Kristen Lynch

Chapter Two
Vocabulary 1. Neuron- a nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system 2. Dendrite- the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses towards the body 3. Axon- extensions of a neuron through which messages pass to other neurons or muscles or glands 4. Myelin- a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; speeds up messages 5. Action Potential- neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. Generated by the movement of positively charges atoms in and out of the channels in the axons membrane. 6. Synapse- junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron 7. Neurotransmitters- chemical messengers that travel across the synaptic gap 8. Acetylcholine- a neutransmitter that enables learning and memory and triggers muscle contraction 9. Endorphins- natural, opiate-like neutransmitter linked to pain control and pleasure 10. Nerves- neural cables containing axons 11. Sensory neurons- neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system

12. Motor neurons- neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands 13. Interneurons- central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs 14. Somatic Nervous system- the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls skeletal muscles 15. Autonomic system- part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs 16. Sympathetic Nervous system- Division of the autonomic nervous system that around the body 17. Parasympathetic nervous system- the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body 18. Reflex- an automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus 19. Neural Networks- interconnected neural cells 20. Adrenal glands- a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. Secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine 21. Pituitary glands- endocrine systems most influential gland. Regulates growth and controls other glands. 22. lesion- tissue destruction 23. EEG- an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface 24. PET scan- a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

25. MRI- a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue 26. fMRI- a technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans 27. Brainstem- begins where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; involved in automatic survival functions 28. Medulla- the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing 29. Reticular Formation- a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in arousal 30. Thalamus- the brains sensory switchboard that directs messages to the sensory receiving areas of the brain 31. Cerebellum- processes sensory input and coordinates movement output and balance 32. Limbic system- associated with fear and aggression and the drives for food and sex 33. Amygdala- linked to emotion 34. Hypothalamus- controls maintenance activities such as eating, drinking, and body temperature and helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion 35. Frontal lobes- involved in speaking, muscle movements, and in making plans and decisions 36. Parietal lobes- receives sensory input for touch and body position 37. Occipital lobes- visual areas 38. Temporal lobes- auditory information

39. Motor cortex- area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements 40. Sensory cortex- area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers body touch and movements 41. Association areas- involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking 42. Aphasia- impairment of language 43. Brocas area- deals with speech 44. Wenickes area- deals with understanding 45. Plasticity- brains capacity fir modification 46. Corpus Callosum- large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them 47. Split brain- a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by the connecting fibers between them