Ch. 7.6 Nervous System Key Terms
Part of the peripheral nervous system. It "contains the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which work together to control involuntary body functions"
Autonomic nervous system
the largest and highest section of the brain". It is "responsible for reasoning, thought, memory, judgment, speech, sensation, sight, smell, hearing, and voluntary body movement
Cerebrum
the section located below the cerebrum at the top of the brainstem". It is "responsible for conducting impulses between brain parts and for certain eye and auditory reflexes
Midbrain
Peripheral nervous system
consists of the nerves" and "has two divisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system
Located in the diencephalon, it "acts as a relay center and directs sensory impulses to the cerebrum
Thalamus
a mass of nerve tissue well protected by membranes and the cranium, or skull
Brain
the section located between the cerebrum and midbrain". It "contains two structures: the thalamus and hypothalamus
Diencephalon
a combination of many nerve fibers located outside the brain and spinal cord
Nerves
the section located below the midbrain and in the brainstem
Pons
The brain has four "hollow spaces" called ventricles "that connect with each other and with the space under the arachnoid membrane
Ventricles
consists of the brain and spinal cord
Central nervous system (CNS)
regulates and controls the autonomic nervous system, temperature, appetite, water balance, sleep, and blood vessel constriction and dilation
Hypothalamus
a complex, highly organized system that coordinates all the activities of the body
Nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system. It "carries messages between the CNS and the body" and "consists of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves
Somatic nervous system
the section below the back of the cerebrum". It is "responsible for muscle coordination, balance, posture, and muscle tone
Cerebellum
the lowest part of the brainstem". It "connects with the spinal cord and is responsible for regulating heartbeat, respiration, swallowing, coughing, and blood pressure
Medulla oblongata
The basic structural unit of the nervous system is the neuron, or nerve cell
Neuron
responsible for many reflex actions" and "carrying sensory (afferent) messages up to the brain and motor (efferent) messages from the brain to the nerves
Spinal cord
a clear, colorless fluid" that "circulates continually between the ventricles and through the subarachnoid space". It acts as a "shock absorber" and "carries nutrients
Cerebrospinal fluid
three membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord
Meninges
Part of the autonomic nervous system. After an emergency, it "counteracts the actions of the sympathetic system by slowing heart rate, decreasing respiration, lowering blood pressure, and increasing activity in the digestive tract
Parasympathetic
Part of the autonomic nervous system. In times of emergency, it "prepares the body to act by increasing heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure, and by slowing activity in the digestive tract". This is known as the "fight or flight response
Sympathetic