Unit 2

Question 0

Sensory neurons

Answer 0

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system

Question 1

Neuron

Answer 1

A nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system

Question 2

Motor neurons

Answer 2

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands

Question 3

Interneurons

Answer 3

Central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

Question 4

Dendrite

Answer 4

The bushy branching extensions of the neuron that receive message sand conduct impulses towards the cell body

Question 5

Axon

Answer 5

The extension of a neuron

Question 6

Myelin sheath

Answer 6

Fatty tissue encasing axon

Question 7

Action potential

Answer 7

Neural impulse

Question 8

Threshold

Answer 8

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural pulse

Question 9

Synapse

Answer 9

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap

Question 10

Neurotransmitters

Answer 10

Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons

Question 11

Reuptake

Answer 11

When the neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the axon terminal

Question 12

Endorphins

Answer 12

“The morphine within” natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

Question 13

Central nervous system

Answer 13

The brain and spinal cord

Question 14

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 14

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Question 15

Somatic nervous system

Answer 15

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system

Question 16

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 16

Part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs such as the heart, INVOLUNTARY

Question 17

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 17

The division of the auto gnomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Question 18

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 18

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving it’s energy

Question 19

Endocrine system

Answer 19

The body’s “slow”chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Question 20

Hormones

Answer 20

Chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another

Question 21

Adrenal glands

Answer 21

A pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. The adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrine(adrenaline) and norepinephrine which help to arouse the body in times of stress

Question 22

Pituitary gland

Answer 22

The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

Question 23

Lesion

Answer 23

Tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

Question 24

Electroencephalogram

Answer 24

An amplified recording of the waves of electric activity that sweep across the brain surface

Question 25

CT scan

Answer 25

Scanning of tissues

Question 26

Pet scan

Answer 26

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

Question 27

MRI

Answer 27

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images; allows us to see structures within the brain

Question 28

fMRI

Answer 28

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. MRIs scans show brain anatomy; fMRI scans show brain function

Question 29

Split brain

Answer 29

A condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connective fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them