Ch. 6 Body and Behavior Flashcards
Central Nervous System
the brain and spinal cord
Spinal Cord
nerves that run up and down the length of the back and transmit most messages between body/brain
Peripheral Nervous System
nerves branching beyond the spinal cord into the body
neurons
long, thin cells of nerve tissue along which messages travel to and from the brain
synapse
the gap between individual nerve cells
neurotransmitters
chemicals released by neurons which determine the rate at which other neurons fire
Somatic Nervous System
part of peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles
autonomic nervous system
part of peripheral nervous system that controls internal biological functions
hindbrain
rear base of skull
involved in basic processes of life
midbrain
above the pons
arouses the brain
integrates sensory information and relays it upward
forebrain
covers central core
responsible for sensory and motor control and processing of thinking and language
lobes
different regions that the cerebral cortex is divided
electroencephalogram (EEG)
machine that records electrical activity of the brain
Computerized Axial Tomography (CT)
imaging technique used to find brain injuries and deterioration
Position Emission Tomography (PET)
imaging technique used to see which brain areas are being activated while performing tasks
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
imaging technique used to study brain structure and activity
Endocrine system
chemical communication using hormones to send messages through the bloodstream
hormones
chemical substances that carry messages through the body in blood
pituitary gland
center of control of endocrine system that secretes hormones
heredity
genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to children
genes
basic building blocks of heredity
genotype
whole set of genes in an organism
phenotype
expression of a particular trait in an organism (e.g. blue eyes)
inbred
descended from ancestors with similar genetics
outbred
descended from ancestors with different genetics
identical twins
one egg, same heredity
fraternal twins
two different eggs fertilized by two different sperm
2 main divisions of peripheral nervous system
somatic (voluntary muscles like arms)
autonomic (involuntary muscles like lungs)
similarities/differences between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
both deal with energy
sympathetic expends energy
parasympathetic conserves energy
difference between afferent and efferent neurons
afferent (sensory) relays messages from sensory organs to the brain (e.g. food scent tells your brain dinner is cooking)
efferent (motor) sends signals from the brain to glands and muscles (e.g. walking/moving)
interneurons
process signals and connect only to other neurons
3 parts of a neuron
cell body, dendrites, axon
functions of cerebellum
controls posture, balance, and voluntary movements
where is the medulla located
hindbrain
function of the motor cortex
controls body movement
what part of the brain are body sensations experienced
parietal
what does the right hemisphere specialize in
visual/spatial (like puzzles)
music
art
creativity
what part of the brain could solve a complex word problem
left
main functions of the lobes of the brain
occipital: visual
parietal: sensory
temporal: hearing, memory, emotion, speaking
frontal: planning, organizing, creative thinking
functions of thalamus
integrates sensory input and sends it on to other parts
functions of hypothalamus
controls body functions like hunger, thirst, temperature, etc
function of adrenal glands
generate extra energy needed to handle difficult situations/stress, regulate salt and water in the body, regulate blood pressure and inflamation
what part of endocrine system controls metabolic rate
thyroid gland
function of pituitary gland
secretes hormones
difference between hormone and neurotransmitter
neurotransmitter releases chemicals right next to cells it’s trying to effect. Hormones release chemicals into the bloodstream.
where are the instructions for development located in a cell
