Chapter 3

Question 1

Central Nervous System

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Neurons

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Cell Body

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Dendrites

Answer 5

The branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive impulses away from the neuron cell body

Question 6

Axon

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Myelin

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Axon Terminals

Answer 8

small fibers branching out from an axon

Question 9

synapse

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Neurotransmitters

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Spinal Cord

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Somatic Nervous System

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Medulla

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Pons

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Cerebellum

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Reticular Activating System

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Thalamus

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Hypothalamus

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Limbic System

Answer 20

A group of neural structures at the base of the cerebral hemispheres that is associated with emotion and motication

Question 21

Cerebrum

Answer 21

the large mass of the forebrain, consisting of two hemispheres

Question 22

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 22

the wrinkled, convoluted surface of the brain; the body’s control and information-processing center

Question 23

Corpus Callosum

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Association Areas

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Endocrine System

Answer 25

The glands the secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Question 26

Hormones

Answer 26

chemicals produced by the endocrine glands that regulate specific body functions

Question 27

Heredity

Answer 27

The genetic transmission of traits from one generation to the next

Question 28

Genes

Answer 28

The basic building blocks of heredity

Question 29

Chromosomes

Answer 29

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