The Biological Perspective: Nervous System and Endocrine System Glossary

Comprehensive flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to the biological perspective, nervous system anatomy, neurobiology, brain structures, and the endocrine system.

What are agonists, and how do they function?

Chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of that cell.

What is acetylcholine, and what roles does it play in the body?

The first neurotransmitter to be discovered; found to regulate memories in the CNS and the action of skeletal and smooth muscles in the PNS.

What is an action potential?

The release of the neural impulse consisting of a reversal of the electrical charge within the axon.

Where are the adrenal glands located, and what are their functions?

Endocrine glands located on top of each kidney that secrete over thirty different hormones to deal with stress, regulate salt intake, and provide a secondary source of sex hormones affecting the sexual changes that occur during adolescence.

What does the all-or-none principle state regarding neural firing?

It refers to the fact that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all.

Where is the amygdala located, and what is its primary responsibility?

A brain structure located near the hippocampus, responsible for fear responses and memory of fear.

What are antagonists?

Chemical substances that block or reduce a cell's response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters.

What are association areas?

Areas within each lobe of the cortex responsible for the coordination and interpretation of information, as well as higher mental processing.

What is the autonomic nervous system?

A division of the PNS consisting of nerves that control all of the involuntary muscles, organs, and glands.

What is an axon?

A long tube-like structure that carries the neural message to other cells.

What are axon terminals?

Branches at the end of the axon.

What is the brainstem, and what functions does it regulate?

A section of the brain that connects directly to the spinal cord and regulates vital functions such as breathing, the heart, reflexes, and level of alertness.

Where is Broca's area located, and what is its primary function?

An association area of the brain located in the frontal lobe that is responsible for language production and language processing.

What structures compose the central nervous system (CNS)?

The brain and spinal cord.

Where is the cerebellum located, and what does it control?

Part of the lower brain located behind the pons that controls and coordinates involuntary, rapid, fine motor movement.

What are the cerebral hemispheres?

The two sections of the cortex on the left and right sides of the brain.

What is computed tomography (CT)?

A brain imaging method using computer-controlled x-rays of the brain.

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

A thick band of neurons that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres.

What is the cortex, and what are its responsibilities?

The outermost covering of the brain consisting of densely packed neurons, responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory input.

What are dendrites?

Branch-like structures that receive messages from other neurons.

What functions does dopamine regulate, and what disorders is it associated with?

A neurotransmitter that regulates movement, balance, and walking, and is involved in the disorders of schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.

What is an electroencephalograph (EEG)?

A machine designed to record the brain wave patterns produced by electrical activity of the surface of the brain.

What are endocrine glands?

Glands that secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream.

What is endorphin, and what is the origin of its name?

A neurotransmitter found naturally in the body that works to block pain and elevate mood; it is chemically similar to morphine and its name is short for 'endogenous morphine.'

What is the function of an excitatory neurotransmitter?

It causes the receiving cell to fire.

Where are the frontal lobes located, and what are they responsible for?

Areas of the cortex located in the front and top of the brain, responsible for higher mental processes and decision making as well as the production of fluent speech.

What is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?

A method used to observe activity in the brain that shows which structures are active during particular mental operations using the same basic procedure as MRI.

What is GABA?

An abbreviation for gamma-aminobutyric acid, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

What are glial cells, and what roles do they perform?

Grey fatty cells that provide support for the neurons to grow on and around, deliver nutrients to neurons, produce myelin to coat axons, and clean up waste products and dead neurons.

Where is the hippocampus located, and what is it responsible for?

A curved structure located within each temporal lobe, responsible for the formation of long-term memories and the storage of memory for location of objects.

What are hormones?

Chemicals released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands.

Where is the hypothalamus located, and what behaviors does it regulate?

A small structure in the brain located below the thalamus and directly above the pituitary gland, responsible for motivational behavior such as sleep, hunger, thirst, and sex.

What effect does an inhibitory neurotransmitter have on a receiving cell?

It causes the receiving cell to stop firing.

What is an interneuron, and where is it found?

A neuron found in the center of the spinal cord which receives information from sensory neurons and sends commands to the muscles through motor neurons; interneurons also make up the bulk of the neurons in the brain.

What is the limbic system?

A group of several brain structures located under the cortex and involved in learning, emotion, memory, and motivation.

What is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)?

A brain imaging method using radio waves and magnetic fields of the body to produce detailed images of the brain.

Where is the medulla located, and what vital functions does it sustain?

The first large swelling at the top of the spinal cord, forming the lowest part of the brain and responsible for life-sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate.

What is a motor neuron, and what is its alternate name?

A neuron that carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body; also called an efferent neuron.

What is myelin, and what is its function?

Fatty substances produced by certain glial cells that coat the axons of neurons to insulate, protect, and speed up the neural impulse.

What is the nervous system?

An extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body.

What is a neuron?

The basic cell that makes up the nervous system and which receives and sends messages within that system.

What is a neurotransmitter?

A chemical found in the synaptic vesicles which, when released, has an effect on the next cell.

Where are the occipital lobes located, and what centers do they contain?

Sections of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere, containing the visual centers of the brain.

What function does the pancreas perform in the endocrine system?

An endocrine gland that controls the levels of sugar in the blood.

What is the function of the parasympathetic division?

Part of the autonomic system that restores the body to normal functioning after arousal and is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the organs and glands; sometimes referred to as the rest-and-digest system.

Where are the parietal lobes located, and what sensations do they process?

Sections of the brain located at the top and back of each cerebral hemisphere, containing the centers for touch, taste, and temperature sensations.

What constitutes the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

All nerves and neurons that are not contained in the brain and spinal cord but which run through the body itself.

Where is the pineal gland located, and what hormone does it secrete?

An endocrine gland located near the base of the cerebrum which secretes melatonin.

Why is the pituitary gland known as the 'master gland'?

It is located in the brain, secretes human growth hormone, and influences all other hormone-secreting glands.

Where is the pons located, and what functions does it play a part in?

The larger swelling above the medulla which connects the top of the brain to the bottom, playing a part in sleep, dreaming, left-right body coordination, and arousal.

How does positron emission tomography (PET) visualize brain activity?

A brain imaging method in which a radioactive sugar is injected into the subject and a computer compiles a color-coded image of the activity of the brain, with lighter colors indicating more activity.

What is resting potential?

The state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse.

Where is the reticular formation located, and what is its function?

An area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons and slightly beyond, responsible for selective attention.

What occurs during the process of reuptake?

The process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles.

What is a sensory neuron, and what is its alternate name?

A neuron that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system; also called an afferent neuron.

What is serotonin, and what is its chemical name?

A neurotransmitter involved in pain disorders and emotional perceptions; also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).

What is the soma of a neuron?

The cell body of the neuron, responsible for maintaining the life of the cell.

What is the somatic nervous system?

A division of the PNS consisting of nerves that carry information from the senses to the CNS and from the CNS to the voluntary muscles of the body.

What is the spinal cord, and what type of reflexes does it manage?

A long bundle of neurons that carries messages to and from the body to the brain and that is responsible for very fast, life-saving reflexes.

What is the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system?

The part responsible for reacting to stressful events and bodily arousal; also known as the fight-or-flight system.

What is the synaptic gap?

The microscopic fluid-filled space between the rounded areas on the end of the axon terminals of one cell and the dendrites or surface of the next cell.

What are synaptic vesicles?

Sack-like structures found inside the synaptic knob containing chemicals.

Where are the temporal lobes located, and what are their functions?

Areas of the cortex located just behind the temples, containing the neurons responsible for the sense of hearing and meaningful speech.

Where is the thalamus located, and what is its function?

Part of the limbic system located in the center of the brain; relays sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the proper areas of the cortex and processes some sensory information before sending it to its proper area.

Where is the thyroid gland located, and what does it regulate?

An endocrine gland found in the neck that regulates metabolism.

Where is Wernicke's area located, and what is its role?

An association area of the brain in the temporal lobe that has been found to be involved in the comprehension of spoken language.