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autonomic nervous system (ANS)
the parts of the PNS that carry messages between the CNS and organs that function autonomously
autonomy (self-sufficiency) - -ic (adjective suffix)
- (aw-to-NOM-ik)
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arachnoid mater
delicate web-like layer of the meninges; middle layer
Gr. arachne (spider, cobweb) - -oid (resemblance)
- (ah-RAK-noyd MAY-turh)
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axon
the part of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses
axo- (axis) - -n (noun ending)
- (AX-ohn)
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brain stem
the part of the brain that controls functions including heart rate, breathing, and body temperature
includes midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata
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cell body
- one of the three parts of a neuron cell(the other two are the axon and dendrites)
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central nervous system (CNS)
subdivision of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord
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cerebellum
the part of the brain that controls the skeletal muscles
cerebr/o (brain) - (SERR-uh-bell-uhm)
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cerebral cortex
the gray matter surrounding the cerebrum
- cerebr/o (brain)
- -al (adjective suffix)
- (seh-REE-bruhl KOR-tex)
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cerebrospinal fluid
the fluid in and around the brain and spinal cord
cerebr/o (brain) - L. spina
- fluid (common English word)
- (seh-REE-bro-SPY-nuhl)
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cerebrum
- the largest part of the brain
- controls conscious thought and stores memories
- cerebr/o (brain)
- (seh-REE-bruhm)
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dendrite
- one of two processes extending from a neuron cell body(the other is the axon)
- Gr. dendrites (relating to a tree)
- (DEN-dryte)
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diencephalon
the part of the brain containing both the thalamus and the hypothalamus
di- (two) - encephal/o (of or relating to the brain)
- -on (noun suffix)
- (dy-en-SEFF-uh-lohn)
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dura mater
the outer meninges, the fibrous membrane protecting the CNS
L. words meaning "hard mother" - (DOO-ruh MAY-tuhr)
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frontal lobe
the front part of the brain from which voluntary muscle movements and other sensory and motor tasks are directed
(FRUN-tahl)
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ganglion
a group of neuron cell bodies grouped together in the PNS
Gr. word (swelling or knot) - pl.: ganglia
- (GANG-lee-ohn)
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hypothalamus
the hormone and emotion center of the brain that controls autonomic functions
hypo- (below, deficient) - Gr. thalamus (a bed, a bedroom)
- (HY-po-thal-uh-muhs)
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leptomeninx
collective term for the arachnoid mater and pia mater
lepto- (light, slender, thin, frail) - meninx = pl. form of mening/o (membrane)
- (LEPP-toh-ME-ninks)
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medulla oblongata
the part of the brain stem that sends sensory information to the thalamus to direct the autonomic functions of the heart, lungs, and other viscera
L. marrow - L. oblongatus (oblong)
- (meh-DUH-luh ohb-lohng-GAH-tuh)
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meninges
three layer membrane surrounding brain and spinal cord
mening/o (membrane) - (meh-NIHN-jees)
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mesencephalon
- the middle part of the brain between the diencephalon and the pons
- the midbrain
- mes/o (middle)
- encephal/o (brain)
- -on (noun suffix)
- (mez-ehn-SEFF-ah-lon)
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myelin sheath
a fatty white envelope of cells providing protection and electrical insulation to neurons
myel/o (bone marrow; spinal cord) - (MY-eh-lin sheeth)
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nerve
a whitish, cordlike structure composed of one or more bundles of nerve fibers outside the CNS, together with their connective tissues and nourishing blood vessels
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neuroglia
cells within both the CNS and PNS, which, although they are external to neurons, form an essential part of nerve tissue
neur/o (nerve) - Gr. glia (glue)
- (nuhr-o-GLEE-uh)
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neuron
a nerve cell, including the cell body and its axon
neur/o (nerve) - -on (noun suffix)
- (NUHR-ohn)
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neurotransmitter
chemical released by the presynaptic cell that is then picked up by the postsynaptic cell to effect an action
neur/o (nerve) - L. trans (across)
- mittere (to send)
- (NOO-roh-TRANS-mitt-ehr)
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nucleus
a group of neuron cell bodies grouped together in the CNS
L. word meaning kernel - (NEW-klee-uhs)pl. nuclei (NEW-klee-eye)
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occipital lobe
the part of the brain that processes information from the sense of sight and other sensory and motor tasks
L. occiput (back of the head) - (AWK-sihp-ih-tuhl lobe)
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parietal lobe
the part of the brain that processes information from the sense of touch and other sensory and motor tasks
L. parietalis (walls) - -al (adjective suffix)
- (pah-RY-uh-tuhl lobe)
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peripheral nervous system (PNS)
made up of neurons, neuroglia, and associated tissue, including the cranial and spinal nerves and the sensory and motor nerves that extend throughout the body
peri- (surrounding) - Gr. pherein (to carry)
- (puh-RIFF-uh-ruhl)
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pia mater
inner layer of the meninges
L. words meaning "tender mother" - (PEE-ah MAY-turh)
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pons
the part of the brain stem that passes information to the cerebellum and the thalamus to regulate subconscious somatic activities
L. word meaning "bridge" - (POHNS)
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psychomotor
an adjective used to indicate the relation between activity psychic and muscular movement
psych/o (of the mind) - L. motor (mover)
- (SY-ko-mo-tuhr)
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somatic nervous system
the parts of the PNS that carry impulses for conscious rather than habitual activity
somat/o (body, bodily) - -ic (adjective suffix)
- (so-MAT-ik)
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spinal nerves
the 31 pairs of nerves located along the spinal column
L. spina (spine) - (SPY-nahl)
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synapse
the connecting point between nerve cells or between a nerve cell and a receptor or effector cell
syn- (together) - Gr. hapto (clasp)
- (SIH-naps)
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temporal lobe
the part of the brain that processes information from the senses of hearing, smell, and taste, and other sensory and motor tasks
L. temporalis (time, temple) - (TEM-puh-ruhl lobe)
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thalamus
part of the brain that processes sensory information
Gr. thalamus (bed, bedroom) - (THAL-uh-muhs)
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ventricles
cavities between the cerebrum and brain stem
L. ventriculus - dim. of venter (belly)
- (VEN-trik-uhls)
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