Biology Behavior Flashcards
(37 cards)
reticular activating system
The part of the brain that is involved in attention, sleep, and arousal
synapse
The junction between the axon terminals of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron
autonomic nervous system
the subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates body functions such as system respiration and digestion
central nervous system
the part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and the spinal cord
dendrites
the branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive impulses and conduct them toward the cell body
somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system with sensory receptors, muscles, and skin
cerebral cortex
the bumpy convoluted surface of the brain; the body’s control and information processing center
peripheral nervous system
the neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body, including muscles and glands
axon terminal
small fibers branching out from an axon
chromosome
a microscopic threadlike structure in the nucleus of every living cell; contains genes the basic building blocks of heredity
neuron
a nerve cell, the basic building block of the nervous system
cell body
the part of the neuron that produces the energy needed for the activity of the cell
neuron transmitter
a chemical messenger that caries impulses across the synaptic gaps between neurons
thalamus
the structure of the brain that relays messages from the sense organs to the cerebral cortex
heredity
the genetic transmission of traits from one generation to the next gene the basic building blocks of heredity
cerebrum
the large mass of the forebrain, consisting of two hemispheres
pons
a brain structure located at the top of the brain stem that is involved in respiration, movement, and sleep
corpus callosum
the nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres of the cerebral cortex
cerebellum
the area of the brain that is responsible for voluntary movement and balance
medulla
a structure at the base of the brain stem that controls vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing
endocrine system
the glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
association area
areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in such mental operations as thinking, memory, learning, and problem solving
hormone
one of the several chemicals produced by the endocrine glands that regulate specific body functions
axon
a long tubelike structure attached to a neuron that transmits impulses away from the neuron cell body
