Module 10-12 Word Scramble

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Term	Definition
Nervous system	the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
Central Nervous System	the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System	the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.
Nerves	bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
Sensory/Afferent neurons	neurons that carry incoming information from the body's tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.
Motor/Efferent neurons	neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.
Interneurons	neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
Somatic nervous system	the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system
Autonomic Nervous system	the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
Sympathetic nervous system	the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy.
parasympathetic nervous system	the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy.
Reflex	a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.
Endocrine system	the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones	chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.
Adrenal glands	a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.
Pituitary gland	the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Lesion	tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
EEG (electroencephalogram)	an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
MEG (magnetoencephalography)	a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity.
CT (computed tomography) scan	a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure. (Also called CAT scan.)
PET (positron emission tomography) scan	a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.
fMRI (functional MRI)	a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure.
brainstem	the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions.
medulla	the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.
Thalamus	the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
reticular formation	a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.
cerebellum	the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.
limbic system	neural system (including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
amygdala	two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.
hypothalamus	a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.
hippocampus	a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events.
cerebral cortex	the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.
Frontal lobes	the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.
parietal lobes	the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
occipital lobes	the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.
temporal lobes	the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.
motor cortex	an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.
somatosensory cortex	an area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
association areas	areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
plasticity	the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.
neurogenesis	the formation of new neurons.

Created by: lores_cave