SCIENCE 10 (NERVOUS SYSTEM) 1ST QTR

nervous system

regulates the body's responses and connects all your body parts to transmit signals from one another

central nervous system

consists of the brain and spinal cord, main processing center for the entire nervous system

brain

to organize and distribute information for the body.

cerebrum

controls activity and thoughts

cerebellum

controls posture, balance and coordination

brain stem

controls automatic functions such as breathing, digestion, heart

rate, and blood pressure

thalamus

controls movements and memory.

hypothalamus

produces hormones that controls the release of other hormones; controls appetite, thirst and body temperature.

frontal lobes

control movement, speech and some of the functions of the mind such as behavior, mood, memory and organization

temporal lobes

helps with memory, hearing, speech and language

parietal lobes

helps with sensation and in an understanding of numbers, awareness of the body and feeling of space

occipital lobes

process visual information from the eyes

spinal cord

channel for signals between brain and rest of the body, controls simple musculoskeletal reflexes

simple musculoskeletal reflexes

automatic responses of the body that help maintain posture and protect against injury

peripheral nervous system

connects the central nervous system to the body's organs and limbs

neuron

basic unit of the nervous system, send and relay signals, aka nerve cell

dendrites

small branch-like extensions, receiving point for chemical signals

cell body

main part of the cell

axon

long arm-like part that extends outward from the cell body

myelin

composed of fatty chemical compounds, surrounds axon and acts like a protective covering

synapse

area where one neuron communicates with the next neuron

somatic nervous system

(division of peripheral) associated with voluntary control

autonomic nervous system

(division of peripheral) associated with involuntary control,

afferent nerves

(somatic) aka sensory pathways, carry sensory information from the body to the central nervous system

efferent nerves

(somatic) aka motor pathways, transmit motor signals from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles, controlling voluntary movements

sympathetic nervous system

(autonomic) often referred to as the "fight or flight" system

parasympathetic nervous system

known as the "rest and digest" system