Autonomic Nervous System and Special Senses

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the autonomic nervous system and special senses, derived from lecture notes.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that triggers the body's fight or flight response.

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions.

Epinephrine

Also known as adrenaline, a hormone released during stress that prepares the body for fight or flight.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that promotes the body's rest and digest functions.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter released by parasympathetic neurons that promotes a calming effect on target organs.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in the sympathetic nervous system response, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.

Vagus Nerve

Cranial nerve that provides parasympathetic innervation to most of the body's organs.

Pupil Dilation

The widening of the pupil in response to sympathetic activation to enhance vision.

Dual Innervation

The process where most organs are innervated by both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers, working antagonistically.

Postganglionic Neurons

Neurons that transmit signals from ganglia to target organs in the autonomic nervous system.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, processed through specialized olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.

Taste Buds

Sensory organs on the tongue responsible for detecting taste, which consist of gustatory cells.

Gustation

The sense of taste; a chemical sense that detects dissolved substances in food.

Cranial Nerves

Nerves that emerge directly from the brain's surface, including those involved in taste and smell.

Amygdala

Part of the brain involved in processing emotions and influencing the autonomic nervous system's responses.

Taste Receptors

Specialized cells located in taste buds that respond to different flavors.

Homeostatic Balance

The cooperative regulation of physiological processes by the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels, typically occurs in the parasympathetic response to reduce blood pressure.

Sensory Transduction

The process of converting a sensory stimulus into an electrical signal in the nervous system.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain responsible for processing sensory information and higher cognitive functions.

Hypothalamus

Brain region controlling various autonomic functions, including temperature and thirst regulation.