nervous system: the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, it consists of all nerve cells from the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord (the body’s decision maker)

peripheral nervous system: the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous systems to the rest of the body(responsible for gathering information and transporting it to different parts of the body)

nerves: bundles of axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

sensory neurons: neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord for processing

motor neurons: neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.

interneurons: neurons in the brain and spinal cord that process information, and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system: one part of the peripheral nervous system, that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system: one part of the peripheral nervous system, controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs and has two divisions

sympathetic nervous system: division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses and expends energy, specifically in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system: division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserves energy

examples of the sympathetic nervous system: pupils dilate, heartbeat accelerates, it inhibits digestion, stimulates glucose release by the liver, stimulates the secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine, and stimulates ejaculation in males

examples of the parasympathetic nervous system: contracts pupils, slow heartbeat, stimulates digestion, stimulates gall bladder, contracts bladder, allows blood flow to sex organs

reflex: a simple automatic response to sensory stimulus, (such as a knee-jerk response)

endocrine system: the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

hormones: chemical messengers, that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissue

adrenal glands: a pair of endocrine glands located just above the kidney and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

pituitary gland: endocrines system’s most influential gland, under the influence of the hypothalamus the pituitary gland regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

Hypothalamus: the region of your brain that controls the pituitary gland, a neural structure located below the thalamus; it directs several matinence activities such as eating, drinking, and body temp. is linked with emotion and reward

Thyroid gland: affects metabolism

Adrenal glands: the inner part of this gland helps to trigger the “fight or flight” response

testis: secretes male sex hormones

ovary: secretes female sex hormones

pancreas: regulates the level of sugar in the blood

parathyroids: help regulate the level of calcium in the blood

parts of the endocrine system: hypothalamus, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, testis, ovary, pancreas, parathyroid, and pituitary gland

lesion: tissue destruction used by scientists to experimentally deconstruct brain tissue to learn about different parts of the brain

electroencephalogram: an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

CT scan: a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure. also called CAT scan and can be used to reveal brain damage

PET scan: a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

MRI: a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.

fMRI: a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as brain structure.

brainstem: the oldest part and the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for the automatic survival functions.

medulla: the base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus: the brain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

pons: help to coordinate movements, located just above the medulla in the brainstem

reticular formation: a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.

cerebellum: coordinates our voluntary movements, processes sensory input, balance, nonverbal learning, and memory, and is located at the back of the brain

cerebral hemispheres': two halves of the brain

limbic system: neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus)

hippocampus: processes conscious memories

amygdala: two lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion