• Neurotransmitter secreted at the ends of many neurons; responsible for the transmission of a nerve impulse across a synaptic cleft.

Acetylcholinesterase

(161)

• Enzyme in the membrane of postsynaptic cells that breaks down acetylcholine; this enzymatic reaction inactivates the neurotransmitter.

Action Potential (159)

• A change in electrical potential (charge) propagated along the membrane of a neuron; caused by a stimulus, this starts when Na⁺ channels open up, allowing Na⁺ to diffuse into the cell and ends when K⁺ leak out of the cell.  

• Web-like middle covering (1 of 3 meninges of the c.n.s.) below which flows cerebral-spinal fluid (C.S.F.) in the subarachnoid space.

• Regions of the cerebral cortex related to memory, reasoning, judgement, and emotional feelings.

• Process of a neuron that conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body.

• Motor speech area of the brain located in the left frontal lobe of the cerebrum.
• Damage to this area can result in uncontrolled  contraction of the facial and neck muscles that allow speech.

• Portion of a neuron that includes cytoplasmic mass and a nucleus from which the nerve fibers extend

• The brain and the spinal cord.

• Tube w/in the spinal cord that is continuous w/ the ventricles of the brain and contains cerebrospinal fluid.

• Part of the brain that controls muscular coordination.

• Outer layer of the cerebrum.

• Main portion of the vertebrate brain that is responsible for consciousness.

• Mass of white matter within the brain, composed of nerve fibers connecting the right and left cerebral hemisphere.

• process of a neuron, typically branched, that conducts nerve impulses toward a cell body

• Loss in polarization
• As when a nerve impulse occurs
• Increase in positive charge caused by Na⁺ ions flowing into a neuron

• Portion of the brain in the region of the 3rd ventricle that includes the thalamus and hypothalamus

• A type of neuroglial cell located in the ventricles of the brain that produce & circulate cerebral spinal fluid. 

• Small signals from a synapse that may add together to excite or inhibit an action potential.

• The most inferior part of the limbic system which is responsible for converting short term memories into long term memories.

• Part of the diencephalon of brain that forms the floor of the 3rd ventricle and is the integrating center that helps maintain homeostasis by regulating hunger, sleep, thrist, body temperature, and water balance.

• A collection of structures that lies just inferior to the cerebral cortex and contains neural pathways that connect portions of the cerebral cortex and the temporal lobes with the thalamus and the hypothalamus.
• Stimulus causes the subject to experience rage, pain, pleasure, or sorrow.

Medulla oblongata

(169)

• Lowest portion of the brainstem; concerned with the control of internal organs.
• Controls heartbeat, breathing, vasoconstriction, vomiting, sneezing, hiccuping, & swallowing. 

• Small region of the brainstem located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains tracts that conduct impulses to and from the higher parts of the brain.

• bundle of long nerve fibers (axons) that run to and/or from the central nervous system; surrounded by an epineurium and divided into fascicles, etc.

• Any chemical substance found in the vesicles of pre-synaptic neurons that are released when action potentials reach axon terminals. 
• These substances enable an action potential to cross a synapse and continue in the post-synaptic neuron.

• A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands which may give the body sudden energy in times of stress, known as the "fight or flight" response.
• As a neurotransmitter, this substance is important for attentiveness, emotions, sleeping, dreaming, and learning.

• One of the main divisions of the nervous system.
• Includes 12 pairs of cranial and 31 pairs of spinal nerves.
• Includes all afferent-sensory and motor-efferent nerves which connect the central nervous system to all other areas of the body.

• Specialized graded potentials that occur in sensory receptors (light sensor cells of the eye).
• They do not follow the all-or-none law because different neurons, upon synapsis, can add the potentials together (summation).

• A period of time in which a neuron is unable to conduct an action potential.

• Recovery of a neuron's polarity to the resting potential after the neuron transmits an impulse.
• Initially caused by the pumping  of K⁺ ions outside the neuron.

• exists because the cell membrane is polarized or the outside of the neuron is positively charged compared to the outside.

• Occuring in myelinated neurons
• A much faster conduction or action potential
• Caused by an action potential jumping across myelinated portions of the axon (from Node of Ranvier to Node of Ranvier). 

• May be a smell, something you see, hear, or touch that stimulates a sensory neuron to start an action potential (depolarize).

• region between two nerve cells where the nerve impulse is transmitted from one to the other, usually from axon to dendrite.

• Small gap between the synaptic knob on one neuron and the dendrite on another neuron.

• bundle of neurons forming a transmission pathway through the brain and spinal cord.

• Cavities which form in the subarachnoid space inbetween the arachnoid mater and pia mater where cerebral spinal fluid circulates. 

Wernicke's Area

(167)

• Also called the general interpretive area, this structure receives information from all of the other sensory association area.
• Damage to this area can hinder a persons ability to interpret written and spoken messages.

• Mass of gray matter located deep within a cerebral hemisphere of the brain that integrates motor commands, ensuring that proper muscle groups are activated or inhibited.

• Portion of the brain that includes the midbrain, pons, & medulla oblongata.

• One of the two large-paired structures that together constitute the cerebrum of the brain and are separated by the great longitudinal fissure.

cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F.)

(162)

• Fluid found w/in the ventricles of the brain and surrounding the C.N.S. in association w/ the meninges.

• Tough, white, fibrous outer layer of the meninges; consists of a double membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord from the skull and vertebrae.

• Unmyelinated nerve fibers located in the central nervous system.

• Fibrous ring of cartilage between two vertebrae that has ruptured.

• neuron formed within the central nervous system that connects sensory & motor neurons inside the spinal cord.

• Innermost meningeal layer that is in direct contact with the brain and the spinal cord. 

• Portion of the brain stem above the medulla oblongata and below the midbrain; assists the medulla oblongata in regulating the breathing rate.

• Association area in the frontal lobe of the cerebrum that receives information from other association areas and uses it to reason and plan actions.

• Area in the frontal lobe where voluntary commands begin; each section controls a part of the body.

• Area posterior to the central sulcus where sensory information arrives from the skin and skeletal muscles.

reticular formation

(169)

• Part of the brain stem that assists the cerebellum in maintaining muscle tone; it also assists the pons and medulla in regulating respiration, heart rate and blood pressure.

• Portion of the C.N.S. extending downward from the brain stem through the vertebral canal.

• Myelinated neurons of the central nervous system.

Sympathetic and parasympathetic portions

of the nervous system that function to

control the actions of the visceral organs and skin.

1 of the 12 pairs of nerves that arises from the brain and usually has either a sensory, motor, or mixed function in the head.   

Collection of neuron cell bodies outside

the central nervous sytem.

parasympathetic division

(173)

Portion of the a.n.s. that usually

promotes those activities associated

with a normal state.

posterior (dorsal)

root ganglion

(170)

Mass of sensory neuron

cell bodies located in the dorsal

root of a spinal nerve.

reflex (170)

Autonomic, involuntary response

of an organism to a stimulus.

somatic system

(169)

Portion of the p.n.s. containing

motor neurons that control skeletal muscles.

spinal nerve (169)

1 of the 31 pairs of mixed nerves

that arise from our vertebrae.

sympathetic division (172)

Part of the a.n.s. whose effects

are generally associated with emergency situations.

Occulomotor 

Nerve (III)

Trochlear

 Nerve (IV)

Trigeminal

Nerve (V)

Vagus Nerve (X)

Mixed cranial nerve which receives

information from and sends information

to internal organs.

Motor Cranial nerve which sends

information to the muscles of the

neck and back.

Abducens

Nerve (VI)

Motor cranial nerve which sends

impulses from the pons to the

muscles of the eye; highest number

which innervates the muscles of the eye.

Vestibulocochlear

Nerve (VIII)

Sensory cranial nerve which receives

information from you inner ear for hearing

and balance.

Glossopharyngeal

Nerve (IX)

Mixed cranial nerve which receives &

sends information from the back of the throat