Psychology - Chapter 3 Biology And
Behavior Vocabulary
central nervous system - Answer-The central nervous system (CNS) is comprised of the brain
and spinal cord. The CNS receives sensory information from the nervous system and controls
the body's responses.
peripheral nervous system - Answer-the neurons that connect the central nervous system to the
rest of the body, including the muscles and glands
The division of the nervous system containing all the nerves that lie outside of the central
nervous system (CNS). The primary role is to connect the CNS to the organs, limbs and skin.
These nerves extend from the central nervous system to the outermost areas of the body.
neurons - Answer-Basic building block of the nervous system and are specialized to transmit
information throughout the body. These highly specialized nerve cells are responsible for
communicating information in both chemical and electrical forms
cell body "soma" - Answer-the part of the neuron that produces the energy needed for the
activity of the cell
dendrites - Answer-the branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive impulses and conduct
them toward the cell body
axon - Answer-a long tubelike structure attached to a neuron that transmits impulses away from
the neuron cell body
myelin - Answer-a white, fatty substance that insulates axons and enables rapid transmission of
neural inpulses
axon terminals - Answer-small fibers branching out from an axon
synapse - Answer-the junction that allows information to pass from one neuron to the next
between the axon terminals of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron
neurotransmitters - Answer-a chemical messenger that carries impulses across the synaptic
gaps between neurons
A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that carries, boosts and modulates signals between
neurons and other cells in the body. In most cases, a neurotransmitter is released from the axon
terminal after an action potential has reached the synapse. The neurotransmitter then crosses
the synaptic gap to reach the receptor site of the other cell or neuron. Then, in a process known
as reuptake, the neurotransmitter attaches to the receptor site and is reabsorbed by the neuron.
spinal cord - Answer-a column of nerves within the spine that transmit messages to and from
the brain
Behavior Vocabulary
central nervous system - Answer-The central nervous system (CNS) is comprised of the brain
and spinal cord. The CNS receives sensory information from the nervous system and controls
the body's responses.
peripheral nervous system - Answer-the neurons that connect the central nervous system to the
rest of the body, including the muscles and glands
The division of the nervous system containing all the nerves that lie outside of the central
nervous system (CNS). The primary role is to connect the CNS to the organs, limbs and skin.
These nerves extend from the central nervous system to the outermost areas of the body.
neurons - Answer-Basic building block of the nervous system and are specialized to transmit
information throughout the body. These highly specialized nerve cells are responsible for
communicating information in both chemical and electrical forms
cell body "soma" - Answer-the part of the neuron that produces the energy needed for the
activity of the cell
dendrites - Answer-the branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive impulses and conduct
them toward the cell body
axon - Answer-a long tubelike structure attached to a neuron that transmits impulses away from
the neuron cell body
myelin - Answer-a white, fatty substance that insulates axons and enables rapid transmission of
neural inpulses
axon terminals - Answer-small fibers branching out from an axon
synapse - Answer-the junction that allows information to pass from one neuron to the next
between the axon terminals of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron
neurotransmitters - Answer-a chemical messenger that carries impulses across the synaptic
gaps between neurons
A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that carries, boosts and modulates signals between
neurons and other cells in the body. In most cases, a neurotransmitter is released from the axon
terminal after an action potential has reached the synapse. The neurotransmitter then crosses
the synaptic gap to reach the receptor site of the other cell or neuron. Then, in a process known
as reuptake, the neurotransmitter attaches to the receptor site and is reabsorbed by the neuron.
spinal cord - Answer-a column of nerves within the spine that transmit messages to and from
the brain
