Acetylcholine - ANS-Voluntary muscle control, parasympathetic nervous system,
attention, alertness
Acetylcholinesterase - ANS-the enzyme that breaks
... [Show More] down acetylcholine in the synaptic
cleft
Axons - ANS-Carry impulses away from the cell body
Brain Stem - ANS-Connection to spinal cord. Filters information flow between peripheral
nervous system and the rest of the brain.
Cauda Equina - ANS-collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord
Central Nervous System - ANS-Brain and spinal cord
Cerebellum - ANS-A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.
Cerebrum - ANS-Largest part of the brain; coordinates thought, reasoning, movement,
and memory, includes the cerebral cortex and the white matter beneath it.
Corpus Callosum - ANS-A thick band of axons that connects the two cerebral
hemispheres and acts as a communication link between them.
Decerebrate Posturing - ANS-posturing in which the neck is extended with jaw
clenched; arms are pronated, extended, and close to the sides; legs are extended
straight out; more ominous sign of brain stem damage. Most Severe.
Decorticate Posturing - ANS-characterized by upper extremities flexed at the elbows
and held closely to the body and lower extremities that are externally rotated and
extended. occurs when the brainstem is not inhibited by the motor function of the
cerebral cortex.
Dendrites - ANS-Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive
information.
Dopamine - ANS-A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning
and the brain's pleasure and reward system.
Dura Matter - ANS-Thick outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting
the brain.
Epinephrine - ANS-A catecholamine secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to
stress preparing the body for "flight or fight" (trade name Adrenalin)
Extrapyramidal - ANS-are involuntary movements that result mainly from taking firstgeneration antipsychotic drugs
Flaccidity - ANS-Low muscle tone
Medulla Oblongata - ANS-A portion of the brainstem that regulates vital functions,
including breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Meninges - ANS-three layers of connective tissue in which the brain and spinal cord are
wrapped
Midbrain - ANS-A small part of the brain above the pons that integrates sensory
information and relays it upward.
Myelin - ANS-A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons;
enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from
one node to the next.
Neurilemma - ANS-membranous covering that protects the myelin sheath
Neuron - ANS-Nerve cell
Neurotransmitters - ANS-Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between
neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the
synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether
that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
Norepinephrine - ANS-A precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the adrenal
medulla and also released at synapses.
Parasympathetic Nervous System - ANS-A subdivision of the autonomic nervous
system that calms the body after action and also retains the body functioning at is
normal state (homeostasis)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) - ANS-sensory and motor neurons that connect the
CNS to the rest of the body
Pia Mater - ANS-Inner layer of meninges; intimately attached to brain following
contours; carries small blood vessels to nourish underlying nervous tissue;
Pons - ANS-A hindbrain structure that connects the medulla to the two sides of the
cerebellum; helps coordinate and integrate movements on each side of the body... [Show Less]