Kinesiology Exam 3 Review

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary related to the nervous system, including the structure, function, and classification of neurons, as well as the various parts of the CNS and PNS.

Parts of the nervous system

CNS (central nervous system) and peripheral NS (nervous system) that includes brain and spinal cord.

Sensory Neurons

Neurons that carry incoming information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system.

Motor Neurons

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to muscles and glands.

Interneurons

Neurons that connect sensory and motor neurons and process information.

Meningeal Layers

The three protective layers covering the brain and spinal cord: dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

Dorsal Roots

Spinal nerves that carry sensory input to the CNS.

Ventral Roots

Spinal nerves that carry motor output from the CNS.

Nissl Bodies

Clusters of rough endoplasmic reticulum in neuron cell bodies responsible for protein synthesis.

Multipolar Neurons

Neurons with multiple processes (one axon and many dendrites) commonly found in the brain.

Spinal Cord Structure

Consists of gray matter (nerve cell bodies) and white matter (myelinated axons).

Depolarization

The process during action potentials when the membrane potential becomes more positive.

Hyperpolarization

The process that makes the membrane potential more negative than the resting potential.

Action Potentials

Electrical impulses that neurons use to communicate, can be saltatory or continuous.

Regions of Cerebrum

Includes frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, each responsible for different functions.

Association Areas

Brain areas involved in higher mental functions, such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

Diencephalon

Part of the brain that includes the thalamus and hypothalamus, crucial for sensory and autonomic functions.

Brain Stem

Includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata; regulates vital functions like breathing and heartbeat.

Cranial Nerves

Twelve pairs of nerves that originate from the brain and carry sensory/motor information to and from the head.

Nerve Plexuses

Networks of intersecting nerves (e.g., cervical and brachial plexuses) that supply different body parts.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

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

General Senses

Sensations such as touch, pressure, pain, and temperature detected throughout the body.

Special Senses

Sensory systems for taste, smell, vision, balance, and hearing with specialized organs.

Types of Receptors

Receptors include mechanoreceptors, thermoreceptors, nociceptors, photoreceptors, and chemoreceptors.

Functions of Receptors

Each type of receptor responds to specific stimuli to perceive sensory information.