The Brain

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 (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 the sensory receptors and to skeletal muscles; sometimes called the skeletal nervous system.

Question 5

autonomic nervous system

Answer 5

The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates the internal organs and glands.

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 and that conserves energy.

Question 8

glia

Answer 8

Cells that support, nurture, and insulate neurons, remove debris when neurons die, enhance the formation and maintenance of neural connections, and modify neuronal functioning.

Question 9

dendrites

Answer 9

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

Question 10

cell body

Answer 10

The part of the neuron that keeps it alive and determines whether it will fire.

Question 11

axon

Answer 11

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

Question 12

myelin sheath

Answer 12

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

Question 13

nerve

Answer 13

A bundle of nerve fibers (axons and sometimes dendrites) in the peripheral nervous system.

Question 14

neurogenesis

Answer 14

The production of new neurons from immature stem cells.

Question 15

stem cells

Answer 15

Immature cells that renew themselves and have the potential to develop into mature cells; given encouraging environments, stem cells from early embryos can develop into any cell type.

Question 16

synapse

Answer 16

The site where transmission of a nerve impulse from one nerve cell to another occurs; it includes the axon terminal, the synaptic cleft, and the receptor sites in the membrane of the receiving cell.

Question 17

action potential

Answer 17

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 18

neurotransmitter

Answer 18

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

Question 19

endorphins

Answer 19

Chemical substances in the nervous system that are similar in structure and action to opiates; they are involved in pain reduction, pleasure, and memory, and are known technically as endogenous opioid peptides.

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

adrenal hormones

Answer 23

Hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands and that are involved in emotion and stress.

Question 24

sex hormones

Answer 24

Hormones that regulate the development and functioning of reproductive organs and that stimulate the development of male and female sexual characteristics; they include androgens, estrogens, and progesterone.

Question 25

localization of function

Answer 25

Specialization of particular brain areas for particular functions.

Question 26

brain stem

Answer 26

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

Question 27

pons

Answer 27

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

Question 28

medulla

Answer 28

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

Question 29

reticular activating system (RAS)

Answer 29

A dense network of neurons found in the core of the brain stem; it arouses the cortex and screens incoming information.

Question 30

cerebellum

Answer 30

A brain structure that regulates movement and balance, and that is involved in the learning of certain kinds of simple responses.

Question 31

thalamus

Answer 31

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

Question 32

hypothalamus

Answer 32

A brain structure involved in emotions and drives vital to survival; such as fear, hunger, thirst, and reproduction; it regulates the autonomic nervous system.

Question 33

pituitary gland

Answer 33

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

Question 34

limbic system

Answer 34

A group of brain areas involved in emotional retains and motivated behavior.

Question 35

amygdala

Answer 35

A brain structure involved in the arousal and regulation of emotion and the initial emotional response to sensory information.

Question 36

hippocampus

Answer 36

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

Question 37

cerebrum

Answer 37

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

Question 38

cerebral hemispheres

Answer 38

The two halves of the cerebrum.

Question 39

corpus callosum

Answer 39

The bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

Question 40

lateralization

Answer 40

Specialization of the two cerebral hemispheres from particular operations.

Question 41

cerebral cortex

Answer 41

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

Question 42

occipital lobes

Answer 42

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

Question 43

parietal lobes

Answer 43

Lobes at the top of the brain’s cerebral cortex; they contain areas that receive information on pressure, pain, touch, and temperature.

Question 44

temporal lobes

Answer 44

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

Question 45

frontal lobes

Answer 45

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

Question 46

visual cortex

Answer 46

Where visual signals are processed. Located in the occipital lobe.

Question 47

somatosensory cortex

Answer 47

Receives information about pressure, pain, touch, and temperature from all over the body. Located in the parietal lobe.

Question 48

auditory cortex

Answer 48

Processes sounds. Located in the temporal lobe.

Question 49

Wernicke’s area

Answer 49

It is involved in language comprehension. Located in the left temporal lobe.

Question 50

motor cortex

Answer 50

Issues orders to the 600 muscles of the body that produce voluntary movement. Located in the frontal lobe.

Question 51

Broca’s area

Answer 51

Handles speech production. Located in the frontal lobe.