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Chpt49_Nervous_Syste
Vocabulary from Chapter 49 of Holt Modern Biology - The Nervous System
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Nervous System | A complex network of cells that communicate with one another, controls mental and physical activities and maintains homeostasis |
| Neuron | A single nerve cell |
| Dendrites | Membrane-covered extensions from the cell which receive information from other neurons or other cells and carry the information toward the cell body |
| Axon | A long membrane-bound projection that transmits information away from the cell body in the form of electrical signals |
| Action potential | The electrical signals used by the nervous system to communicate |
| Myelin sheath | A lipid layer which insulates the axon of neurons and enables them to signal faster |
| Synapses | The junction between two neurons |
| Neurotransmitters | Chemicals released by a neuron to communicate with other neurons or cells |
| Membrane potential | A difference in the electrical charge across the cell membrane |
| Resting potential | The membrane potential when a neuron is at rest or not firing |
| Refractory period | The period during which a neuron cannot send a signal |
| Central nervous system | Composed of the brain and spinal cord |
| Peripheral nervous system | Consists of neurons that have cell bodies that are not included in the brain and spinal cord |
| Cerebrum | The largest portion of the human brain |
| Brain stem | A portion of the brain that lies below the cerebrum and links it to the spinal cord; controls automatic functions like breathing, heart rate, and respiration as well as emotion, memory, nad motivation |
| Cerebellum | The "small brain" that coordinates muscle action |
| Nerves | Bundled axons and dendrites of neurons found outside the central nervous system |
| Sensory receptors | Neurons which are specialized to detect a stimulus such as light, pressure, or heat |
| Motor neurons | Neurons which carry information from the central nervous system to muscles and glands |
| Somatic nervous system | The division of the peripheral nervous system that contains the motor neurons that control the movement of skeletal muscles; controls voluntary movement |
| Autonomic nervous system | The division of the peripheral motor system that controls internal body conditions such as respiration, heartbeat, digestion, and other aspects of homeostasis |
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