Chapter 3

Front 1

Central nervous system

Back 1

the part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord

Front 2

Peripheral nervous system

Back 2

the neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body, including the muscles and glands

Front 3

Neuron

Back 3

nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Front 4

Cell body

Back 4

the part of a neuron that produces the energy needed for the activity of the cell

Front 5

Dendrites

Back 5

branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive impulses and conduct them toward the cell body

Front 6

Axon

Back 6

a long tube like structure attached to a neuron that transmits impulses away from the neuron cell body

Front 7

Myelin

Back 7

white, fatty substance that insulates axons and enables rapid transmission of neural impulses

Front 8

Axon terminals

Back 8

small fibers branching out from an axon

Front 9

Synapse

Back 9

junction between the axon terminals of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron

Front 10

Neurotransmitter

Back 10

a chemical messenger that carries impulses across the synaptic gaps between neurons

Front 11

Spinal cord

Back 11

a column of nerves within the spine that transmits messages to and from the brain

Front 12

Somatic nervous system

Back 12

the division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system with sensory receptors, muscles, and the skin

Front 13

Autonomic nervous system

Back 13

subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates body functions, such as respiration and digestion

Front 14

Medulla

Back 14

a structure at the base of the brain stem that controls vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing

Front 15

Pons

Back 15

brain structure located at the top of the brain stem that is involved in respiration, movement, and sleep

Front 16

Cerebellum

Back 16

area of the brain that is responsible for voluntary movement and balance

Front 17

Reticular activating system

Back 17

part of the brain that is involved in attention, sleep, and arousal

Front 18

Thalamus

Back 18

structure of the brain that relays messages from the sense organs to the cerebral cortex

Front 19

Hypothalamus

Back 19

neural structure located below the thalamus that controls temperature, hunger, thirst, and various aspects of emotion

Front 20

Limbic system

Back 20

group of neural structures at the base of the cerebral hemispheres that is associated with emotion and motivation

Front 21

Cerebrum

Back 21

large mass of the forebrain, consisting of two hemispheres

Front 22

Cerebral cortex

Back 22

bumpy, convoluted surface of the brain; the body's control and information-processing center

Front 23

Corpus callosum

Back 23

nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres of the cerebral cortex

Front 24

Association areas

Back 24

areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in such mental operations as thinking, memory, learning, and problem solving

Front 25

Endocrine system

Back 25

glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Front 26

Hormones

Back 26

chemicals produced by the endocrine glands that regulate specific body functions

Front 27

Heredity

Back 27

genetic transmission of traits from one generation to the next

Front 28

Genes

Back 28

basic building blocks of heredity

Front 29

Chromosomes

Back 29

microscopic threadlike structure in the nucleus of every living cell; it contains genes, the basic units of heredity