College Anatomy & Physiology - Regulation Review Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering nervous and endocrine system topics, key glands, hormones, neurotransmitters, and brain regions based on the Regulation Review material.

Pituitary Gland

The endocrine gland known as the "master" gland.

Neuroglia

Cells in the nervous system that provide insulation, physical support, and nutrients, but do not transmit information.

Calcitonin

A hormone that decreases blood calcium concentration.

Parathyroid Hormone

A hormone that increases blood calcium concentration and regulates calcium and phosphate salts in the blood through negative feedback.

Hypothalamus

A structure of both the nervous and endocrine systems that regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, controls pituitary gland secretions, and releases GnRH.

Posterior Pituitary

The portion of the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain that secretes oxytocin and vasopressin.

Pineal Gland

A gland located at the base of the brain that secretes melatonin and helps regulate circadian rhythms.

Primary Visual Cortex

The functional region located in the occipital lobe of the cerebrum.

Thymus

An endocrine gland that secretes a hormone stimulating the formation of an antibody system.

Axon

An extension of a neuron that sends information in the form of nerve impulses and releases neurotransmitters.

Myelin Sheath

An insulating layer produced by Schwann cells that acts as an insulator to speed up impulse propagation along a neuron.

Cell Body

The rounded area of a neuron containing the nucleus and other cellular organelles.

Dendrites

Neuron extensions that receive electrochemical messages.

Anterior Pituitary

The region of the pituitary gland that produces a greater number of hormones, including growth hormone, prolactin, TSH, ACTH, and FSH.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter responsible for controlling skeletal muscle actions.

Interneurons

Types of neurons that lie entirely within the brain or spinal cord.

Hypothyroidism

An endocrine disorder that commonly results in fatigue and weight gain in adults.

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the nervous system that controls visceral functions, glands, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle, but not skeletal muscle.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that creates a sense of feeling good and whose deficiency in certain brain areas is associated with Parkinson disease.

Iodine

A mineral required for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland.

Gray Matter

Nervous tissue formed by unmyelinated axons and neuron cell bodies in the CNS.

White Matter

Nervous tissue composed of masses of myelinated nerve fibers.

Medulla

A brain region that controls involuntary actions such as breathing, blood pressure, cardiac rate, and respiratory functions.

Cerebellum

The structure in the brain that controls and coordinates movement and balance.

Cerebrum

The portion of the brain responsible for higher-level thinking, reasoning, and memory storage.

Sensory Neurons

Neurons that transmit nerve impulses from peripheral body parts into the brain or spinal cord.

Motor Neurons

Neurons, also known as efferent neurons, that carry nerve impulses away from the central nervous system to effectors.

Triiodothyronine

A thyroid hormone (T3) containing three atoms of iodine that is five times more potent than thyroxine.

Sodium-Potassium Pump

The pump responsible for maintaining ionic differences by concentrating $K^+$ inside the cell and $Na^+$ outside the cell.

Corpus Callosum

A thick band of nerve tissue that connects the right and left hemispheres of the cerebrum.

Serotonin

A primarily inhibitory neurotransmitter that leads to sleepiness and is enhanced by SSRI drugs.

Endocrine System

A system composed of cells, tissues, and glands that release hormones into the bloodstream to act on target cells to regulate functions and maintain homeostasis.