Glossary
B
- brain stem
- - the part of the brain that performs basic life functions like breathing and heart beat
C
- central nervous system
- - the brain and spinal cord working together
- cerebellum
- - the little brain just under the cerebrum which deals with posture and movement
- cerebral cortex
- - the densely wrinkled part of the brain also known as the cerebrum
- cerebrum
- - the largest portion of the brain dealing with higher brain function
- corpus callosum
- - a structure that connects and communicates between the right and left hemisphere of the brain
H
- hemispheres
- - each half of the brain is known as a hemisphere
- homunculus
- - a representation of the parts of the brain and the percentage of nerves controlling those portions
N
- neurons
- - cells of the nervous system that conduct electrical impulses
- neuroscientist
- - a doctor or scientist that studies the brain
P
- peripheral nervous system
- - the nerves of the portions of the body on the outer edges
R
- reflexes
- - the actions that our body does without our thinking about it - blinking, sneezing, coughing
S
- sensory neurons
- - cells that conduct impulses related to our senses of hearing, tasting, sight, etc
- skull
- - also called the cranium - the bones of the head
- spinal cord
- - the collection of nerves that run through our spine and connects all parts of the body to the brain
- synapse
- - the connection between two neurons where impulses are passed
