WIKI Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards

Terminology that is sure to suffice to all of your educational rites!

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord; integrates and processes information

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Nerves and ganglia outside the CNS

Afferent Division

Sensory division carrying impulses to the CNS

Efferent Division

Motor division carrying impulses away from the CNS

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary skeletal muscle

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary functions and smooth/cardiac muscle

Sympathetic Division

Fight-or-flight response during stress

Parasympathetic Division

Rest-and-digest response during calm states

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for conscious thought

Parietal Lobe

Processes touch

Occipital Lobe

Processes visual information

Temporal Lobe

Processes sound

Cerebrum

Largest brain region responsible for thought

Cerebral Cortex

Outer gray matter layer responsible for higher thinking

Basal Ganglia

Control voluntary muscle movement

Cerebellum

Coordinates balance and fine motor movement

Brain Stem

Controls involuntary functions like breathing and heart rate

Midbrain

Processes visual and auditory reflexes

Pons

Relays signals and helps regulate breathing

Medulla Oblongata

Controls heart rate

Thalamus

Relay center for sensory information except smell

Hypothalamus

Maintains homeostasis and controls pituitary gland

Pituitary Gland

Master endocrine gland controlling hormone release

Limbic System

Controls emotion

Hippocampus

Converts short-term memory to long-term memory

Broca’s Area

Controls speech production

Wernicke’s Area

Controls language comprehension

Neuron

Functional nerve cell that transmits electrical impulses

Neuroglia (Glial Cells)

Support cells that protect and nourish neurons

Astrocyte

Star-shaped CNS cell that maintains blood-brain barrier and ion balance

Oligodendrocyte

CNS cell that myelinates multiple axons

Microglia

CNS immune defense cell that performs phagocytosis

Ependymal Cell

Produces and circulates cerebrospinal fluid

Schwann Cell

PNS cell that myelinates one axon and aids repair

Satellite Cell

Regulates chemical environment in PNS ganglia

Resting Membrane Potential

Approximately -70 mV inside neuron relative to outside

Sodium-Potassium Pump

Moves 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in to maintain resting potential

Action Potential

Rapid depolarization and repolarization of neuron membrane

Threshold

Approximately -55 mV required to trigger action potential

Depolarization

Sodium ions enter causing membrane potential to become positive

Repolarization

Potassium ions exit restoring negative membrane potential

Hyperpolarization

Membrane becomes more negative than resting potential

All-or-None Principle

Action potentials either fire completely or not at all

Synapse

Junction between two neurons

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messenger released into synaptic cleft

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction

Acetylcholinesterase

Enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine

Eye

Organ of vision that focuses light onto retina

Retina

Light-sensitive inner layer of the eye

Rods

Detect light intensity and enable night vision

Cones

Detect color and fine detail

Fovea

Area of sharpest vision with many cones

Optic Nerve

Transmits visual information to brain

Ear

Organ of hearing and balance

Tympanic Membrane

Eardrum that vibrates with sound waves

Ossicles (Malleus Incus Stapes)

Amplify sound vibrations

Cochlea

Converts vibrations into nerve impulses

Semicircular Canals

Maintain balance and spatial orientation

Auditory Nerve

Carries sound signals to brain

Nose

Organ of smell

Olfactory Receptors

Detect airborne chemical molecules

Olfactory Nerve

Transmits smell signals to brain

Vomeronasal Organ

Structure suspected to detect pheromones

Tongue

Organ of taste

Taste Buds

Sensory receptors for taste

Papillae

Structures that contain taste buds

Sweet

Taste detecting sugars

Salty

Taste detecting salts

Sour

Taste detecting acids

Bitter

Taste detecting toxins

Umami

Taste detecting amino acids

Pituitary Gland

Master gland controlling other endocrine glands

Hypothalamus

Links nervous and endocrine systems

Hormone

Chemical messenger transported through bloodstream

Homeostasis

Maintenance of stable internal environment