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 nueral structures at the base of the cerebral hemishperes that is associated with emotion and motivation |
cerebrum | a large mass of the forbrain, consisting of two hemisperes |
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 resonsible of volntary 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 neral structure cocated below the thalamus that controls temperature, hunger, thirst, and various aspects of emotion. |
spinal cord | the colum of nerves that trasmits messages between the brain and the musles and glands |
somatic nervous system | system that trasmits 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. |