Correct Answer Graded A+.
Brain Stem - part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains
the midbrain, pons, and medulla
neurons - Cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to perform
information-processing tasks.
cell body (soma) - The part of a neuron that coordinates information-processing tasks
and keeps the cell alive.
dendrites - The part of a neuron that receives information from other neurons and relays
it to the cell body.
axon - The part of a neuron that carries information to other neurons, muscles, or
glands.
synapse - The junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or
cell body of another.
myelin sheath - An insulating layer of fatty material.
glial cells - Support cells found in the nervous system.
sensory neurons - Neurons that receive information from the external world and convey
this information to the brain via the spinal cord.
motor neurons - Neurons that carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to
produce movement.
interneurons - Neurons that connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other
interneurons.
resting potential - The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a
neuron's cell membrane.
action potential - An electric signal that is conducted along a neuron's axon to a
synapse.
terminal buttons - Knoblike structures that branch out from an axon.
neurotransmitters - Chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a
receiving neuron's dendrites.
, receptors - Parts of the cell membrane that receive the neurotransmitter and initiate or
prevent a new electric signal.
agonists - Drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter.
antagonists - Drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter
nervous system - An interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical
information throughout the body.
central nervous system (CNS) - The part of the nervous system that is composed of the
brain and spinal cord.
peripheral nervous system (PNS) - The part of the nervous system that connects the
central nervous system to the body's organs and muscles.
somatic nervous system - part of the nervous system that conveys information between
the central nervous system and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary
movement
autonomic nervous system (ANS) - part of the nervous system controlling the
involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which (along with the limbic
system) participates in emotion regulation
sympathetic nervous system - division of the autonomic nervous system engaged
during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system - division of autonomic nervous system that controls
rest and digestion
spinal reflexes - Simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle
contractions.
hindbrain - The upper part of the spinal cord that includes the brainstem(medulla, pons,
spinal cord, and the cerebellum)
medulla - An extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate,
circulation, and respiration.
reticular formation - A brain structure that regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of
arousal.
cerebellum - A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.