module 9-11 vocab

Question 1

the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Answer 1

biological psychology

Question 2

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

Answer 2

neuron

Question 3

a neurons busy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Answer 3

dendrites

Question 4

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Answer 4

axon

Question 5

a fatty tissue later encasing the axons of some neurons

Answer 5

myelin sheath

Question 6

a neural impulse, brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Answer 6

action potential

Question 7

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

Answer 7

refractory period

Question 8

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Answer 8

threshold

Question 9

a neurons reaction of either firing or not firing

Answer 9

all or none response

Question 10

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite, or the cell body of the receiving neuron

Answer 10

synapse

Question 11

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

Answer 11

neurotransmitters

Question 12

a neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

Answer 12

reuptake

Question 13

natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

Answer 13

endorphins

Question 14

a molecule that stimulates a respond by binding to a receptor site

Answer 14

agonist

Question 15

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a response by binding to a receptor site

Answer 15

antagonist

Question 16

the body’s electrochemical communication network

Answer 16

nervous system

Question 17

the brain and spinal cord

Answer 17

central nervous system

Question 18

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system

Answer 18

peripheral nervous system

Question 19

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the nervous system with muscles

Answer 19

nerves

Question 20

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Answer 20

sensory (afferent) neurons

Question 21

neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain the the muscles

Answer 21

motor (efferent) neurons

Question 22

neurons within the brain and spinal card that communicate internally

Answer 22

interneurons

Question 23

the division of the peripheral nervous system

Answer 23

somatic nervous system

Question 24

part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles

Answer 24

autonomic nervous system

Question 25

the division of the autonomic nervous system the arouses the body

Answer 25

sympathetic nervous system

Question 26

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body

Answer 26

parasympathetic nervous system

Question 27

a simple automatic response to a sensory stimulus

Answer 27

reflex

Question 28

the body slow chemical communication system

Answer 28

endocrine system

Question 29

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands

Answer 29

hormones

Question 30

a pair of endocrine glands that help arouse the body

Answer 30

adrenal glands

Question 31

the endocrine systems most influential gland

Answer 31

pituitary gland