The Brain

5. the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles
8. the chemicals released by neurons, which determine the rate at which other neurons fire
9. sensory neurons that relay messages from the sense organs to the brain
14. consists of the brain and spinal cord
15. the long thin cells that constitute the structural and functional unit of nerve tissue; messages travel to and from the brain here
16. a network of nerves branching out from the spinal cord that conduct information from the bodily organs to the central nervous system and take information back to the organs
18. the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved with organization, planning, and creative thinking
19. the portion of the peripheral nervous system that controls internal biological functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure
20. the gray mass surrounding the subcortex, which is the information processing center that controls the higher brain functions

1. where the visual signals are processed
2. part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for dealing with emergencies or strenuous activity
3. a band of fibers that connects the cerebral hemispheres
4. part of the autonomic nervous system that works to conserve energy and to enhance the body’s ability to recover from strenuous activity
6. the gap that exists between the axon terminals of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron
7. concerned with hearing, memory, emotion, and speaking
10. motor neurons that send signals from the brain to the glands and muscles
11. the capacity of the brain to change and adapt
12. involved in the basic processes of life such as sleeping, waking, coordinating body movements, and regulating vital reflexes; the posterior portion of the brain including the cerebellum and brainstem
13. concerned with receiving sensory input from all over the body (for touch and body position)
17. the largest part of the brain that covers the brain’s central core, consisting of left and right hemispheres, which are connected by a wide band of fibers, the corpus callosum