Nervous System

Front 1

Autonomic Nervous System

Back 1

part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart)

Front 2

Axon

Back 2

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Front 3

Brain

Back 3

that part of the central nervous system contained with the cranium, compromising the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain

Front 4

Central Nervous System

Back 4

The brain and the spinal cord

Front 5

Cerebellum

Back 5

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

Front 6

Cerebrospinal fluid

Back 6

the serum-like fluid that circulates through the ventricles of the brain, the cavity of the spinal cord, and the subarachnoid space, functioning as a shock absorber

Front 7

Cerebrum

Back 7

the main portion of the brain, occupying the upper part of the cranial cavity

Front 8

Corpus Callosum

Back 8

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Front 9

Cranial Nerves

Back 9

the set of twelve nerves found on each side of the head and neck and control the sensory and muscle functions of a number of organs such as the eyes, nose, tongue, face, and throat

Front 10

Dendrite

Back 10

a neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Front 11

Dermatome

Back 11

the area of the skin supplied with afferent nerve fibers by a single posterior spinal root

Front 12

Diecephalon

Back 12

the posterior part of the forebrain that connects the midbrain with the cerebral hemispheres, encloses the third ventricle, and contains the thalamus and hypothalamus

Front 13

Frontal lobe

Back 13

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

Front 14

Hypothalamus

Back 14

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

Front 15

Medulla Oblongata

Back 15

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Front 16

Meninges

Back 16

the three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord

Front 17

Midbrain

Back 17

the part of the brain stem located below the cerebral cortex and above the hindbrain

Front 18

Myelin

Back 18

the lipid-rich substance of the cell membrane of Schwann cells that coils to form the myelin sheath

Front 19

Myelin Sheath

Back 19

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

Front 20

Myotome

Back 20

a group of muscles innervated from a single spinal segment

Front 21

Neuron

Back 21

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

Front 22

Occipital Lobe

Back 22

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

Front 23

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Back 23

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Front 24

Parietal lobe

Back 24

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear receives sensory input for touch and body position

Front 25

Peripheral Nervous System

Back 25

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Front 26

Pons

Back 26

that part of the central nervous system lying between the medulla oblongata and the midbrain, ventral to the cerebellum

Front 27

Reflex

Back 27

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

Front 28

Somatic Nervous System

Back 28

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

Front 29

Spinal Cord

Back 29

the thick whitish cord of nerve tissues that extend from the medulla oblongata down through the spinal column and from which the spinal nerves branch off to various parts of the body

Front 30

Sympathetic Nervous System

Back 30

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Front 31

Temporal lobe

Back 31

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears,includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

Front 32

Thalamus

Back 32

the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on the top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Front 33

Ventricles

Back 33

a small cavity or chamber, as in the brain or heart