Ch. 7.6 Nervous System Key Terms
Controls the involuntary body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion, and glandular secretions.
Section of the brain located between the cerebrum and midbrain; contains the thalamus and hypothalamus.
Diencephalon
A combination of many nerve fibers located outside the brain and spinal cord.
Nerves
Section of the brain located below the midbrain and in the front of the cerebellum; responsible for conducting messages to other parts of the brain; reflex actions including chewing, tasting, and saliva production.
Pons
Four hollow spaces in the brain that connect with each other and with the space under the arachnoid membrane; they are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.
Ventricles
A mass of nerve tissue that is well protected by membranes and the cranium, or skull.
Brain
Structure in the diencephalon that regulates and controls the autonomic nervous system, temperature, appetite, water balance, sleep, and blood vessel constriction and dilation.
Hypothalamus
Complex, highly organized system that coordinates all the activities of the body.
Nervous system
Carries messages between the CNS and the body's skeletal muscles; voluntary system.
Somatic nervous system
Section of the brain located below the back of the cerebrum; responsible for muscle coordination, balance, posture, and muscle tone.
Cerebellum
Lowest part of the brainstem; connects with the spinal cord; regulates heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, swallowing, coughing, and sneezing
Medulla oblongata
The basic structural unit of the nervous system; a nerve cell.
Neuron
Continues down from the medulla oblongata and ends at the first or second lumbar vertebrae; carries sensory (afferent) messages to the brain and motor (efferent) messages from the brain to the nerves that go to the muscles and glands.
Spinal cord
Clear, colorless fluid that fills the four ventricles of the brain, acts as a shock absorber and is a source of nutrients for the brain and spinal cord.
Cerebrospinal fluid
Three membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.
Meningis
Counteracts the actions of the sympathetic system by slowing down heart rate, decreasing respiration, lowering blood pressure, and increasing activity in the digestive tract
Parasympathetic
Prepares the body to act by increasing heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure, and by slowing down activity in the digestive tract.
Sympathetic
Largest section of the brain; responsible for thought, reasoning, memory, speech, sensation, sight, smell, hearing, and voluntary body movement.
Cerebrum
Section located below the cerebrum at the top of the brainstem; responsible for conducting impulses between brain parts and for certain eye and auditory reflexes.
Midbrain
Consists of the nerves that extend from the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral nervous system
Structure in the diencephalon that acts as a relay center and directs sensory impulses to the cerebrum; allows conscious recognition of pain and temperature.
Thalamus