PLTW: Lesson 2-Mysteries Of The Human Body Systems Vocab Flashcards
Brain stem
This is where the brain connects to the spinal cord. Many involuntary functions are controlled here like keeping the heart beating, breathing, and digesting food.
Cerebellum
The part of the brain located at the back and bottom of the brain. It regulates balance, movement, and muscle coordination.
Cerebrum
The largest and most complex portion of the brain. It controls
thought, learning, and many other complex activities. It is divided into the left and right hemisphere, and each hemisphere is divided into 4 lobes.
Corpus collosum
A thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right
hemispheres of the brain. It allows for communication between both hemispheres.
Dura mater
A tough, translucent membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord.
Frontal lobe
The top, front regions of the cerebrum. This lobe controls thinking, decision-making, emotions, judgment, and voluntary movement.
Hypothalamus
A region in the upper part of the brainstem that controls body
temperature, sleep, moods, hormonal body processes, hunger, and thirst.
Left hemisphere of brain
The left hemisphere of the brain is responsible for control of the right side of the body, and is the more academic and logical side of the brain.
Nervous system
This system is made up of your brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves in your body. The brain is the control center and the spinal cord is the major highway to and from the brain.
Occipital lobe
The region at the back of the cerebrum that controls vision and
reading ability.
Olfactory bulb
A structure found in the brain that processes information about
odors, and is a key part responsible for the sense of smell.
Optic chiasm
The area in the front of the brain where the optic nerves cross one another. It controls vision and the optic nerve.
Optic nerve
The nerve in your eye that transmits information from your eye to your brain.
Parietal lobe
The middle lobe of each cerebral hemisphere located between the frontal and occipital lobes (upper back of the head). It processes sensory information that has to do with taste, temperature, and touch.
Right hemisphere of brain
The right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for control of the left side of the body, and is the more artistic and creative side of the brain.
