Term | Definition |
Regulation | the way your body controls its internal environment (another word for homeostasis) |
Irritability | Ability to respond to stimuli |
Impulse | is the action potential of a axon of a neruon |
Stimulus | something that causes a change in the environment which results in a change in an organism to which a response will occur. |
Response | action resulting from the stimulus. |
Receptor | a body part that receives a stimulus (eye, skin, eardrum, etc.) - they contain a LOT of nerves close to the surface of your body! |
Neuron | cell that carries messages through the nervous system (a nerve cell) |
Effector | body parts that respond to nervous system command. They can
be muscles or glands. |
Cell body | contains the NUCLEUS and other organelles. It is the site for metabolic activities. |
Dendrites | hair-like structures, which receive impulse(s) first. |
Cell body | contains the NUCLEUS and other organelles. It is the site for metabolic activities. |
Axon | long thin structure that carries impulse away from cell body to an EFFECTOR (muscle or gland) or other neurons. |
Meninges | is the largest. It has a right and left HEMISPHERE and CONVOLUTION (folds). |
Cerebrum | means “LITTLE BRAIN “. It too has a left and right hemisphere and
convolutions. Itmaintains BALANCE (equilibrium) and controls all voluntary and some involuntary movement. |
Cerebellum | region of the brain that coordinates body movements |
Medulla oblongata | part of brain connected to spinal cord; monitors basic, involuntary body functions – breathing, circulation, etc. ; processes involuntary reflexes such as coughing, vomiting, blinking |
Central nervous system (CNS) | Brain and spinal cord |
Peripheral nervous system (PNS) | All of the parts of the nervous system, except for the brain and spinal cord |
Meninges | three layers of connective tissue in which the brain and spinal cord are wrapped |
Neurotransmitter(s) | are brain chemicals that allow transmission of signals from one neuron to another. |