Chapter 8: The Nervous System (Vocabulary)

Question 1

The brain and the spinal cord.

Answer 1

Central nervous system (CNS)

Question 2

A collection of nerve cell bodies outside the central nervous system.

Answer 2

Ganglion (plural, ganglia)

Question 3

The part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. It keeps the central nervous system in continuous contact with almost every part of the body It is composed of nerves and ganglia. The two branches are the somatic and the autonomic nervous systems.

Answer 3

Peripheral nervous system

Question 4

The part of the peripheral nervous system that carries information to and from the central nervous system, resulting involuntary movement and sensations.

Answer 4

Somatic nervous system

Question 5

The part of the peripheral nervous system that governs the involuntary, unconscious activities that maintain a relatively stable internal environment.

Answer 5

Autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system has two branches: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic.

Question 6

The brand of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the “fight-or-flight” responses that occur during stressful or emergency situations. Its effects are generally opposite to those of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Answer 6

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 7

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that is active during restful conditions. Its effects generally oppose those of the sympathetic nervous system.

Answer 7

Parasympathetic nervous system

The parasympathetic nervous system adjusts bodily functions so that energy is conserved during non stressful times.

Question 8

Three protective connective tissue membranes that surround the central nervous system: the dura mater, the pia mater, and the arachnoid.

Answer 8

Meninges

Question 9

The fluid bathing the internal and external surfaces of the central nervous system. It serves as a shock absorber, supports the brain, nourishes the brain, delivers chemical messengers, and removes waste products.

Answer 9

Cerebrospinal fluid

Question 10

A mechanism that protects the central nervous system by selecting the substances permitted to enter the cerebrospinal fluid from the blood. The barrier results from the relative impermeability of the capillaries in the brain and spinal cord.

Answer 10

Blood-brain barrier

Question 11

The largest and most prominent part of the brain, composed of the cerebral hemispheres. It is responsible for thinking, sensory perception, originating most conscious motor activity, personality, and memory.

Answer 11

Cerebrum

Question 12

The extensive area of gray matter covering the surfaces of the cerebrum. It is often referred to as the conscious part of the brain. The cerebral cortex has sensory, motor, and association areas.

Answer 12

Cerebral cortex

Question 13

Regions of the central nervous system that contain neuron cell bodies and unmyelinated axons. These regions are gray because they lack myelin.

Answer 13

Gray matter

Gray matter is important in neural integration.

Question 14

Regions of the central nervous system that are white owing to the presence of myelinated nerve fibers. White matter is important in neural communication over distances.

Answer 14

White matter

Question 15

A band of the parietal lobe of the cerebral cortex to which information is sent from receptors in the skin regarding touch, temperature, and pain and from receptors in the joints and skeletal muscles.

Answer 15

Primary somatosensory area

Question 16

A band of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex that initiates messages that direct voluntary movements.

Answer 16

Primary motor area

Question 17

An association area of the cerebral cortex that is important in decision making.

Answer 17

Prefrontal cortex

Question 18

A brain structure located below the cerebral hemispheres that is important in sensory experience, motor activity, stimulation of the cerebral cortex, and memory.

Answer 18

Thalamus

Question 19

A small brain region located below the thalamus that is essential to maintaining a stable environment within the body. It influences blood pressure, heart rate, digestive activity, breathing rate, and many other vital physiological processes. It acts as the body’s “thermostat”; regulates food intake, hunger, and thirst; coordinates the activities of the nervous system and the endocrine system; and is part of the circuitry for emotions.

Answer 19

Hypothalamus

Question 20

A region of the brain important in sensory-motor coordination. It is largely responsible for posture and smooth body movements.

Answer 20

Cerebellum

Question 21

The part of the brain stem containing reflex centers for some of life’s most vital physiological functions: the pace of the basic breathing rhythm, the force and rate of heart contraction, and blood pressure. It connects the spinal cord to the rest of the brain.

Answer 21

Medulla oblongata

Question 22

A region of the brain stem that coordinates reflex responses to auditory and visual stimuli.

Answer 22

Midbrain

Question 23

A part of the brain that connects upper and lower levels of the brain.

Answer 23

Pons

Question 24

A collective term for several structures in the brain involved in emotions and memory.

Answer 24

Limbic system

Question 25

Memory of new information that lasts for a few seconds or minutes.

Answer 25

Short-term memory

Question 26

Memory that stores a large amount of information for hours, days, or years.

Answer 26

Long-term memory

Question 27

The part of the limbic system of the brain that plays a role in converting sheet-term memory into long-term memory.

Answer 27

Hippocampus

Question 28

An extensive network of neurons that runs through the medulla and projects to the cerebral cortex. It filters out unimportant sensory information before it reaches the brain and controls changing levels of consciousness.

Answer 28

Reticular activating system (RAS)

Question 29

A tube of neural tissue that is continuous with the medulla at the base of the brain and extends about 45cm (17 in.) to just below the last rim. It conducts messages between the brain and the rest of the body and serves as a reflex center.

Answer 29

Spinal chord

Question 30

A neural pathway consisting of a sensory receptor, a sensory neuron, usually at least one interneuron, a motor neuron, and an effector.

Answer 30

Reflex arc

Question 31

Thirty-one pairs of nerves that arise from the spinal cord. Each spinal nerve services a specific region of the body. Spinal nerves carry both sensory and motor information.

Answer 31

Spinal nerves

Question 32

Twelve pairs of nerves that arise from the brain and service the structures of the head and certain body parts such as the heart and diaphragm.

Answer 32

Cranial nerves

Cranial nerves can be sensory, motor, or mixed.