Ch. 12- Nervous System Flashcards
brain
coordinates body functions
nerves
transmit messages to and from the central nervous system
spinal cord
transmits messages to and from the brain
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord. sensory information is processed here, motor messages are sent to muscles and glands
peripheral nervous system
12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves, divided into the autonomic nervous system and somatic nerves
neurons
individual nerve cells capable of conducting electrical impulses responding to a stimulus
three parts of a neuron
dendrites, cell body, axon
dendrites
highly branched projections that receive impulses
cell body
contains nucleus and many other organelles
axon
projection from nerve cell body that conducts electrical impulse towards its destination
synapse
point at which the axon of one neuron meets dendrite of another neuron
synaptic cleft
gap between two neurons
neurotransmitter
chemical messenger that allows impulses to pass across the synaptic cleft
neuroglial cells
cells that DO NOT conduct electrical impulses but have various other functions within the neuron, some produce myelin
myelin
fatty substance that acts as insulation for many axons so that they can conduct electrical impulses faster
grey matter
in the CNS; comprised of unsheathed or uncovered cell bodies and dendrites
white matter
myelinated nerve fibers
tracts
bundles of nerve fibers interconnecting different parts of the CNS
meninges
three membranes that encase and protect the CNS
four sections of the brain
cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, and brain stem
cerebrum
largest section of the brain, processes thoughts, judgment, memory, problem solving, and language, and divided into four lobes
four lobes of the brain
frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal
cerebral cortex
outer layer of the cerebrum composed of folds of grey matter
gyrus (gyri)
elevated portions of cerebrum