Discover published sets by community

The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus and is responsible for the regulation of certain metabolic processes and other activities of the autonomic nervous system. It synthesizes and secretes neurohormones, often called releasing hormones.

The limbic system is a set of structures in the brain that deal with emotions and memory. It includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus. It supports a variety of functions including emotion, behavior, motivation, long-term memory, and olfaction.

The basal ganglia are a group of nuclei in the brain interconnected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and brainstem. They are associated with a variety of functions including control of voluntary motor movements, procedural learning, and emotions.

Wernicke's Area is located in the posterior part of the left temporal lobe and is involved in the understanding of written and spoken language. Damage can result in Wernicke's aphasia, with impaired language comprehension.

The myelin sheath is an insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made of myelin, which helps in the speedy transmission of electrical impulses. Dysfunction of the myelin sheath contributes to diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum of the brain in humans and other mammals. It plays a key role in memory, attention, perception, cognition, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness.

The amygdala is a set of small almond-shaped clusters of nuclei located deep within the temporal lobes of the brain. It is involved in processing emotions such as fear, anger, and pleasure. It is also essential for a body's fight-or-flight response.

The brainstem is the posterior part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord. It is responsible for the automatic survival functions and consists of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain.

Multipolar neurons are a type of neuron that possesses a single axon and many dendrites, allowing for the integration of a lot of information from other neurons. They are the most common type of neuron in the central nervous system.

A dendrite is a branched extension of a neuron that acts to conduct the electrochemical stimulation received from other neural cells to the cell body, or soma. Dendrites are essential for interneuronal communication.

The corpus callosum is a wide, thick nerve tract consisting of a flat bundle of commissural fibers, beneath the cerebral cortex in the brain. It connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres and facilitates interhemispheric communication.

Dopaminergic neurons are neurons whose primary neurotransmitter is dopamine. They play a role in reward-motivated behavior and motor control. Loss of these neurons is associated with diseases like Parkinson's disease.

A synapse is the junction between two neurons or between a neuron and a muscle or gland cell, where signal transmission occurs. It is key for the relay of signals throughout the nervous system.

Broca's Area is a region in the frontal lobe of the dominant hemisphere, usually the left, of the brain with functions linked to speech production. Language processing disorders, like Broca's aphasia, result from damage to this area.

Ventricles are a communicating network of cavities filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and located within the brain. The system of ventricles is responsible for the production, transport, and removal of CSF, which bathes the brain and spinal cord.

Microglia are a type of glial cell that act as the first and main form of active immune defense in the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia are critical in the response to neuronal injury and inflammation.

A bipolar neuron is a type of neuron that has two extensions (one axon and one dendrite). Bipolar neurons are found in the sensory pathways (for example, retina of the eye) for the sense of smell (olfactory system).

The thalamus is a large mass of gray matter deeply situated in the forebrain at the topmost portion of the diencephalon. The function of the thalamus is to relay motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex. It also regulates consciousness, sleep, and alertness.

The cerebellum is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. It is responsible for several functions including fine motor coordination, balance, equilibrium, and muscle tone. Damage to the cerebellum can lead to motor control deficits.

An axon is a long, slender projection of a neuron that typically conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body. It is relevant for the transmission of information to different neurons, muscles, and glands.

The hippocampus is a major component of the brain and plays vital roles in the consolidation of information from short-term to long-term memory and spatial memory that enables navigation. Alzheimer's disease affects the hippocampus and causes memory loss.

The meninges are the three layers of protective tissue that line the skull and vertebral canal. These layers are the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater, and they encase the central nervous system (CNS).

A Schwann cell is a type of glial cell that wraps around the axons of peripheral neurons to form the myelin sheath. It is essential for the rapid conduction of nerve impulses along myelinated neurons.

A neuron is a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell. Its relevance lies in being the basic working unit of the brain, a component of the nervous system.

A gyrus is a ridge on the cerebral cortex. It is generally surrounded by one or more sulci (grooves). Gyri and sulci create the folded appearance of the brain and increase its surface area, allowing for more cerebral cortex and greater cognitive capacity.

A sulcus is a groove or furrow on the surface of the brain, forming a boundary between gyri. The function of the sulci is to increase the surface area of the cerebral cortex which enhances neuronal capacity and cognitive abilities.

Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells in the brain and spinal cord. They have numerous roles including biochemical support of endothelial cells that form the blood-brain barrier, provision of nutrients to nervous tissue, and maintenance of extracellular ion balance.

Purkinje cells are large neurons found in the cerebellar cortex. They are crucial for motor coordination. They receive input from the cerebrum and provide output to the deep cerebellar nuclei which can directly modify motor movements.

A unipolar neuron is a type of neuron in which only one neurite (axon or dendrite) extends from the cell body. It is most often found in sensory neurons outside the brain and spinal cord and helps to transmit sensory information.