The Basics
The nervous system is the body’s primary system for sending and receiving these.
What are signals or messages?
The CNS consists of these two main structures.
What are the brain and spinal cord?
The PNS connects the CNS to this.
What is the rest of the body?
The basic building block of the nervous system is called this.
What is a neuron?
The spinal cord connects the brain to this system.
What is the peripheral nervous system?
The nervous system is divided into two major parts: CNS and this.
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
The spinal cord’s main role is to transmit messages between the brain and these.
What are the rest of the body / peripheral nerves?
The PNS has two main divisions: the somatic nervous system and this.
What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?
The long, threadlike part of a neuron that sends messages is called this.
What is the axon?
Reflexes are fast responses that occur through this part of the CNS.
What is the spinal cord?
This type of neuron carries information from the body to the CNS.
What are sensory neurons (afferent neurons)?
The CNS is protected by bones, meninges, and this clear fluid.
What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
This subdivision of the ANS prepares the body for fight-or-flight responses.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
The branching fibers that receive messages from other neurons are called this.
What are dendrites?
This part of the brainstem controls heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.
What is the medulla?
This type of neuron carries instructions from the CNS to muscles and glands.
What are motor neurons (efferent neurons)?
This part of the brain coordinates balance, movement, and posture.
What is the cerebellum?
This subdivision of the ANS calms the body and conserves energy.
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
This electrical signal travels down the axon to trigger neurotransmitter release.
What is an action potential?
The PNS relays sensory information to this part of the brain for processing.
What is the cerebral cortex?
The nervous system communicates through these chemical and electrical processes.
What are action potentials and neurotransmitters?
The CNS integrates sensory information and sends commands through this network of neurons.
DAILY DOUBLE: What is the central neural network / interneurons?
Sensory information from organs and muscles travels to the CNS via these nerves.
What are afferent (sensory) nerves?
Neurotransmitters cross this gap to transmit signals to the next neuron.
What is the synapse (synaptic cleft)?
DOUBLE OR NOTHING: The CNS and PNS work together to maintain this type of stability in the body.
What is homeostasis?