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Science Explosion 15
BJU 6th Science - Chapter 14
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Central nervous system | consists of brain and spinal cord |
Peripheral nervous system | contains millions of nerve cells that communicate what is going on with the body |
brain | command center of the body |
cerebrum | largest part of brain; controls muscle movements and receives information for the senses |
lobes | distinct areas of the cerebrum |
cerebellum | sends messages to muscles throughout the body; locate underneath the cerebrum |
brain stem | connects to the spinal cord, controls involuntary actions |
spinal cord | bundle of nerve fibers that connect the brain to the rest of the body |
neuron | a nerve cell that carries impulses between various parts of the body |
sensory neuron | nerve cell that carries messages from the senses to the central nervous system |
motor neuron | a nerve cell that carries messages from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles |
dendrite | the part of a neuron that receives messages from other neurons |
impulse | an electrical message passed from neuron to neuron |
axon | the part of the neuron that receives messages from the dendrite and passes the messages to the next neuron |
synapse | gap between neurons that messages cross |
reflex | an action that happens before the brain has time to think about the action |
memory cell | a type of white blood cell that remembers a pathogen and the specific antibody needed to destroy the pathogen |
short-term memory | the brain’s temporary storage of information |
long-term memory | storage of information that can last for months, years, or a lifetime |
hormone | a chemical messenger for the endocrine system |
endocrine gland | special groups of cells that make chemicals, such as hormones, for the body |
target cell | a group of cells that can be affected by a certain hormone |
hypothalamus | a group of special cells near the base of the brain that helps to regulate parts of the body, such as the pituitary gland |
pituitary gland | the master gland of the endocrine system; secretes hormones that control other glands |
epilepsy | a seizure disorder caused by the neurons in the brain sending their electrical impulses too quickly and at an irregular rate |
multiple sclerosis | an autoimmune disorder that destroys the myelin coating covering the axon in some neurons; can result in muscle weakness, paralysis, or loss of vision |
Parkinson’s disease | a disorder of the nervous system that damages brain cells that control movement |
Alzheimer’s disease | a disorder of the nervous system; affects a person’s mind, often decreasing |