central nervous system
the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
made up of nerve cells that send messages between the central nervous system and other parts of the body
neurons
nerve cells that run through our entire bodies and communicate with each other
cell body
produces energy that fuels the neuron;s activity
dendrites
thin fibers that receive information from other neurons and pass the message through the cell body
axon
transmits messages away from cell body
myelin
a white fatty substance that insulates and protects the axon
axon terminals
the small fibers that branch out at the end of the axon
synapse
a junction between the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another
neurotransmitters
chemicals that are stored in sacs in the axon terminals
spinal cord
a column of nervous about as thick as a thumb that extends from the brain down the back
somatic nervous system
transmits sensory messages to the central nervous system
automatice nervous system
regulates the body's vital functions, such as heartbeat, breathing, digestion and blood pressure.
medulla
involved in the vital functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.
pons
located in front of the medulla and is involved in regulating body movement, attention, sleep and alertness
cerebellum
involved in balance and coordination
reticular activating system
important for attentions, sleep and arousal
thalamus
serves as relay station for sensory stimulation
hypothalamus
involved in many aspects of behavior and physiological functions
limbic system
forms border around brain, involved in learning, memory, hunger, emotions, sex and aggression
cerebrum
site of most conscious and intellectual activities
cerebral cortex
outer layer of the brain
association areas
shape information into something meaningful
endocrine system
consists of glands that secrete hormones
hormones
stimulate growth and many kinds of reactions, such as changes in activity levels and physical moods
heredity
the transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring
genes
basic building blocks of heredity
chromosomes
structures that hold genes
corpus callosum
the structure that connects the two hemispheres