Term | Definition |
Gland | Release hormone directly into the bloodstream |
Hormones | products which deliver messages to body once they reach their target cell |
Target cells | have specific receptors for specific hormones |
Pituitary | Located in the brain and produces HGH and TSH. |
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) | Regulates growth in the body |
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) | Stimulates the thyroid to function |
Hypothalamus | Located in the brain, releases secretions that control the pituitary gland |
Thyroid | Located in the neck, produces the hormone Thyroxine |
Thyroxine | Regulates metabolism |
Parathyroid | Located embedded in the thyroid, produces parathormone |
Parathormone | Regulates calcium levels in the blood |
Pancreas | Located near the stomach and liver, produces insulin and glucagon |
Insulin | Regulates blood sugar when it too high |
Glucagon | Regulates blood sugar when it's too low |
Ovaries | Located near the uterus, produces estrogen and progesterone |
Estrogen | Produces secondary sex characteristics in females |
Progesterone | Regulates the menstrual cycle |
Testes | Located in the scrotum, produces testosterone |
Testosterone | Produces secondary sex characteristics in men |
Goiter | Enlargement of the thyroid due to a lack of iodine |
Gigantism | The overproduction of human growth hormone |
Type 2 Diabetes | Pancreas is not able to make properly enough Insulin for the boy, usually do to being overweight or poor diet |
Type 1 Diabetes | Pancreas inability to make Insulin, usually diagnosed at a young age |
Nervous System | A network of nerves and fibers that work together to send signals throughout the body |
Central Nervous System (CNS) | Comprised of the brain and spinal cord |
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) | Comprised of all the neurons outside the CNS, such as sensory and motor neurons |
Brain | Body's main processing center that coordinates the body's ability to maintain homeostasis |
Spinal Cord | A column of nerves that connects the peripheral nervous system |
Sensory Nerves | Carry information to the CNS from the sense organs |
Motor Nerves | Carry commands from the CNS to the target muscle or organ |
Autonomic | Nerves that are not in the conscious control |
Somatic | Nerves that are under the conscious control |
Neuron | A specialized cell that can transmit a nerve impulse from one place to another throughout the entire body |
Dendrites | The fibers that direct incoming pulses to the cell body |
Cyton / Cell Body | Interrupts and directs incoming pulses |
Axon | Carries the impulses from the cyton to the terminal branches |
Myelin Sheath | Covered in a fatty coating over the axon |
Terminal Branches | The fibers that lead away from the axon to the dendrites of the next neurons |
Synapse | Space between the terminal branches of one neuron and the dendrites of another neuron |
Neurotransmitters | A chemical substance that is secreted by the terminal branches |
Nerve | A bundle of neurons |
Ganglion | A bundle of nerves |
Brain | A complex bundle of ganglions |
Reflex Arc | A quick involuntary reaction to a stimuli |
Stimulus | Any change in the external or internal environment |
Receptor | Specialized neurons that pick up external stimuli |
Sensory Neurons | Gets information from the receptors, usually comes from one of the senses |
Impulse | The electrochemical signals that is created and travels across neurons |
Interneuron | Relay the message between the motor and sensory neurons |
Motor Neuron | The neurons that carry commands to the target muscle or organ |
Effector | Structures that produce a response from a stimuli, example muscles |
Response | A reaction an organism makes to a specific stimuli; a reflex is an uncontrolled response to a stimuli |
Cerebrum | it is responsible for sensory and nervous system functions, also voluntary activity in the body |
Cerebellum | Its function is to coordinate and regulate muscular activity. |
Medulla | Controls and regulates involuntary functions |
Cerebral Palsy | A condition caused by damage to the brain before or at birth; causes impaired muscle coordination and speech issues |
Meningitis | An inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal |
Polio | A viral disease of the CNS that results in severe paralysis |
Stroke | A disorder when brain function is impaired or destroyed from lack of oxygen |