipolar neuron

Neuron with a single process that splits into two; common in peripheral sensory neurons.

Multipolar neuron

Neuron with multiple dendrites and a single axon; typical of motor neurons and many interneurons.

Dendrites

Branch-like structures that receive inputs from other neurons; contain dendritic spines.

Axon

Long projection that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body; may end at axon terminals.

Axon hillock

Origin point of the axon where action potentials are generated.

Axon terminals

End of the axon where neurotransmitters are released at the synapse.

Dendritic spines

Small protrusions on dendrites where excitatory synapses form.

Synapse

Junction where one neuron communicates with another (chemical or electrical).

Chemical synapse

Synapse that uses neurotransmitters to transmit signals across a synaptic cleft.

Electrical synapse

Synapse where ions flow directly through gap junctions between cells.

Gap junction

Channel formed by connexons that directly connects cytoplasm of adjacent cells.

Connexon

Protein channel forming a connexin-based pore in gap junctions.

Synaptic vesicles

Vesicles in the presynaptic terminal that release neurotransmitters.

Synaptic cleft

Narrow gap between presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes across which neurotransmitters diffuse.

Nissl stain

Nucleic acid stain highlighting rough endoplasmic reticulum in neuron cell bodies.

Golgi stain

Silver chromate staining method that labels a sparse subset of neurons for morphology.

Ramon y Cajal

Pioneer of neuroscience; proposed the neuron doctrine and demonstrated neuron individuality.

Neuron doctrine

Idea that neurons are discrete cells that communicate via synapses.

Glia

Non-neuronal support cells in the nervous system (insulation, nourishment, maintenance).

Glial cells (types)

Includes astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, ependymal cells in CNS and Schwann cells in PNS.

Neural circuits

Networks of neurons that produce specific functional outputs (e.g., reflexes, perception).

Dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway

Sensory pathway conveying fine touch, vibration, and proprioception.

Spinothalamic pathway

Sensory pathway conveying pain, temperature, and some touch.

Primary motor cortex

Cerebral cortex region controlling voluntary motor activity.

Primary somatosensory cortex

Cerebral cortex region processing somatic sensory information.

Motor homunculus

Cortical map showing body motor representations on the primary motor cortex.

Sensory homunculus

Cortical map showing body sensory representations on the primary somatosensory cortex.

Corticospinal tract

Major descending motor pathway from cortex to the spinal cord.

Red nucleus

Midbrain structure involved in motor coordination (part of the rubrospinal system).

Superior colliculus

Midbrain structure involved in visual processing and orientation to visual stimuli.

Vestibular nuclei

Brainstem nuclei that process vestibular information related to balance.

Reticular thalamic nucleus (reticular nuclei)

Thalamic nucleus involved in regulating thalamocortical activity and attention.

Ventromedial pathways

Motor pathways associated with posture and balance control.

Dorsal root axon

Sensory afferent fibers entering the spinal cord via the dorsal root.

Aα, Aβ, Aδ fibers

Categories of peripheral nerve fibers with varying diameters and conduction speeds.

Nerve vs. neuron vs. glia

Nerve is a bundle of axons; neurons are nerve cells; glia are non-neuronal support cells.