Homeostasis and Body Systems

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the concepts of homeostasis, the nervous system, and the structure of neurons based on the Lesson 10-1 transcript.

Homeostasis

The ability of the body to maintain a stable internal environment despite continuous changes in the external environment, also referred to as the body's internal balance.

hómoios

A Greek word meaning "similar," which is one of the roots of the term homeostasis.

stasis

A Greek word meaning "standing still," which is one of the roots of the term homeostasis.

Nervous system

An organ system that serves as the control and communication center of the body.

Neurons (Nerve cells)

The basic functional unit of the nervous system that acts as a messenger, carrying signals to and from different parts of the body and relaying them to other neurons.

86 billion

The estimated number of neurons contained in the human brain.

Soma

The cell body of a neuron.

Dendrites

Multiple extensions of the cytoplasm that receive and transmit information toward the soma.

Axon

A single, longer extension of a neuron that carries messages away from the cell body to another neuron or other cells.

Myelin sheath

A part of a neuron that covers the axon, as shown in the structure of a nerve cell.

Axon terminal

The endpoint of a neuron's axon where signals are transmitted.

Normal hearing range

The range of sound frequencies, identified in the transcript as $20-2000\,Hz$, outside of which human ears cannot detect stimuli.

Indicators of homeostasis

Measurable factors of the body's internal state, including body temperature, glucose level, and blood pressure.

Effector organs

Organs such as muscles and glands that receive signals to produce an appropriate response to maintain the body's normal state.