11 Nervous System Flashcards
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
spinal and cranial nerves
function of the nervous system
receives sensory information and coordinates the body’s response
neuron
nerve cell
myelin sheath
covers the axon of some neurons to increase conduction speed
neurotransmitters
chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another
ventricle
cavity in the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid
cerebrospinal fluid
produced in the choroid plexuses on the ventricle walls, it circulates through the brain and spinal cord, absorbing impact and exchanging nutrients and wastes with the bloodstream
blood-brain barrier
capillary walls form a barrier that prevents harmful substances from entering brain tissue
brain stem
made of the midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata, it controls involuntary functions of the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems
cerebellum
manages balance and posture
cerebrum
the region of the brain responsible for higher intellectual functions and conscious thought
left hemisphere
controls the right side of the body, typically responsible for language and calculation
right hemisphere
controls the left side of the body, typically responsible for visual, emotional, and artistic awareness
hemorrhagic stroke
occurs when a blood vessel in the brain breaks and bleeds