Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals Flashcards

Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is primarily responsible for processing somatosensory information such as touch and pain?

Answer: Parietal lobe

The parietal lobe houses the primary somatosensory cortex, which processes touch, pressure, temperature, and pain signals from the body.

The autonomic nervous system's parasympathetic division primarily uses which neurotransmitter at its target organs?

Answer: Acetylcholine

Parasympathetic postganglionic neurons release acetylcholine at target organs, producing rest-and-digest responses.

Which brain structure is most directly involved in converting short-term memories into long-term memories?

Answer: Hippocampus

The hippocampus plays a critical role in memory consolidation, transferring information from short-term to long-term storage.

During the stress response, cortisol is released from which gland?

Answer: Adrenal cortex

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid secreted by the adrenal cortex in response to ACTH stimulation during the stress response.

Which neurotransmitter system is most strongly implicated in the reward pathway and motivation, relevant to understanding addiction?

Answer: Dopaminergic system

The mesolimbic dopamine pathway, particularly projections from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens, is central to reward and addiction.

The blood-brain barrier is primarily formed by which cells?

Answer: Astrocytes

Astrocyte end-feet wrap around cerebral capillaries and induce tight junction formation in endothelial cells, forming the blood-brain barrier.

Which division of the peripheral nervous system carries sensory information from the body to the central nervous system?

Answer: Afferent division

The afferent (sensory) division carries impulses from sensory receptors toward the CNS, providing information about internal and external environments.