Nervous Systems, Neurons and Neurotransmission

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Across
  1. 2. Branch-like extensions that receive signals from other neurons; like tree branches reaching out to catch rainwater, but instead catching chemical messages
  2. 6. _____ NERVOUS SYSTEM - All nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that carry messages; like the company's communication network connecting headquarters to all branch offices
  3. 9. _____ NERVOUS SYSTEM - The brain and spinal cord that process information; like the CEO and main office of a company making all the big decisions
  4. 10. Electrical charge of a neuron when not actively firing; like a loaded spring sitting quietly, ready to release its energy when triggered
  5. 12. - Autoimmune disorder affecting communication between nerves and muscles; like a faulty Wi-Fi connection that makes messages between your computer and router unreliable
  6. 14. Basic cell of the nervous system that transmits electrical signals; like an electrical wire in your house that carries power from one place to another
  7. 16. - Disease where immune system attacks myelin sheaths, disrupting neural transmission; like road construction that damages the asphalt, making cars travel much slower
  8. 17. End points of axons that release neurotransmitters into synapses; like the nozzles on a garden sprinkler that spray water droplets toward their target
  9. 21. - Brief time after firing when a neuron cannot generate another action potential; like the cooldown period after using a camera flash before it can flash again
  10. 23. Process where neurotransmitters are absorbed back into the releasing neuron; like a vacuum cleaner sucking up scattered confetti after a party to clean the space
  11. 24. Change in electrical charge that occurs during an action potential; like flipping a light switch from off to on, creating a sudden change in electrical state
  12. 25. _____ NERVOUS SYSTEM - Controls involuntary functions like heartbeat and breathing; like your home's automatic systems that run heating, cooling, and security without you thinking about them
  13. 26. Long projections that carry signals away from the cell body, covered by fatty myelin sheaths; like insulated electrical cables that speed up signal transmission
Down
  1. 1. Gaps between neurons where chemical messages are transmitted; like the space between a radio tower and your car antenna where invisible signals jump across
  2. 3. _____ NERVOUS SYSTEM - Activates fight-or-flight response during stress; like a fire alarm that gets your whole building ready for emergency action
  3. 4. Support cells that nourish, protect, and maintain neurons; like the maintenance crew at an office building who clean, repair, and keep everything running smoothly for the workers
  4. 5. Fatty white substance that insulates axons and speeds up neural transmission; like the rubber coating around electrical wires that prevents signal loss and makes electricity flow faster
  5. 7. _____ NEURONS - Carry commands from the central nervous system to muscles; like a remote control sending signals to make your TV change channels
  6. 8. _____ NERVOUS SYSTEM - Calms the body and conserves energy during rest; like switching your car into park mode after a long drive to let the engine cool down
  7. 11. Process of chemical communication between neurons across synapses; like a relay race where runners pass a baton from one person to the next to keep the message moving
  8. 13. Electrical impulse that travels down an axon when threshold is reached; like a domino effect that races from one end of a line to the other once it starts
  9. 15. Cell body of a neuron containing the nucleus; like the main office of a business where all the important paperwork and decision-making happens
  10. 18. Minimum level of stimulation needed to trigger an action potential; like the minimum amount of pressure needed to click a pen and make it work
  11. 19. Automatic response pathway that bypasses the brain; like a smoke detector that automatically triggers sprinklers without waiting for human decision
  12. 20. _____ NEURONS - Carry information from sense organs to the central nervous system; like security cameras sending footage back to the monitoring station
  13. 22. _____ NERVOUS SYSTEM - Controls voluntary muscle movements; like the steering wheel and pedals that let you consciously control where your car goes