| A | B |
|---|
| central nervous system | consists of the brain and spinal cord |
| peripheral nervous system | carries information to and from the CNS; consists of nerves outside the CNS |
| neuron | base cell of the nervous system; transmit signals in response to a stimulus |
| dendrites | receive signals from other neurons and pass the impulse to the cell body |
| axon | process that extends off the cell body and conducts impulses away from the cell body |
| synapse | space between the terminal end fibers of one neuron and the dendrites of another or a receptor organ |
| neurotransmitter | chemical that crosses the synapse and continues the electric impulse in a new neuron |
| nerve | bundle of neurons that carry impulses |
| sensory nerve | nerve that carries impulses from sensory receptors to the CNS |
| motor nerve | nerve that carries impulses from the CNS to the organs that produce a response |
| plexus | a group of nerves that intersect to form a network |
| Neuroglia or glial cells | cells that provide a supportive framework |
| myelin (sheath) | white, protective covering of the axon of some neurons; helps to insulate and speed the transmission of the impulse |
| cerebrum | largest part of the brain; responsible for thought, memory, sensation |
| cerebral cortex | sheet of nerve cells that forms the outer layer of the cerebrum |
| corpus callosum | thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain |
| gyrus | fold in the cerebral cortex |
| sulcus | groove between gyri |
| ventricles | spaces or canals within the cerebrum that produce and contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) |
| thalamus | part of the brain that selectively processes and relays information from the rest of the body to the cerebral cortex; triage or relay station |
| hypothalamus | located below the thalamus; regulates the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems |
| cerebellum | part of the brain that coordinates voluntary movement and maintains balance and posture |
| brainstem | part of the brain that connects the cerebrum to the spinal cord; controls basic life functions |
| meninges | connective tissue layers that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord |
| dura mater | tough, outermost layer of the meninges |
| arachnoid membrane | middle layer of meninges; attached with web-like strands to the pia mater |
| pia mater | thin, vascular layer of the meninges that is adhered to the surface of the brain |
| cerebrospinal fluid | protects the brain and spinal cord from shock and transports nutrients and chemical messengers |
| spinal cord | column of nervous tissue that extends from the brainstem to the second lumbar vertebra |
| cranial nerves | 12 pairs of nerves that originate from the underside of the brain |
| spinal nerves | 31 pairs of nerves that branch off from the spinal cord |
| autonomic nervous system | controls the involuntary actions of the body |
| sympathetic nervous system | nerves that stimulate the body in times of stress |
| parasympathetic nervous system | nerves that bring the body back to a normal state after stress |
| anesthesiologist | medical doctor who specializes in administering anesthetic agents before and during surgery |
| anesthetist | medical professional who administers anesthetic and monitors the patient; not necessarily a physician |
| neurologist | doctor who specializes in treating disorders of the brain and nervous system |
| cell body | gathers impulses from the dendrites that branch off from it and pass the impulse to the axon |
| cauda equina | fan of nerve fibers that branch off from the base of the spinal cord |
