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Chapter 3
Chapter 3 vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Central Nervous System | the part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and the spinal chord |
| Peripheral Nervous System | made up the nerve cell that send messages between the central nervous system and all the parts of the body |
| Neurons | (nerve cell) the basic building blocks of the nervous system |
| Cell Body | produces energy that fuels the activity of the cell |
| Dendrites | the branch like extensions of a neuron that receive impulses and conduct them toward the cell body |
| Axon | a tube like structure attached to a neuron that transmits impulses and conduct them toward the 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 |
| Neurotransmitters | chemicals that are stored in sacs in the axon terminals |
| Spinal Chord | 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 reproductions and digestion |
| Medulla | a structure at the brace 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 the 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 system |
| 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 the regulate specific body functions |
| Heredity | the genetic transformation of traits from one generation to the next |
| Genes | the basic building blocks of heredity |
| Chromosomes | a microscopic threadlike structure in the nucleus of every living cell; it contains genes, the basic units of heredity |