The Nervous System Terms

Question 1

Ascending Tracts

Answer 1

Nerve tracts carrying sensory information up spinal cord to brain

Question 2

Axon

Answer 2

Single projection of a neuron that conducts impulse away form nerve cell
body

Question 3

Brain

Answer 3

One of the largest organs in body and coordinates most body activities; is center for all thought, memory, judgement, and emotion; each part of brain is responsible for controlling different body functions, such as temperature regulation and breathing; four sections to brain are cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, and brain stem

Question 4

Brain Stem

Answer 4

This area of brain has three components: medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain; brain stem is pathway for impulses to be conducted between brain and spinal cord; also contains centers that control respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure; in addition, twelve pairs of cranial nerves begin in brain stem

Question 5

Central Canal

Answer 5

Canal that extends down length of spinal cord; contains cerebrospinal fluid

Question 6

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Answer 6

Portion of nervous system consisting of brain and spinal cord; receives impulses from all over body, processes information, and then responds with action; consists of both gray and white matter

Question 7

Cerebellum

Answer 7

Second largest portion of brain, located beneath posterior portion of cerebrum; this part of brain aids in coordinating voluntary body movements and maintaining balance and equilibrium; is attached to brain stem by pons; cerebellum refines muscular movement that is initiated in cerebrum

Question 8

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 8

Outer layer of cerebrum; is composed of folds of gray matter called gyri, which are separated by sulci

Question 9

Cerebral Hemispheres

Answer 9

Division of cerebrum into right and left halves

Question 10

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

Answer 10

Watery, clear fluid found in ventricles of brain; provides protection from shock or sudden motion to brain

Question 11

Cerebrum

Answer 11

Largest section of brain; located in upper portion and is area that possesses thoughts, judgement, memory, association skills, and ability to discriminate between items; outer layer of cerebrum is cerebral cortex, which is composed of folds of gray matter; elevated portions of cerebrum, or convolutions, are called gyri and are separated by fissures or sulci; cerebrum has both a left and right division or hemisphere, each with its own four lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal

Question 12

Cranial Nerves

Answer 12

Nerves that arise from brain

Question 13

Dendrite

Answer 13

Branched process off a neuron that receives impulses and carries them to cell body

Question 14

Descending Tracts

Answer 14

Nerve tracts carrying motor signals down spinal cord to muscles

Question 15

Diencephalon

Answer 15

Portion of brain that contains two of most critical areas of brain, thalamus and hypothalamus

Question 16

Glands

Answer 16

Organs of body that release secretions; exocrine glands, like sweat glands, release their secretions into ducts; endocrine glands, such as thyroid gland, release their hormones directly into bloodstream

Question 17

Gray Matter

Answer 17

Tissue within central nervous system; consists of unsheathed or uncovered nerve cell bodies and dendrites

Question 18

Gyri

Answer 18

Convoluted, elevated portions of cerebral cortex; they are separated by fissures or sulci; singular is gyrus

Question 19

Hypothalamus

Answer 19

Portion of diencephalon that lies just below thalamus; controls body temperature, appetite, sleep, sexual desire, and emotions such as fear; also regulates release of hormones from pituitary gland and regulates parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems

Question 20

Medulla Oblongata

Answer 20

Portion of brain stem that connects spinal cord with brain; contains respiratory, cardiac, and blood pressure control centers

Question 21

Meninges

Answer 21

Three connective tissue membrane layers that surround brain and spinal cord; three layers are dura mater, arachnoid layer, and pia mater; dura mater and arachnoid layer are separated by subdural space; arachnoid layer and pia mater are separated by
subarachnoid space

Question 22

Midbrain

Answer 22

Portion of brain stem

Question 23

Muscles

Answer 23

Bundles of parallel muscle tissue fibers; as fibers contract (shorten in length), they pull whatever they are attached to closer together; may move two bones closer together or make opening narrower; muscle contraction occurs when message is transmitted from brain through nervous system to muscles

Question 24

Myelin

Answer 24

Tissue that wraps around many of nerve fibers; composed of fatty material and functions as insulator

Question 25

Myelinated

Answer 25

Nerve fibers covered with layer of myelin

Question 26

Nerve Cell Body

Answer 26

Portion of nerve cell that includes nucleus

Question 27

Nerves

Answer 27

Structures in nervous system that conduct electrical impulses from brain and spinal cord to muscles and other organs

Question 28

Neuroglial Cells

Answer 28

Cells that perform support functions for neurons

Question 29

Neuron

Answer 29

Name for individual nerve cell; neurons group together to form nerves and other nervous tissue

Question 30

Neurotransmitter

Answer 30

Chemical messenger that carries electrical impulse across gap between two neurons

Question 31

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Answer 31

Portion of nervous system that contains cranial nerves and spinal nerves; these nerves are mainly responsible for voluntary muscle movement, smell, taste, sight, and hearing

Question 32

Pons

Answer 32

This portion of brain stem forms bridge between cerebellum and cerebrum; also where nerve fibers cross from one side of brain to control functions and movement on other side of brain

Question 33

Sensory Receptors

Answer 33

Nerve fibers located directly under skin surface; these receptors detect temperature, pain, touch, and pressure; messages for these sensations are conveyed to brain and spinal cord from nerve endings in skin

Question 34

Spinal Cavity

Answer 34

Dorsal body cavity within spinal column that contains spinal cord

Question 35

Spinal Cord

Answer 35

Provides pathway for impulses traveling to and from brain; column of nerve fibers that extends from medulla oblongata of brain down to level of second lumbar vertebra

Question 36

Spinal Nerves

Answer 36

Nerves that arise from spinal cord

Question 37

Sulci

Answer 37

Also called ‘fissures’; grooves that separate gyri of cerebral cortex; singular is sulcus

Question 38

Synapse

Answer 38

Point at which axon of one neuron meets dendrite of next neuron

Question 39

Synaptic Cleft

Answer 39

Gap between two neurons

Question 40

Thalamus

Answer 40

Portion of diencephalon; composed of gray matter and acts as center for relaying impulses from eyes, ears, and skin to cerebrum; pain perception is also controlled by thalamus

Question 41

Tract

Answer 41

Bundle of fibers located within central nervous system

Question 42

Ventricles

Answer 42

Fluid-filled spaces within cerebrum that contain cerebrospinal fluid

Question 43

Vertebral Canal

Answer 43

Bony canal through vertebrae that contains spinal cord

Question 44

Vertebral Column

Answer 44

Part of axial skeleton; a column of 26 vertebrae that forms backbone and protects spinal cord; divided into five sections: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, and coccyx; also called ‘spinal column.’

Question 45

White Matter

Answer 45

Tissue in central nervous system; consists of myelinated nerve fibers