science

• Stimulus


  agent or factor that triggers a response in our body
• Dendrites


  short and highly branched part of the neuron that receive information from a receptor organ or another neuron
• Axon


  long and slender part of the neuron that conducts the information away from the cell body
• Sensory Neurons


  carry messages from the receptor organs
• Motor Neuron


  receives information from the nerve centers and transmits it to the effector organs
• Interneurons


  found only in the CNS, connects sensory neurons to motor neurons
• Synapse


  Gap between nerve cells
• Central Nervous System


  controls and coordinates the activities of the whole nervous system
• Brain


  primary organ of the CNS contained within the skull or cranium
• Cerebrum


  Largest part of the brain. Responsible for the high thought processes such as memory, judgement, and reason.
• Cerebellum


  Second largest part of the brain. Controls muscle coordination, maintains normal muscle tone and posture, and coordinates balance for locomotion.
• Brain Stem

  Part of the brain that connects with the spinal cord. Controls involuntary activities such as digestion, heartbeat, and breathing
• Midbrain


  contains centers for the integration of sensory information
• Pons


  regulates breathing centers in the medulla
• Medulla Oblongata 


  contains centers that control varying involuntary functions such as breathing, swallowing, vomiting, and digestion.
• Hypothalamus


  regulates homeostasis. Has regulatory areas for thirst, hunger, body temperature, water balance, and blood pressure.
• Thalamus


  serves as central relay for incoming nervous messages
• Spinal Cord


  extends from the brain stem down to the buttock region. It allows signals to be sent from the brain to the other parts of the the body.
• Peripheral Nervous System


  contains all the nerves outside the brain and the spinal cord.
• Somatic Nervous System


  includes all nerves controlling the muscular system and external sensory receptors. regulates the activities that are under conscious control.
• Autonomic Nervous System


  consists of motor neurons that control internal organs. regulates activities that are automatic or involuntary.
• Sympathetic Division


  involved in the "fight or flight" response
• Parasympathetic Division


  involved in the "rest or digest" response
• Monotremes


  egg-laying mammals
• Marsupials


  pouched mammals, born at a very tiny, immature phase, and complete their development in their mother's pouch
• Placental/Eutherian


  largest group of mammals.
• Viviparous Organisms


  give birth to live young
• Oviparous Organisms


  egg-laying organisms
• Hind Limbs


  are legs that are used for perching, walking, swimming, or prey-catching
• Swim Bladder


  acts as a float that regulates buoyancy
• Arthropods


  Make up the largest group in the animal kingdom
• Exoskeleton


  provides the framework for support and protects the body
• Insects


  Six-legged arthropods in their adult form.
• Arachnids


  are arthropods that have four pairs of walking legs.
• Crustaceans


  have 5 pairs of legs for locomotion. its body is made up to 50 segments but most of them have only 19 segments
• Centipedes


  aka chilopods. a pair of legs is attached per segment.
• Millipedes


  aka diplopods. have two pairs of leg per segment. millipede means a thousand feet
• Mollusks


  are animals that have soft bodies.
• Echinoderms


  are characterized by their spiny endoskeleton.
• Sponges


  are considered to be one of the simplest invertebrates due to the fact they do not have any organ systems