* indicates the most important words to know.
Action potential-energy in the form of an impulse that can travel through the nervous system
Axon*-long neuron fibers that communicate between neurons and effector cells, covered with myelin sheath
Brain stem/Medulla-attaches to the spinal cord, controls digestion, breathing, and heartbeat
Central Nervous System (CNS)*-made up of brain and spinal cord, receives messages from PNS and formulates a response to send back out to PNS
Cerebellum- controls balance and coordination
Cerebrum-controls vision and touch
Dendrite*-short neuron fibers that receive signals and send them to the cell body
Effector cells*-carry out the response that the brain formulates (ex:muscle or gland cells)
Feedback mechanisms-a change in the environment causes an internal reaction to counteract the change
Fight-or-flight response-the body's natural response to danger or stress, involves either defending/attacking (fight) or fleeing to safety (flight)
Ganglia- clusters of neuron cell bodies
Glia*-supporting cells, more numerous than neurons, basic unit of structure in nervous system, (ex: Schwann cells)
Homeostasis*-maintaining a stable internal environment despite external changes
Interneurons*-found entirely in CNS, interpret signals and formulate response to send to other interneurons or motor neurons (carry out integration)
Motor neurons*-transmit signals from integration centers to effector cells
Medulla/Brain stem*-attaches to the spinal cord, controls digestion, breathing, and heartbeat
Myelin sheath*-a protective covering made of Schwann cells that allows for faster communication between neurons
Node of Ranvier*-spaces left between myelin sheath on axon, allow signals to travel faster by leaping from node to node
Optic nerve-transmits messages between brain and retina in back of eye
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)*-the nerves not included in the CNS, carry messages to and from the CNS
Reflex-an action performed as a response to stimuli, done without thinking (ex: tapping a knee with a hammer)
Regulation-one of the eight functions necessary for survival, involves controlling the body
Sensory information-the impulses, signals, or messages that are passed from the sensory receptors through the PNS and to the CNS
Sensory neurons*-located in sensory organs in PNS, carry out sensory input (detect changes in environment)
Sensory receptors*-nerve endings in sensory organs that detect changes in the environment
Schwann cells*- glial cells that make up the myelin sheath
Somatic senses-pain, temperature, and pressure
Stimuli-an external change in the environment
Special senses-vision, taste, smell, and hearing
Synapse*-site of communication between synaptic terminal and another cell
Synaptic terminal-a branch in a cluster of axons that ends
Axon*-long neuron fibers that communicate between neurons and effector cells, covered with myelin sheath
Brain stem/Medulla-attaches to the spinal cord, controls digestion, breathing, and heartbeat
Central Nervous System (CNS)*-made up of brain and spinal cord, receives messages from PNS and formulates a response to send back out to PNS
Cerebellum- controls balance and coordination
Cerebrum-controls vision and touch
Dendrite*-short neuron fibers that receive signals and send them to the cell body
Effector cells*-carry out the response that the brain formulates (ex:muscle or gland cells)
Feedback mechanisms-a change in the environment causes an internal reaction to counteract the change
Fight-or-flight response-the body's natural response to danger or stress, involves either defending/attacking (fight) or fleeing to safety (flight)
Ganglia- clusters of neuron cell bodies
Glia*-supporting cells, more numerous than neurons, basic unit of structure in nervous system, (ex: Schwann cells)
Homeostasis*-maintaining a stable internal environment despite external changes
Interneurons*-found entirely in CNS, interpret signals and formulate response to send to other interneurons or motor neurons (carry out integration)
Motor neurons*-transmit signals from integration centers to effector cells
Medulla/Brain stem*-attaches to the spinal cord, controls digestion, breathing, and heartbeat
Myelin sheath*-a protective covering made of Schwann cells that allows for faster communication between neurons
Node of Ranvier*-spaces left between myelin sheath on axon, allow signals to travel faster by leaping from node to node
Optic nerve-transmits messages between brain and retina in back of eye
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)*-the nerves not included in the CNS, carry messages to and from the CNS
Reflex-an action performed as a response to stimuli, done without thinking (ex: tapping a knee with a hammer)
Regulation-one of the eight functions necessary for survival, involves controlling the body
Sensory information-the impulses, signals, or messages that are passed from the sensory receptors through the PNS and to the CNS
Sensory neurons*-located in sensory organs in PNS, carry out sensory input (detect changes in environment)
Sensory receptors*-nerve endings in sensory organs that detect changes in the environment
Schwann cells*- glial cells that make up the myelin sheath
Somatic senses-pain, temperature, and pressure
Stimuli-an external change in the environment
Special senses-vision, taste, smell, and hearing
Synapse*-site of communication between synaptic terminal and another cell
Synaptic terminal-a branch in a cluster of axons that ends