2007PSY Glossary (Up to Wk.4)

Central nervous system

Central Nervous System is made up of the spinal cord and the brain

Peripheral nervous system

Peripheral nervous system is made up of all the nerves stemming out of the CNS, communicating between them and the glands/organs/muscles.

Sensory neuron

Sensory neurons are activated chemically and physically from the external environment.

Motor neuron

Involuntary and Voluntary action, where the brain and muscles/glands/ organs communicate through motor neurons

Interneuron

Intermediate neurons between the CNS and PNS to process the external stimuli and helps your muscles/glands/organs react to the stimuli

Neuron

Information messengers that use chemical and electrical signals to send messages between the CNS and PNS

Soma

"Contains all genetic information, and energy to drive activities. (Safety Vault)

"

Membrane

Surrounds and protects the cell body (Guards)

Cytoplasm

A jelly like substance inside a cell

Nucleus

The cell’s control centre and stores the genetic information

Mitochondria

Generates chemical energy needed to power the cells reactions (Power house)

Dendrites

Receives and processes signals from the axons (Tree Roots)

Synapse (synaptic cleft)

Synapses are locations where action potentials can pass between neurons

Presynaptic Cell

The cell that is sending the message

Postsynaptic Cell

The cell that is receiving the message

Axon

Where the action potential is carried out.

Action potential

A neurons potential electric energy, caused by the flow of charged particles in and out of the membrane of the neutron

Axoplasmic transport

Where the proteins and other substances are passed through the the nerve endings

Anterograde transport

When substances are going toward the axon tip

Retrograde transport

When substances are going toward the cell body

Microtubules

"A hollow (tunnel like) component that neurotransmitters pass through to and from the cell bodies

"

Myelin sheath

A blanket like component that protects the axon

Terminal button

Passes off the message created by the cell body (Gossip Girl)

Neurotransmitter

A chemical message that is being passed on to a target cell

Glial cell

Functions of a glial cell is to clean up dead cells, hold neurons in place, clear excess neurotransmitters

Astrocyte

Supply building blocks to neurotransmitters

Oligodendrocyte

Create myelin sheath around neuron axons, allowing for faster communications

Microglia

Maintenance of brain function, injury repair, regulate brain development

Schwann Cell

Wraps around myelin sheath (that stems from their nucleus)

Nodes of Ranvier

Helps generate the fast electrical impulse along the axon (whereas the myelin sheath slows the message down)

Neuraxis

Imaginative line from the bottom of the spinal cord to the front of the brain

Anterior/rostal

"Direction towards the heads

"

Posterior/caudal

Direction towards the tail

Superior

Above (the brain)

Inferior

Below (the brain)

Dorsal

Top of the head and towards the back

ventral

Below the head or the front of the body

Lateral

Towards the side

Medial

Towards the middle

Ipsilateral

Structures on the same side of the body

Contralateral

Structures on opposite sides of the body

Frontal sections/cross sections

View of the front and back lobes of the brain

Horizontal sections

View of the top and bottom of the brain

Saggital sections

View of the left and right side of the brain

Meninges

Three layers that cover and protect the CNS

Dura Mater

Outer layer of the brain, tough and flexible

Arachnoid Membrane

the middle layer, soft and posing (web-like)

Pia mater

inner layer, clings very closely to the surface of the brain. Thin and delicate

Subarachnoid space

Filled with cerebrospinal fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid

which is a clear liquid that is similar to blood plasma. Acts as a shock absorber

Ventricles

Communicating network of the brain

Cerebral aqueduct

The structure that connects the third ventricle with the fourth

Choroid Plexus

A network of blood vessels that create the cerebrospinal fluid

Forebrain

Contains the Telencephalon

Telencephelon

Contains the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and limbic system

Diencephelon

Contains the thalamus and hypothalamus

Cerebrum

Cerebrum is the largest part of the brain which is divided into two hemispheres

Cerebral cortex

Is convoluted to increase overall surface areas, which include sulci, fissures and gyri

Limbic System

Widespread nuclei that form a network; involved in learning, memory and emotions. Important for survival behaviours. Includes the amygdala and hippocampus

Basal Ganglia

Involved in motor control

Sulci

Small grooves in the cerebral cortex

Fissures

Larger grooves in the cerebral cortex

Gyri

Buldges in between the grooves of the cerebral cortex

White Matter

Made up of glia and myelinated axons which have white colour

Grey Matter

Glia and lots of cells the colour of grey

Sensory Cortex

Motor censoring (except for taste and smell functions) have contralateral connections. Contains; primary auditory cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, primary visual cortex, primary motor cortex, insular cortex

Primary visual cortex

Located in the occipital lobe

Primary auditory cortex

Located in the temporal lobe

Primary somatosensory cortex

Located in the parietal lobe

Insular Cortex

Related to information of taste

Primary motor cortex

Located in the posterior part of the frontal lobe

Association Cortex

Responsible for the complex processing that goes in between the arrival of input from the primary sensory cortices and the generation of behaviour

Hippocampus

Is responsible for learning, memory and emotions

Amygdala

Is responsible for emotion processing

Lateralization

Happens in the cerebral cortex, where the left hemisphere is related to analysing information (processing serial events, controlling behaviour) and the right hemisphere is related to synthesis of this information

Corpus Collosum

(The telephone between the two hemispheres) allows both sides to talk and unconsciously coordinate and relay information to each region

Thalamus

Is a relay station, from nuclei to parts of the brain. Sending messages between the messenger to the target part of the brain, responsible for enacting behaviour to the message

Lateral geniculate nucleus

Visual relay to the primary visual cortex

Medial geniculate nucleus

Auditory relay to primary auditory cortex

Ventrolateral nucleus

Motor relay to primary motor cortex

Hypothalamus

Controls the survival functions; eating, fighting, reproducing, control the autonomic nervous system, the endocrine system

Mesencephalon

Inside the mid brain, contains the tectum and tegmentum

Tectrum

Contains the super colliculi and inferior colliculi

Tegmentum

Part of the reticular formation

Superior Colliculi

visual system/visual reflexes

Inferior Colliculi

auditory system

Reticular formation

Major integration and relay center of the brain responsible for cardiovascular system, respiration

Hindbrain

Contains the Pons and cerebellum

Medulla

Is responsible for the reticular formation

Spinal cord

Primary function of the spinal cord is to send and receive somatosensory information to and from the glands and muscles

Vertebral Column

The bones, muscles, tendons and other tissues that reach from the base of the skull to the tailbone

Spinal roots

The roots exit the spinal cord to communicate motor and sensory information between the CNS and PNS

Cranial nerves

Nerves that are connected directly to the brain

Afferent axons

Incoming/arriving sensory information into the CNS

Efferent axons

Exiting motor information (commands) from the CNS into the PNS

Cerebellum

Is responsible for motor control, smooth and coordinated movement

Dorsal Rooth

Part of spinal cord; responsible for incoming sensory fibres