Chapter 4

Question 1

Central Nervous System

Answer 1

The portion of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 2

Spinal Cord

Answer 2

A collection of neurons and supportive tissue running from the base of the brain down the center of the back, protected by a column of bones (the spinal column).

Question 3

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 3

All portions of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord; it includes sensory and motor nerves.

Question 4

Somatic Nervous System

Answer 4

The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that connects to sensory receptors and to skeletal muscle; sometimes called the skeletal nervous system. Permits sensation and voluntary actions.

Question 5

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 5

The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates the internal organs and glands. Usually functions without conscious control

Question 6

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 6

The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes bodily resources and increases the output of energy during emotion and stress.

Question 7

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 7

The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that operates during relaxed states that conserves energy.

Question 8

Neuron

Answer 8

A cell that conducts electrochemical signals; the basic unit of the nervous system.

Question 9

Glia

Answer 9

Cells that nourish, insulate, protect, and repair neurons.

Question 10

Dendrites

Answer 10

A neuron’s branches that receive information from other neurons and transmit it toward the cell body.

Question 11

Cell body

Answer 11

The part of the neuron that keeps it alive and determines whether or not it will fire.

Question 12

Axon

Answer 12

A neuron’s extending fiber that conducts impulses away from the cell body and transmits them to other neurons.

Question 13

Myelin sheath

Answer 13

A fatty insulation that may surround the axon of a neuron.

Question 14

Nerve

Answer 14

A bundle of nerve fibers in the peripheral nervous system

Question 15

Neurogenesis

Answer 15

The production of new neurons from immature stem cells.

Question 16

Stem cells

Answer 16

Immature cells that renew themselves and have the potential to develop into mature cells.

Question 17

Synapse

Answer 17

Where an axon of one neuron meets a dendrite of another. The gap between them in the synaptic cleft.

Question 18

Action potential

Answer 18

A brief change in electrical voltage that occurs between the inside and the outside of an axon when a neuron is stimulated; it serves to produce an electrical impulse.

Question 19

Neurotransmitter

Answer 19

A chemical substance that is released by a transmitting neuron at the synapse and that alters the activity of a receiving neuron.

Question 20

Hormones

Answer 20

Chemical substances, secreted by organs called glands, that affect the functioning of other organs/

Question 21

Endocrine glands

Answer 21

Internal organs that produce hormones and release them into the bloodstream.

Question 22

Melatonin

Answer 22

A hormone, secreted by the pineal gland, that is involved in the regulation of daily biological rhythms.

Question 23

Oxytocin

Answer 23

A hormone, secreted by the pituitary gland, that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth, facilitates the ejection of milk during nursing, and seems to promote. in both sexes, attachment and trust in relationships.

Question 24

Brain stem

Answer 24

The part of the brain at the top of the spinal cord, consisting of the medulla and the pons.

Question 25

Pons

Answer 25

A structure in the brain stem involved in, among other things, sleeping, waking, and dreaming.

Question 26

Medulla

Answer 26

A structure in the brain stem responsible for certain autonomic functions, such as breathing and heart rate.

Question 27

Cerebellum

Answer 27

A brain structure that regulates movement and balance, is involved remembering simple skills and acquired reflexes, and plays a role in cognitive and emotional reasoning.

Question 28

Thalamus

Answer 28

A brain structure that relays sensory messages to the cerebral cortex.

Question 29

Hypothalamus

Answer 29

A brain structure involved in emotions and drives vital to survival; it regulates the autonomic nervous system.

Question 30

Pituitary gland

Answer 30

A small endocrine gland at the base of the brain that releases many hormones and regulates other endocrine glands.

Question 31

Hippocampus

Answer 31

A brain structure involved in the storage of new information in memory.

Question 32

Cerebrum

Answer 32

The largest brain structure, consisting of the upper part of the brain, divided into two hemispheres, it is in charge of most sensory, motor, and cognitive processes.

Question 33

Cerebral hemispheres

Answer 33

The two halves of the cerebrum.

Question 34

Corpus callosum

Answer 34

The bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

Question 35

Cerebral cortex

Answer 35

A collection of several thin layers of cells covering the cerebrum; it is largely responsible for higher mental functions.

Question 36

Occipital lobes

Answer 36

Lobes at the lower back part of the brain’s cerebral cortex; they contain areas that receive visual information.

Question 37

Parietal lobes

Answer 37

Lobes at the top of the brain’s cerebral cortex; they contain areas that receive information on pressure, pain, touch, and temperature as well as handle attention and awareness of spatial relationships.

Question 38

Temporal lobes

Answer 38

Lobes at the sides of the brain’s cerebral cortex; they contain areas involved hearing, memory, perception, emotion, and language comprehension (left one).

Question 39

Frontal lobes

Answer 39

Lobes at the front of the brain’s cerebral cortex; they contain areas involved in short-term memory, higher-order thinking, initiative, social judgment, and speech production (left one).

Question 40

Plasticity

Answer 40

The brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to experience, through neurogenesis, or by reorganizing or growing new neural connections.