The Nervous and Endocrine System

Question 1

nervous system

Answer 1

electrochemical communication network, including nerve calls of the peripheral and CNS

Question 2

central nervous system (CNS)

Answer 2

the brain and spinal cord

Question 3

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Answer 3

sensory and motor neurons that connect CNS to the rest of the body

Question 4

nerves

Answer 4

bundled axons that form neural “cables”, connecting CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs

Question 5

main types of neurons:

Answer 5

sensory (afferent) neurons

motor (efferent) neurons

interneurons

Question 6

sensory (afferent) neurons

Answer 6

neurons that carry incoming info from sensory receptors to the brain/spinal cord

Question 7

motor (efferent) neurons

Answer 7

neurons that carry outgoing info from brain/spinal cords to muscles and glands

Question 8

interneurons

Answer 8

neurons within brain/spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene the sensory inputs/motor outputs

Question 9

somatic nervous system

Answer 9

division of PNS that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

Question 10

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Answer 10

part of PNS that controls glands and muscles of internal organs (like the heart)

Question 11

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 11

division of the ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Question 12

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 12

division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving its energy

Question 13

reflex

Answer 13

automatic response to a sensory stimulus

Question 14

endocrine system

Answer 14

“slow” chemical communication system, glands that transport hormones via bloodstream

Question 15

hormones

Answer 15

chemical messengers that affect other tissues from bloodstream

can influence interest in sex, food, aggression

Question 16

adrenal glands

Answer 16

sit above kidneys and help release adrenaline and noradrenaline to arouse body during stress

Question 17

pituitary gland

Answer 17

most influential, regulates growth, controls other endocrine glands, and is under influence of hypothalamus

Question 18

adrenaline

Answer 18

epinephrine

Question 19

nonadrenaline

Answer 19

norepinephrine

Question 20

biological psychology

Answer 20

the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes.

Question 21

neuron

Answer 21

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

Question 22

axon

Answer 22

neuron extension

passes messages from cell body to neurons, muscles, or glands

Question 23

myelin sheath

Answer 23

layer of fatty tissue that insulates them and speeds their impulses

Question 24

action potential

Answer 24

brief electrical charge that travels down its axon

Question 25

cell body

Answer 25

cell's life support center

Question 26

dendrites

Answer 26

branching extensions recieve messages conduct impulses toward body

Question 27

neural impulse

Answer 27

electrical signal traveling down the axon (action potential)

Question 28

terminal branches of axon

Answer 28

for junctions with other cells

Question 29

refractory period

Answer 29

during resting pause after neuron fired

Question 30

threshold

Answer 30

the combined signals trigger an action potential

Question 31

all-or-none response

Answer 31

reaction of either firing or not firing

Question 32

synapse

Answer 32

the meeting points between neurons

Question 33

neurotransmitters

Answer 33

the release of chemical messengers

Question 34

reuptake

Answer 34

sending neuron reabsorbs the excess neurotransmitters

Question 35

Acetylcholine

Answer 35

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Question 36

Dopamine

Answer 36

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

Question 37

Serotonin

Answer 37

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Question 38

Norepinephrine

Answer 38

Helps control alertness and arousal

Question 39

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Answer 39

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter

Question 40

Glutamate

Answer 40

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Question 41

endorphins

Answer 41

good feelings such as the “runner’s high"

Question 42

agonist

Answer 42

increase effects of neurotransmitters

Question 43

antagonist

Answer 43

block a neurotransmitter’s functioning.