| A | B |
|---|
| central nervous system | consists of the brain and the spinal cord |
| peripheral nervous system | made up of nerve cells that send messages between the central nervous system and all the parts of the body |
| neurons | run through our entire body communicating with each other |
| cell body | produces energy that fuels the activity of the cell |
| dendrites | thin fibers that branch out from the cell body |
| limbic system | a group of neural structures at the base of the cerebral hemishperes that is associated with emotion and motivation |
| cerebrum | a large mass of the forebrain, consisting of two hemispheres |
| cerebral cortex | the bumpy, convoluted surface of the brain; the body's control and information processing center |
| corpus callosum | the nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres of the cerebral cortex |
| association areas | areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in such mental operations, thinking, memory, lerning and problem solving |
| endocrine system | glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream |
| hormones | chemicals produced by the endocrine glands that regulate specific body functions |
| heredity | genetic transmission of traits from one generation to the next |
| genes | basic building blocks of heredity |
| chromosomes | microscopic threadlike structure in the nucleus of every living cell that contains a nucleus |
| axon | a long tubelike structure attached to a neuron that transmits impluses away form the neuron cell body |
| myelin | a white, fatty substance that insulates axons and enables rapid transimission of neural impulses |
| axon terminals | small fibers branching out from an axon |
| synapse | the junction between the axon terminals of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron |
| neurotransmitters | a chemical messenger that carries impulses across the synaptic gaps between neurons |
| cerebellum | the area of the brain that is responsible of voluntary movement and balance. |
| reticular activating system | the part of the brian that is involed in attention sleep and arousal. |
| thalamus | the structure of the brain that relays messages from the sense organs to the cerebral cortex. |
| hypothalasum | the neural structure located below the thalamus that controls temperature, hunger, thirst, and various aspects of emotion. |
| spinal cord | the column of nerves that transmits messages between the brain and the muscles and glands |
| somatic nervous system | system that transmits sensory messages to the central nervous system |
| automomic nervous system | system that controls vital non voluntary body systems. |
| medulla | a part of the brain that controls heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. |
| pons | a part of the brain that controls body movement, attention, sleep, and alertness. |
