Term | Definition |
Central Nervous System | brain and spinal cord |
Peripheral Nervous System | all the parts of the nervous system except for the brain and spinal cord |
Neuron | a nerve cell that is specialized and conduct electrical impulses |
Impulses | electrical messages |
axon | the long extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the body of the cell |
axon terminal | the hair -like ends of the axon |
cell body | contains the nucleus known as the soma |
dendrites | branching structure of a neuron that receives messages |
myelin sheath | fatty substance that srrounds and protects some nerve fibers |
Node of Ranvier | one of the many gaps in the myelin sheath; where action potential occurs |
nucleus | organelle in the cell body that contains genetic material |
Schwann's cells | cells that produce myelin |
Somatic nervous system | under YOUR control |
Autonomic Nervous System | you don't control or think about it Example: digestion and heart rate |
brain | the organ that is the main control center of the nervous system |
involuntary | automatically happens |
voluntary | you move |
cerebrum | largest part of the brain; where you think and most memories are stored; sense touch, light, sound, odors, taste, pain, heat, and cold |
left hemisphere | part of the cerebrum that controls the right side of the body; writing, solving problems, speaking, reading |
right hemisphere | part of the cerebrum that controls the left side of the body; music, spatial thinking, interpreting emotions |
cerebellum | processes sensory information from your body; keeping your balance and shifting weight |
medulla | connects to the spinal cord; controls involuntary processes; blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and involuntary breathing |