the part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord

central nervous system

the neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body, including the muscles and glands

peripheral nervous system

the nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

neuron

the part of the neuron that produces the energy need for the activity of a cell

cell body

the branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive impulses and conduct them toward the cell body

dendrites

a long tube-like structure attached to a neuron that transmits impulses away from the neuron cell body

axon

a white, fatty substance that insulates axons and enables rapid transmission of neural impulses

myelin

small fibers branching out from an axon

axon terminals

the junction between the axon terminals of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron

synapse

a chemical messenger that carries impulses across the synaptic gaps between neurons

neurotransmitters

a column of nerves within the spine that transmit messages to and from the brain

spinal cord

the division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system with sensory receptors, muscles, and the skin

somatic nervous system

the subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates body functions, such as respiration and digestion.

autonomic nervous system

a structure at the base of the brain stem that controls vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing

medulla

a brain structure located at the top of the brain stem that is involved in respiration, movement, and sleep

pons

the large mass of the fore brain, consisting of two hemispheres

cerebellum

the part of the brain that is involved in attention, sleep, and arousal

reticular activating system

the structure of the brain that relays messages from the sense organs to the cerebral cortex

thalamus

the neural structure located below the thalamus that controls temperature, hunger, thirst, and various aspects of emotion

hypothalamus

a group of neural structures at the base of the cerebral hemispheres that is associated with emotion and motivation

limbic system

the large mass of the fore-brain, consisting of two hemispheres

cerebrum

the bumpy, convoluted surface of the brain; the body's control and information processing center

cerebral cortex

the nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres of the cerebral cortex

corpus callosum

areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in such mental operations as thinking, memory, learning, and problem solving

association areas

the glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

endocrine system

chemicals produced by the endocrine glands that regulate through adjustments of the nervous system

hormones

the genetic transmission of traits from one generation to the next

heredity

the basic building blocks of heredity

genes

a microscopic threadlike structure in the nucleus of every living cell; it contains genes, the basic units of heredity

chromosomes