Basics
This system controls and coordinates the body.
What is the nervous system?
The basic building block of the nervous system.
What is a neuron?
A fast, automatic, subconscious response.
What is a reflex?
These three membranes protect the brain and spinal cord.
What are the meninges?
The largest part of the brain responsible for higher thinking.
What is the cerebrum?
The brain and spinal cord together form this division.
What is the central nervous system (CNS)?
These cells support, nourish, and protect neurons.
What are neuroglia (glial cells)?
The simplest neural pathway is called this.
What is a reflex arc?
The tough outermost meningeal layer.
What is the dura mater?
This structure connects the left and right hemispheres.
What is the corpus callosum?
This division connects the CNS to the rest of the body.
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
This part of the neuron carries impulses away from the cell body.
What is the axon?
Sensory neurons are also called this type of pathway.
What is afferent?
This spinal cord region provides nerves to the upper limbs.
What is the cervical enlargement?
The brain region that maintains balance and coordinates movement.
What is the cerebellum?
Put these three functions in the correct order: motor output, integration, sensory input.
What is sensory input → integration → motor output?
These receive signals from other neurons.
What are dendrites?
Motor neurons are also called this type of pathway.
What is efferent?
These carry sensory information to the brain.
What are ascending tracts?
The thalamus acts as this for sensory information.
What is a relay station?
Sensory receptors detect changes inside or outside the body. This step of nervous system function is called this.
What is sensory input?
These chemical messengers carry signals across a synapse.
What are neurotransmitters?
Interneurons mainly do this job in the CNS.
What is processing/integration of information?
This region looks like a butterfly or “H” and contains cell bodies. What is the synapse?
What is gray matter?
This brainstem part controls heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.
What is the medulla oblongata?