Cerebrum function
thinking, personalities, sensations, movement, and memory
Thalamus function
relay station for sensory impulses, pain
Hypothalamus function
body temperature, sleep, appetite, emotions, control of pituitary gland.
Cerebellum function
coordination of voluntary movements and balance.
Pons function
connection of nerves to the eyes and face.
Medulla Oblongata function
nerve fibers cross over, left to right and right to left, contains centers to regulate heart, blood vessels and respiratory system.
acetylcholine
Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends (synapses) of some nerve cells
afferent nerves
carry messages toward the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerves)
arachnoid membrane
middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord
axon
microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell
blood brain barrier
blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out
brainstem
lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord, the pons and medulla oblongata are part of the brain stem.
cauda equina
collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord
cell body
part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus
central nervous system
the brain and the spinal cord
cerebellum
posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.
cerebral cortex
outer region of the cerebrum; containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain.
cerebrospinal fluid (csf)
fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord
cerebrum
largest part of the brain responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, hearing , taste, and memory.
cranial nerves
twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain
dendrite
microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse
dura mater
thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord
efferent nerves
carry messages away from the brain and spinal cord; motor nerves
ependymal cell
a glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid
ganglion ( plural: ganglia)
collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
glial cell (neuroglial cell)
cell in the nervous system that is supportive and connective in function
gyrus
sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded fold on the surface of the cerebellum.
hypothalamus
portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary glands.
medulla oblongata
part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels. nerve fibers cross over here.
meninges
three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
microglial cell
Phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system.
motor nerves
Carry messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs
myelin sheath
white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell.
nerve
macroscopic cordlike collection of fibers (axon and dendrite) that carry electrical impulses.
neuron
nerve cell that carry impulses throughout the body
neurotransmitter
Chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell or gland cell.
oligodendroglial cell
glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons
parasympathetic nervous system
involuntary autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.
parenchyma
essential distinguishing tissue of the nervous system, it includes the brain and spinal cord.
peripheral nervous system
nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal and autonomic nerves.
pia mater
thin. delicate inner membrane of the meninges.
plexus (plural: plexuses)
large, interlacing network of nerves.
pons
part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla oblongata and the rest of midbrain. It is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain.
receptor
organ that receives a nervous stimulation and passes it on to nerves within the body, the skin, ears eyes and taste buds are examples.
sciatic nerve
nerve ending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot.
sensory nerves
carry messages to the brain & spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerves
spinal nerves
31 pairs of nerves arising from spinal cord
stroma
connective and supporting tissue of an organ
sulcus
depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex, fissure.
sympathetic nerves
autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntary in times of stress.
synapse
space through which a nervous impulse is transmitted from one neuron to another, such as a muscle or gland cell.
thalamus
main relay center of the brain, it conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum,
vagus nerve
tenth cranial nerve
ventricles of the brain
canals in the brain the contains cerebrospinal fluid
stimulus (plural: stimuli)
Agent of change (light, sound, touch) in the external or internal environment that evokes a response.
astrocyte
type of glial (neurologic) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries
autonomic nervous system
nerves that control involuntary bodily functions of muscles, glands and internal organs.