3.5.1 Major Glands

QuestionAnswer
sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response
adrenal gland
drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter
agonist
long strand of genetic information
chromosome
branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons
dendrite
disease related to insufficient insulin production
diabetes
sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics
gene
nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport
glial cell
secretes sexual hormones, which are important for successful reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior
gonad
(plural: gyri) bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex
gyrus
left or right half of the brain
hemisphere
chemical messenger released by endocrine glands
hormone
chemical messenger of the nervous system
neurotransmitter
secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar
pancreas
secretes a number of key hormones, which regulate fluid levels in the body, and a number of messenger hormones, which direct the activity of other glands in the endocrine system
pituitary gland
involves injecting individuals with a mildly radioactive substance and monitoring changes in blood flow to different regions of the brain
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance
psychotropic medication
protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach
receptor
(plural: sulci) depressions or grooves in the cerebral cortex
sulcus
storage site for neurotransmitters
synaptic vesicle
axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles
terminal button
secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite
thyroid

The content of this course has been taken from the free Psychology textbook by Openstax