Chapter 10 Anatomy

Nervous System

afferent nerve

carries messages toward the brain and spinal cord; sensory nerve

axon

microscopic fiber that is part of a neuron and carries nervous impulse along a nerve cell

brainstem

posterior portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

cerebellum

posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscles movements and maintains balance

cerebral cortex

outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

cerebrum

largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory

dendrite

microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell (neuron) that is the first part to receive nervous impulse.

dura mater

thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord

efferent nerve

carries messages away from brain and spinal cord; motor nerve

ganglion

collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system

glial cell

supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses (can reproduce themselves)

gyrus

sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on surface of cerebral cortex; convolution

meninges

three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

myelin sheath

covering white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of the nerve cell (speed impulse conducting along axons)

nerve

macroscopic cord-like collection of fibers (axons) that carry the electrical impulses

neuron

nerve cell that is necessary for impulses to be carried throughout the nervous system; parenchyma of the nervous system

synapse

space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells

pia mater

thin, delicate inner membrane of the meninges

sulcus

depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure

peripheral nervous system

nerves outside the brain and spinal cord cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves