Question | Answer |
acetylcholine | neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of some nerve cells |
arachnoid memebrane | middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. |
astrocyte | a type of glial (neuroglial) cell; connective, supporting cell of the nervous system. Transport water and salts from capillaries |
autonomic nervous system | nerves that control involutary body functions of muscles, glands and internal organs |
axon | microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell |
blood-brain barrier | blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out |
brain stem | lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord. (pons and medulla) |
cauda equina | collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord |
cell body | part of the nerve cell that contains the nucleus |
central nervous system (CNS) | brain and spinal cord |
cerebellum | part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance |
cerebral cortex | outer region of the cerebrum; containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain |
cerbrospinal fluid (CFS) | fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord |
cerebrum | lagest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought and memory |
dendrite | microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to recieve the nervous impulse |
dura mater | thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protectiong the brain and spinal cord |
ependymal cell | a cell that lines the fluid-filled sacs of the brain and spinal cord |
ganglion | a collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system |
glial cell (neuroglia) | cells in the nervous system that do not carry impulses but are supportive and connective in function |
gyrus | sheets of nerves cells that produce elevation in the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution |
hypothalamus | portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland |
medulla oblongata | the part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat and the size fo blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here |
meninges | three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord |
microglial cell | one type of glial cell ( phagocyte) |
motor nerves | carry messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organ; efferent nerves |
myelin sheath | fatty tissue that surrounds, protects and insulates the axon of a nerve cell |
nerve | macroscopic structure consisting of axons and dendrites in bundles like strands of rope |
neuron | a nerve cell; carries impulses throughout the body. |
neurotransmitter | chemical messenger, released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell or gland cell |
oligodendroglial cell | glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons |
parasympathetic nerves | involuntary, autonomic nerves that help regulate body functions idle heart rate and respiration |
parenchyma | essential distingushing cells of an organ |
peripheral nervous system | nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal and autonomic nerves |
pia mater | thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges |
plexus | large interlacing network of nerves |
pons | part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the brain. It is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain |
receptor | organ that receives a nervous stimulation and passes it on to nerves within the body. the skin, ears, and taste buds are examples |
sensory nerves | carry messages to the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerves. |
stimulus | change (light, sound, touch) in the internal or external environment that evokes a response |
stroma | connective and supporting tissue of an organ e.g. glial cells |
sulcus | depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex tissue |
sympathetic nerves | autonomic nerves that influence body function involuntarily in times of stress |
synapse | the space (juncture through which a nervous impulse is transmitted from one neuron to another or from a neuron to another cell such as a muscle or gland cell |
thalamus | main relay center of the brain |
ventricles of the brain | reservoirs (canals) in the interior of the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid |