Central and Autonomic Nervous Systems

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the anatomy of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the divisions and functions of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

Cerebrum

The biggest part of the brain, divided into left and right hemispheres.

Cerebral cortex

The grey matter and outer portion of the cerebrum.

Frontal Lobe

The part of the brain containing the motor cortex; responsible for thinking about movement and initiating stimuli.

Parietal Lobe

The part of the brain containing the somatosensory cortex; responsible for identifying information like texture, pressure, and temperature.

Occipital Lobe

The part of the brain containing the visual cortex; interprets sensory information from the eyes.

Temporal Lobe

The part of the brain containing the auditory cortex; involved in listening and creating language.

Cerebellum

Located at the posterior of the brain; responsible for voluntary movement (posture, tone, balance) and highly skilled movements like playing a musical instrument.

Diencephalon

A brain region composed of three components: the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland.

Thalamus

The relay system of the brain that takes messages in and sends them out, telling signals where they need to go for a response.

Hypothalamus

Part of the diencephalon responsible for basic needs, including the sleep/wake cycle and eat/drink cycle.

Pituitary gland

A structure in the diencephalon in charge of regulating and excreting hormones.

Brainstem

The part of the brain connected to the spinal cord, consisting of the midbrain, pons, and medulla.

Midbrain

A section of the brainstem responsible for the sleep/wake cycle, posture, focus, and vision.

Pons

The section of the brainstem responsible for facial expressions.

Medulla

The section of the brainstem that controls coughing, swallowing, reflexes, blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, and vomiting.

Meninges

The protective covering of the brain and spinal cord.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The 'Fight or flight' division of the autonomic nervous system, also called the 'E division' for exercise, excitement, emergency, and embarrassment.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The 'Rest and digest' division of the autonomic nervous system, also called the 'D division' for digestion, defecation, and diuresis.

Thoracolumbar

The origin site of sympathetic fibers, located between the thoracic vertebrae and the lumbar vertebrae.

Craniosacral

The origin site of parasympathetic fibers, sprouting from the base of the brain and the sacral spinal cord.

Ganglia

Clusters of neuron cell bodies that house millions of synapses where two neurons of the autonomic system meet.

Preganglionic Neurons

The first neurons in the autonomic system; they are shorter in the sympathetic division than in the parasympathetic division.