Nervous System Quiz

Any factor that evokes a response in an organism, such as smell, touch, or hunger.

Specialized cells that receive stimuli and convert them into electrical signals.

The network of nerve cells that transmits signals throughout the body.

The basic unit of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting information.

Branches of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons.

The main part of a neuron that contains the nucleus and other cellular components.

A long, slender projection of a neuron that transmits signals to other neurons.

A fatty substance that covers some axons, increasing the speed of signal transmission.

The tip of an axon that releases neurotransmitters into the synapse.

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synapse.

A junction between two neurons, where nerve impulses are transmitted from one to another.

A type of neuron that carries impulses from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands, causing them to contract or secrete.

The central control unit of the nervous system, composed of the brain and spinal cord.

The part of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

An involuntary response to a stimulus, often a quick and automatic action involving the spinal cord.

The pathway of impulses in a reflex action, starting with a stimulus and ending with a response.

A neurotransmitter that slows down brain activity, affecting reflexes and decision-making.

The part of the nervous system responsible for involuntary actions such as heart rate and breathing, often activated during stress.

Reflexes controlled by the cerebrum, allowing for more complex, voluntary movements.

Specialized glial cells that form the myelin sheath around axons in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Glial cells that form the myelin sheath around axons in the peripheral nervous system (outside the brain and spinal cord).

The part of the brain and spinal cord composed primarily of myelinated axons, which are responsible for transmitting signals quickly.

The part of the brain and spinal cord composed primarily of neuron cell bodies and unmyelinated axons, where processing and integration of information takes place.

The change in electrical potential across the plasma membrane of a neuron when it is stimulated, allowing the nerve impulse to travel along the axon.

A clear liquid that circulates around the brain and spinal cord, providing nutrients, removing waste, and cushioning the brain from impact.

The largest part of the brain, responsible for higher cognitive functions like thinking, memory, language, and voluntary movement.

Part of the brain responsible for coordinating movement, balance, and posture.

Located at the base of the brain, it controls essential involuntary functions like breathing and heart rate.

A relay station for sensory information going to the cerebrum and motor commands going to the body.

A small but important brain region that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, and other vital functions.

A long bundle of nerves extending from the brain down the back, responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body.

Protective layers that surround the brain and spinal cord.