Term | Definition |
homeostasis | regulation of an organism's internal, life-sustaining conditions |
neuron | basic functioning unit of the nervous system; made up of a cell body, dendrites, and axons |
axon | neuron structure that carries messages away from the cell body |
dendrite | neuron structure that receives messages and sends them to the cell body |
synapse | small space across which an impulse moves from an axon to the dendrites or cell body of another neuron |
central nervous system | division of the nervous system, made up of the brain and spinal cord |
peripheral nervous system | division of the nervous system, made up of all the nerves outside the Central Nervous System, connects the brain and spinal cord to other body parts |
cerebrum | largest part of the brain, where memory is stored, movements are controlled, and impulses from the senses are interpreted |
cerebellum | part of the brain that controls voluntary muscle movements,maintains muscle tone, and helps maintain balance |
brain stem | connects the brain to the spinal cord and is made up of the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla |
reflex | simple innate behavior, such as yawning or blinking, that is an automatic response and does not involve a message to the brain; automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus; controlled by the spinal cord |
retina | light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye; contains rods and cones |
cochlea | fluid-filled structure in the ear in which sound vibrations are converted into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain |
olfactory cell | nasal nerve cell that becomes stimulated by molecules in the air and sends impulses to the brain for interpretation of odors |
taste bud | major sensory receptor on the tongue; contains taste hairs that send impulses to the brain for interpretation of tastes |