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Chapter 6 Vocab List
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| central nervous system (CNS) | the brain & spinal cord |
| spinal cord | nerves that run up & down the length of the back & transmit most messages between the body & brain |
| peripheral nervous system (PNS) | nerves branching beyond the spinal cord into the body |
| neurons | the long, thin cells of nerve tissue along which messages travel to & from the brain |
| synapse | the gap that exists between individual nerve cells |
| neurotransmitters | the chemicals released by neurons, which determine the rate at which other neurons fire |
| somatic nervous system (SNS) | the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles |
| autonomic nervous system (ANS) | the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls internal biological functions |
| hindbrain | a part of the brain located at the rear base of the skull that is involved in the basic processes of life |
| midbrain | a small part of the brain above the pons that arouses the brain, integrates sensory information, & relays it upward |
| forebrain | a part of the brain that covers the brain's central core, responsible for sensory & motor control & the processing of thinking & language |
| lobes | the different regions into which the cerebral cortex is divided |
| electroencephalograph (EEG) | a machine used to record the electrical activity of large portions of the brain |
| computerized axial tomography (CT) | an imaging technique used to study the brain to pinpoint injuries & brain deterioration |
| position emission tomography (PET) | an imaging technique used to see which brain areas are being activated while performing tasks |
| magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | a measuring technique use to study brain structure & activity |
| endocrine system | a chemical communication system, using hormones, by which messages are sent through the bloodstream |
| hormones | chemical substances that carry messages through the body in blood |
| pituitary gland | the center of control of the endocrine system that secretes a large number of hormones |