Ch. 7.6 Nervous System Key Terms
What is the Autonomic nervous system?
Controls involuntary body functions and regulates actions of internal organs.
What is the Brain?
Mass of nerve tissue well protected by membranes and the cranium.
What is the Central nervous system?
Consists of the brain and spinal cord.
What is the Cerebellum?
Responsible for muscle coordination, balance, posture, and muscle tone.
What is Cerebrospinal fluid?
Clear fluid that circulates between ventricles and acts as a shock absorber and carrier of nutrients and waste.
What is the Cerebrum?
Largest part of the brain responsible for thought, memory, reasoning, voluntary movement, sensation, speech, and the senses (vision, hearing, smell).
What is the Diencephalon?
Section of the brain containing the thalamus and hypothalamus.
What is the Hypothalamus?
Regulates autonomic nervous system, temperature, appetite, water balance, sleep, emotions, and blood vessel constriction/dilation.
What is the Medulla oblongata?
Lower part of the brainstem controlling heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, swallowing, and coughing.
What are the Meninges?
Three membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.
What is the Midbrain?
Conducts impulses between brain parts and controls eye and auditory reflexes.
What are Nerves?
Bundles of many nerve fibers located outside the brain and spinal cord.
What is the Nervous system?
Complex, highly organized system that coordinates all activities of the body.
What is a Neuron?
Basic structural unit of the nervous system; nerve cell that transmits impulses.
What is the Parasympathetic system?
Part of the autonomic nervous system that counteracts the sympathetic system by slowing activities and returning the body to normal after stress.
What is the Peripheral nervous system?
Consists of nerves and includes sensory and motor nerves.
What is the Pons?
Section of the brainstem that conducts messages and helps with respiration, chewing, tasting, and saliva production.
What is the Somatic nervous system?
Carries motor and sensory messages to and from the body.
What is the Spinal cord?
Continuation of the medulla that carries messages between the brain and body.
What is the Sympathetic system?
Part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for emergency action (fight or flight).
What is the Thalamus?
Relay center that directs sensory impulses to the cerebrum and recognizes pain and temperature.
What are Ventricles?
Hollow spaces in the brain that produce and store cerebrospinal fluid.