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Leach PSY chapter 3
Question | Answer |
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central nervous system | the part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord |
peripheral nervous system | the neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body, including the muscles and glands |
neurons | nerve cells; the basic building blocks of the nervous system |
cell body | the part of a neuron that produces the energy needed for the activity of the cell |
dendrites | the branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive impulses and conduct them toward the cell body |
axon | a long tubelike structure attached to a neuron that transmits impulses away from the neuron cell body |
myelin | a white, fatty substance that insulates axons and enables rapid transmission 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 |
neurotransmitter | a chemical messenger that carries impulses across the synaptic gaps between neurons |
spinal cord | a column of nerves within the spine that transmit messages to and from the brain |
somatic nervous system | the division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system with sensory receptors, muscles, and the skin |
autonomic nervous system | the subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates body functions, such as respiration and digestion |
medulla | a structure at the base of the brain stem that controls vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing |
pons | a brain structure located at the top of the brain stem that is involved in respiration, movement, and sleep |
cerebellum | the area of the brain that is responsible for voluntary movement and balance |
reticular activating system | the part of the brain that is involved in attention, sleep, and arousal |
thalamus | the structure of the brain that relays messages from the sense organs to the cerebral cortex |
hypothalamus | the neural structure located below the thalamus that controls temperature, hunger, thirst, and various aspects of emotion |
limbic system | a group of neural structures at the base of the cerebral hemispheres that is associated with emotion and motivation |
cerebrum | the 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 as thinking, memory, learning, and problem solving |
endocrine system | the glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream |
hormones | chemicals produced by the endocrine glands that regulate specific body functions |
heredity | the genetic transmission of traits from one generation to the next |
genes | the basic building blocks of heredity |
chromosome | a microscopic threadlike structure in the nucleus of every living cell; it contains genes, the basic units of heredity |