Nervous System

Central Nervous System

contains brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

contains cranial nerves and spinal nerves

cell body

maintains the neuron & integrates incoming signals

axon hillock

starting point of axon potential

axon

propagates electrical signal or action potential

dendrite

pick up stimuli and begin signaling process via local potentials

mylein

white material, helps insulate the axon

node of ranvier

opening (gaps) in the myelin for ions to go in

synaptic knob

Release neurotransmitters to communicate with another neuron, muscle, or gland.

dura mater

outermost layer, tough protection and stabilization.

periosteal layer

outer dural layer, fused to skull

meningeal layer

inner dural layer closer to the brain

superior sagittal sinus

channel between dural layers along the top midline of the brain.

arachnoid mater

Forms part of the protective meningeal covering

subarachnoid space

Between arachnoid mater and pia mater.

cerebrospinal fluid

Cushions the brain and spinal cord,

pia mater

thinnest layer closest to the brain

grey matter

no myelinated fibers; billions of neurons

white matter

consists of myelinated axons

cerebral hemisphere

Two large halves of the cerebrum, left and right.

sulcus

Shallow groove on the cerebral cortex.

central sulcus

Prominent groove separating the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe

gyrus

raised ridge or fold on the cerebral surface.

precentral gyrus

Immediately anterior (in front) of the central sulcus (frontal lobe)

postcentral gyrus

Immediately posterior (behind) the central sulcus (parietal lobe)

fissure

wider and deeper then grooves

longitudinal fissure

divide between both sides of the brain

frontal lobe

Voluntary movement, planning, judgment, personality, and speech production.

Parietal lobe

Processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and spatial information

Temporal Lobe

Hearing, language comprehension, and memory.

Occipital Lobe

Visual processing

primary motor cortex

controls voluntary movements

premotor cortex

coordinates voluntary movements

prefrontal cortex

higher level thinking, planning

motor speech (Broca’s area)

speech production, language and articulation of speech

gustatory cortex

taste

primary sensory cortex

processes touch, pain, temp, pressure

somatosensory association

interpretation of touch, pressure, pain, temp

auditory cortex

hearing

general interpretive area

understanding of speech+ written language

olfactory cortex

smell

visual cortex

sight