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- Glossary
Gesture
A nonverbal form of communication in which certain movements convey meaning – a shrug of the shoulders, a dismissive wave of the arm.
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- Glossary
Vitreous body
The vitreous body consists of a gel-like substance inside the eye that supports the shape of the eye.
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- Glossary
Glial cells
Glia cells are the second largest group of cells in the brain after neurons. For a long time, they were considered inactive elements of the brain, referred to as "nerve cement." Today, we know that the different types of glia cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia in the CNS; Schwann cells in the PNS) perform clearly defined tasks in the nervous system. For example, they respond to pathogens, play an important role in nourishing nerve cells, and insulate nerve fibers. They account for slightly more than 50 percent of the brain's cells, compared to neurons.
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- Glossary
Gliotransmitter
Chemical messengers released by astrocytes and other glial cells. They enable glial cells to communicate with other cells in the nervous system, for example when forming a synapse. The most common types of gliotransmitters are the amino acids glutamate and D-serine, as well as adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
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- Glossary
Pallidum
The globus pallidus, also known as the pallidum, is an important nucleus of the basal ganglia. It is a motor nucleus of the extrapyramidal system involved in the regulation of movement. The pallidum has an inhibitory and an excitatory part. The Latin name pallidus – pale – refers to the color of this nucleus.
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- Glossary
Glutamate
Glutamate is an amino acid and the most important excitatory neurotransmitter, which acts as a messenger substance in the transmission of information between neurons at their synapses.
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- Glossary
Golgi’s method
A staining method that can be used to visualize entire nerve cells. When Italian physician and scientist Camillo Golgi (1843–1926) treated nerve tissue with a solution of potassium dichromate and silver nitrate, small crystals of silver chromate formed in the cells – but only in every 10th cell. Golgi initially called his method the "black reaction." With the help of this process, it was shown that the entire nervous system consists of individual neurons.
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- Glossary
Golgi tendon organ
The Golgi tendon organ is a sensor located at the junction between the tendon and the muscle. It reacts primarily to muscle contraction and can thus register muscle tension. This in turn provides information about the position of individual body parts in space.
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- Glossary
Gray matter
Grey matter refers to a collection of nerve cell bodies, such as those found in nuclei or in the cortex.
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- Glossary
Cerebrum
The cerebrum comprises the cerebral cortex (gray matter), the nerve fibers (white matter), and the basal ganglia. It is the largest part of the brain. The cortex can be divided into four cortical areas: the temporal lobe, frontal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe.Its functions include the coordination of perception, motivation, learning, and thinking.
