| A | B |
|---|
| Central Nervous System CNS | The brain and the spinal cord are the major components of this system. |
| Peripheral Nervous System PNS | Nerves which branch off of the brain and spinal cord |
| cerebrum | Brain area involved in conscience actions...thinking. |
| cerebellum | Area of brain which coordinates complex muscle actions which allow for overall balance |
| brainstem | Portion of brain which coordinates basic activities such as breathing, heartbeat, and saliva. |
| cerebral cortex. | The highly folded portion of the brain which gives, receives and handles lots of information. |
| Neurons | name for a neural cell. |
| cranial nerves | Connected to the brain by 24 nerves |
| spinal nerves | Connected to the spinal cord by 62 nerves. |
| dendrite | the branches which come off the cell body of a neuron which receives incoming stimulus. |
| axon | the long extension coming off the cell body of a neuron which transmits the signal to the axon terminal. |
| myelin sheath | fatty tissue which insulates the axon allowing for faster nerve transmission.. |
| neurotransmitter | special chemicals which transmit information across the synapse from one neuron to another. |
| synapse | the gap between neurons which act as a gate keeper, allowing selective transmissions to cross. |
| sensory neurons | neurons which take information directly to the brain. |
| interneuron | neurons which connect other neurons together. |
| somatic nervous system | system responsible for voluntary movements. |
| autonomic nervous system | system responsible for involuntary bodily functions. |
| fight or flight response | a hardwired response in your brain which allows you to respond instantaneously without thought in order to survive. |
| endocrine system | System which uses chemicals instead of impulses to cause changes in the body. |
| hormones | chemical messengers that circulate throughout the blood system interacting with certain cells causing changes. |
| thyroid gland | Produces a hormone which speeds up the rate at which most cells burn their fuel for energy. |
| pituitary gland | Gland in your brain which works closely with neurons in your brain. |
| adrenal glands | sit atop your kidneys where it can release epinephrine which floods the blood with all available fuel for flight or fight scenarios. |
| thymus gland | Gland which targets stem cells for the production of white blood cells for disease defense. |
| homeostasis | occurs when all your bodily systems work together maintaining a stable, healthy condition. |
