The Nervous System · Human Body — English Vocabulary

a cell that is responsible for transmitting nerve impulses between the brain and the rest of the body

"A neuron sends signals to the brain."

"Each neuron in the human brain can form thousands of connections with other cells, creating an incredibly complex network."

the inner part of the spine containing a mass of nerves that connects the brain to almost all the body parts

"Spinal cord injury."

"Spinal cord injury can cause serious problems with movement and feeling in the body."

(anatomy) a network of nerves in the abdomen and in front of the aorta that contains several ganglia

"A blow to solar plexus."

"A sharp blow to the solar plexus can temporarily incapacitate someone by disrupting their breathing."

(anatomy) a mass of neurons that form a nerve center in the body outside the brain or spinal cord

"A nerve ganglion formed."

"The ganglion cyst on his wrist was painless but unsightly so he decided to have it removed."

related to or associated with glia or glial cells in the nervous system

"The cells are glial."

"The glial cells support and protect neurons in the brain and they play an important role in the nervous system."

a complex arrangement or network of nerve fibers or blood vessels that intersect and intertwine within the body

"The body has a plexus."

"The intricate plexus of blood vessels in the brain ensures that all areas receive adequate oxygen supply."

a neuron that acts as an intermediary between sensory neurons and motor neurons, or between other interneurons

"The interneuron connects other nerve cells."

"Interneurons connect sensory and motor neurons within the central nervous system and process information locally."

a bundle of muscle fibers or nerve fibers bound together by connective tissue

"The fascicle contains many nerve fibers."

"A nerve fascicle is a bundle of axons bound together by connective tissue within a peripheral nerve."

a nerve cell that transmits signals from the central nervous system to the muscles, enabling voluntary movements

"The motor neuron controls muscle movement."

"Motor neurons transmit signals from the spinal cord to muscles causing voluntary and involuntary movements."

a region in the brainstem that acts as a bridge, connecting different parts of the brain and aiding in essential functions like sleep regulation and sensory-motor coordination

"The pons is part of brainstem."

"The pons is part of the brainstem that relays signals between the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex."

the bundle of nerve fibers that carries visual information from the eye to the brain

"The optic nerve sends visual signals."

"The optic nerve carries visual information from the retina to the brain for processing and interpretation."

a cranial nerve that contains both sensory and motor fibers

"The mixed cranial nerve has multiple functions."

"A mixed cranial nerve contains both sensory and motor fibers serving multiple functions in the head and neck."

a nerve in the upper limb that provides sensation and controls muscle movement in the hand and forearm

"Hitting your funny bone hurts ulnar nerve."

"Hitting the funny bone actually strikes the ulnar nerve against the humerus causing a strange tingling sensation."

a sensory nerve responsible for the sense of smell

"The olfactory nerve detects smells."

"The olfactory nerve is responsible for the sense of smell and is the shortest cranial nerve."

a cranial nerve responsible for controlling the movement of the eye muscles

"The oculomotor nerve controls eye movement."

"The oculomotor nerve controls most eye movements including pupil constriction and eyelid elevation."

a complex system of interconnected neurons that processes and transmits information in the body

"The brain is a neural network."

"A neural network in the brain consists of interconnected neurons that work together to process information."

the fourth cranial nerve responsible for controlling the movement of the superior oblique muscle of the eye

"The trochlear nerve moves the eye downward."

"The trochlear nerve is the smallest cranial nerve and controls the superior oblique muscle of the eye."

the fifth cranial nerve that provides sensory information from the face and controls the muscles responsible for chewing

"The trigeminal nerve controls face sensation."

"The trigeminal nerve provides sensation to the face and controls the muscles used for chewing."

a glial cell in the peripheral nervous system that forms myelin sheaths around nerve fibers

"The schwann cell produces myelin sheath."

"Schwann cells wrap around axons to form the myelin sheath which speeds up nerve impulse conduction."

a cranial nerve responsible for controlling the muscles of facial expression

"The facial nerve controls expression muscles."

"The facial nerve controls the muscles of facial expression including smiling frowning and raising eyebrows."

a cranial nerve responsible for hearing and balance

"The vestibulocochlear nerve affects hearing balance."

"The vestibulocochlear nerve carries sound and balance information from the inner ear to the brain."

a cranial nerve responsible for sensory and motor functions in the head and neck region

"The glossopharyngeal nerve affects taste and swallowing."

"The glossopharyngeal nerve provides taste sensation from the back of the tongue and controls swallowing muscles."

a cranial nerve responsible for controlling certain muscles involved in head and neck movements

"The accessory nerve controls neck muscles."

"The accessory nerve controls the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles which move the head and shoulders."

a cranial nerve responsible for controlling the movements of the tongue

"The hypoglossal nerve controls tongue movement."

"The hypoglossal nerve controls all the muscles of the tongue except one enabling speech and swallowing."

a cranial nerve responsible for controlling the movement of the lateral rectus muscle, which enables the eye to move laterally or outward

"The abducens nerve moves the eye outward."

"The abducens nerve controls the lateral rectus muscle which moves the eyeball away from the nose."

a type of nerve cell extension that carries signals from the central nervous system to the muscles, enabling voluntary movement

"The motor nerve fiber controls muscles."

"Motor nerve fibers originate in the spinal cord and terminate at muscles causing contraction when stimulated."

a division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for regulating rest, digestion, and other essential bodily functions

"The parasympathetic nervous system calms the body."

"The parasympathetic nervous system calms the body after stress by slowing the heart rate and aiding digestion."

a specialized cell that transmits electrical signals in the nervous system

"The nerve cell transmits electrical signals."

"The nerve cell or neuron has dendrites that receive signals and an axon that transmits them."

the complex network of the brain and spinal cord that controls and coordinates bodily functions and processes

"The central nervous system includes brain spine."

"The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord which control most body functions."

a non-neuronal cell in the nervous system that provides support and protection for neurons, helps maintain homeostasis, and participates in signaling and other important functions

"Glial cells support and protect neurons."

"Glial cells support and protect neurons but do not transmit electrical impulses like nerve cells do."

a network of nerves and ganglia that connects the central nervous system to the organs, muscles, and tissues of the body, facilitating communication and control

"The peripheral nervous system connects limbs to brain."

"The peripheral nervous system includes all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord connecting to limbs and organs."

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls and regulates involuntary bodily functions, including heart rate, digestion, and glandular activity

"The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions."

"The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary body functions like heartbeat digestion and breathing without conscious control."

a cluster of nerve cell bodies that mediates communication between the central nervous system and the organs

"The autonomic ganglion contains nerve cell bodies."

"The autonomic ganglion contains cell bodies of neurons that transmit signals from the central nervous system to organs."

a network of nerves and ganglia that regulates involuntary bodily functions

"The autonomic plexus regulates organ function."

"The autonomic plexus is a network of intersecting nerves that regulates functions of internal organs automatically."

a network of nerves that prepares the body for stressful or emergency situations by activating the "fight or flight" response

"The sympathetic nervous system triggers fight response."

"The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for stressful or dangerous situations by increasing heart rate and blood pressure."

the part of the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for the voluntary control of body movements and the reception of external stimuli.

"The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movement."

"The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements by sending signals from the brain to skeletal muscles."

a type of nerve that carries signals from the central nervous system to the muscles, enabling voluntary muscle movements

"The motor nerve sends signals to muscles."

"A motor nerve consists of efferent fibers that carry commands from the central nervous system to muscles."

a network of nerves and receptors that enables the perception of touch, temperature, pain, and body position

"The somatic sensory system detects touch and pain."

"The somatic sensory system detects touch temperature pain and body position from the skin and muscles."

a bundle of nerves that emerge directly from the brain and innervate structures in the head and neck

"There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves."

"Cranial nerves emerge directly from the brain rather than the spinal cord and serve head and neck functions."

a singular anatomical structure that carries sensory and motor signals between the spinal cord and the rest of the body

"The spinal nerve exits the backbone."

"Spinal nerves emerge from the spinal cord through spaces between the vertebrae and serve the rest of the body."

the initial segment of a spinal nerve that emerges from the spinal cord

"The spinal nerve root connects to cord."

"The spinal nerve root attaches to the spinal cord and contains either sensory or motor fibers."

a body part that carries sensory information from the body to the central nervous system

"The sensory nerve carries feeling information."

"Sensory nerves carry information from the skin and organs toward the central nervous system."

a nerve cell that transmits sensory information from the body to the central nervous system

"The sensory neuron detects external stimuli."

"The sensory neuron detects stimuli like heat or pressure and transmits signals to the spinal cord."

a nerve fiber that carries sensory information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system

"Sensory fibers carry signals to brain."

"Sensory fibers are axons that carry information from sensory receptors toward the central nervous system."

the part of the brain that processes and interprets sensory information from the body

"The sensory cortex processes touch information."

"The sensory cortex processes information from the senses including touch temperature and pain from the body."

a long, slender projection of a nerve cell that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body towards other neurons or target cells

"The axon sends electrical signals."

"The myelin sheath is a fatty layer that insulates the axon and speeds up signals."

a key nerve responsible for transmitting signals to the muscles and skin of the thigh and leg

"The femoral nerve controls the thigh."

"The femoral nerve controls the quadriceps muscles and provides sensation to the front of the thigh."