Ch. 7.6 Nervous System Key Terms
What is the autnomic nervous system?
Part of the peripheral nervous system, it includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It works to control involuntary body functions, maintain balance, and allow the body to react in emergencies.
What is the cerebrum?
The largest and highest section of the brain. It handles reasoning, thought, memory, judgment, speech, sensation, sight, smell, hearing, and voluntary body movement.
What is the midbrain?
The section below the cerebrum at the top of the brainstem. It conducts impulses between brain parts and is responsible for certain eye and auditory reflexes.
What is the peripheral nervous system?
One of the two main divisions of the nervous system. It consists of the nerves and is divided into the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
What is the thalamus?
A structure in the diencephalon that acts as a relay center, directing sensory impulses to the cerebrum. It also allows conscious recognition of pain and temperature
What is the brain?
A mass of nerve tissue protected by membranes and the cranium (skull).
What is the diencephalon?
The section located between the cerebrum and midbrain, which contains the thalamus and hypothalamus.
What is the nerves?
A combination of many nerve fibers located outside the brain and spinal cord.
The section located below the midbrain in the brainstem. It conducts messages, assists with respiration, and is involved in reflex actions like chewing, tasting, and saliva production.
What is the ventricles?
Four hollow spaces within the brain that connect with each other and the subarachnoid space. They are filled with cerebrospinal fluid
What is the central nervous system (CNS)?
One of the two main divisions of the nervous system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
What is the hypothalamus?
A structure in the diencephalon that regulates the autonomic nervous system, temperature, appetite, water balance, sleep, and blood vessel constriction/dilation. It's also involved in emotions.
What is the nervous system?
: A complex, highly organized system that coordinates all body activities and enables the body to respond and adapt to internal and external changes.
What is the somatic nervous system?
A division of the peripheral nervous system that carries messages between the CNS and the body. It consists of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves.
What is cerebellum?
The section of the brain below the back of the cerebrum. It's responsible for muscle coordination, balance, posture, and muscle tone.
What is the medulla oblongata?
The lowest part of the brainstem, connecting to the spinal cord. It's responsible for regulating heartbeat, respiration, swallowing, coughing, and blood pressure.
What is the neuron?
The basic structural unit of the nervous system (or nerve cell). It consists of a cell body, dendrites (which carry impulses toward the cell body), and an axon (which carries impulses away).
What is the spinal cord?
Continues down from the medulla oblongata and is protected by the vertebrae. It is responsible for many reflex actions and for carrying sensory (afferent) messages to the brain and motor (efferent) messages from the brain.
What is the cerebrospinal fluid?
A clear, colorless fluid that fills the ventricles and circulates through the subarachnoid space. It acts as a shock absorber, carries nutrients, and helps remove waste.
What is the meninges?
Three membranes (dura mater, arachnoid membrane, and pia mater) that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.
What is the parasympathetic?
A division of the autonomic nervous system. It counteracts the sympathetic system after an emergency by slowing heart rate, decreasing respiration, lowering blood pressure, and increasing digestive activity.
What is the sympathetic?
A division of the autonomic nervous system. In emergencies, it prepares the body to act (the "fight or flight" response) by increasing heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure while slowing digestion.