Psychology

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Central Nervous System

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

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Peripheral Nervous System

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

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Neuron

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a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

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Cell Body

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

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Dentrites

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

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Axon

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

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Myelin

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

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Axon Terminals

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small fibers branching out from an axon

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Synapse

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

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Neurotransmitters

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

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Spinal cord

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

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Somatic Nervous System

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

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Automatic Nervous System

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

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Medulla

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

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Pons

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

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Cerebellum

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

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Reticular Activating system

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

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Thalamus

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

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Hypothalamus

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

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Limbic System

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

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Cerebrum

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the large mass of the forebrain, consisting of two hemispheres

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Cerebral Cortex

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

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Corpus Callosum

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

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Association Areas

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

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Endocrine System

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the glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

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Hormones

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chemicals produced by the endocrine glands that regulate specific body functions

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Heredity

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the genetic transmission of traits from one generation to the next

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Genes

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the basic building blocks of heredity

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Chromosome

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