EDHS 7190 - Neuroanatomy & Physiology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, anatomical structures, cellular components, meninges, ventricles, and blood supply from EDHS 7190 lecture notes.

Cognitive-Linguistic Processes

Higher-level neural processes and systems involved with coordinating cognitive and linguistic functions to organize, understand, and express meaningful thoughts and language.

Motor Speech Planning & Programming Processes

Processes and circuits involved with selecting and sequencing motor plans and specifying parameters such as relative timing, force, direction, and coordination of upcoming movement commands.

Neuromuscular Execution Processes

Neural and muscular processes involved with activating motor neuron systems to generate movements of the vocal tract.

Neuron

The basic cellular unit of the nervous system, consisting of dendrites, a cell body, and an axon.

Dendrites

Structures of a neuron that serve as the input to the cell.

Axon

Structure of a neuron that serves as the output of the cell, often covered in myelin.

Glia

Cells that provide structural and functional support for neurons.

Nuclei

Collections of cell bodies in the Central Nervous System where synapses and communication occur.

Ganglia

Collections of cell bodies located in the Peripheral Nervous System.

Tracts

Projecting neural fibers located inside the Central Nervous System.

Nerves

Projecting neural fibers located outside the Central Nervous System.

White Matter

Nervous tissue composed primarily of myelinated axons.

Grey Matter

Nervous tissue in the Central Nervous System composed primarily of cell bodies and dendrites.

Afferent

Incoming neural information traveling from the periphery toward the Central Nervous System or a neural site, primarily related to sensory information.

Efferent

Outgoing neural information traveling from the brain to the periphery, primarily related to motor or movement information.

Contralateral

Pertaining to or originating on the opposite side of the body or brain.

Ipsilateral

Pertaining to or originating on the same side of the body or brain.

Precentral Gyrus

Primary motor cortex (M1), located in the most anterior portion of the frontal lobe.

Postcentral Gyrus

Primary somatosensory cortex (S1), located in the most anterior portion of the parietal lobe.

Basal Ganglia

A group of subcortical nuclei that loop with all regions of the cortex to refine and offload information processing, motor initiation, sequencing, and chunking.

Thalamus

Oval subcortical bodies that serve as an important relay station and gateway to the cortex for all sensory signals except smell.

Hypothalamus

Subcortical structure that regulates homeostasis and metabolic functions including sleep, wake, hunger, emotional expressions, and sexual behavior.

Amygdala

Structure housed deep in the temporal lobe that processes emotional information and triggers fight or flight responses.

Hippocampus

Arch-shaped structure deep in the temporal lobe vital for memory consolidation and spatial navigation.

Dura Mater

The outermost, thick, and tough layer of the meninges that adheres to the skull on one side and the arachnoid mater on the other.

Subarachnoid Space

A component of the arachnoid mater filled with cerebrospinal fluid that acts as a barrier and facilitates CSF circulation.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

A watery fluid containing proteins, glucose, K+ ions, and Na+ ions that removes toxins and functions as a shock absorber for the CNS.

Pia Mater

The deepest and thinnest meningeal layer, which tightly adheres to the tissues of the brain and spinal cord and holds entering blood vessels.

Choroid Plexus

Structure made of ependymal glial cells located in the ventricles that secretes approximately half a liter of CSF daily.

Interventricular Foramina

Short canals connecting each lateral ventricle to the third ventricle at the midline to allow circulation and drainage of CSF.

Circle of Willis

A circular arterial structure encircling the optic chiasm that allows circular blood flow throughout the brain.

Anterior Cerebral Arteries (ACA)

Arteries stemming from the internal carotid arteries that supply blood to the midline frontal and parietal lobes and their midsagittal surfaces.

Middle Cerebral Arteries (MCA)

Arteries stemming from the internal carotid arteries along the lateral sulcus that supply blood to lateral parts of the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes.