The Structure of the Nervous System
Axia College Material
Appendix B
Structures of the Nervous System
This activity will increase your understanding of the different structures of the nervous system and brain. During the Web activity, you will view a variety of structures of the brain and nervous system and label each with the appropriate term. You will use this document to write a description for the terms you used in the activity.
As you conduct the Structures of the Nervous System activity, follow along with this Word document and fill in the descriptions of those terms you used to label the structures. All of the terms in the activity are listed here, but you only need to provide descriptions for those you used.
Term | Description | Central nervous system | The central nervous system has two divisions; the brain and the spinal cord. The brain is located in the skull and the spinal cord is located in the spine. | Cell body | The cell body is the metabolic center of the neuron. | Peripheral nervous system | The division located outside the skull and spine. | Dendrites | Receives most of the synaptic contacts from other neurons. | Somatic nervous system | | Axon | The long, narrow process that projects from the cell body. | Buttons | Located at the end of the axon and releases chemicals into the synapse. | Autonomic nervous system | | Synapses | The synapses are the gaps between adjacent neurons across which chemicals signals are sent. | Dura mater meninx | The dura meninx is the membrane closest to the skull and surrounds the CNS to protect it. | Mesencephalon | The mesencephalon contains two divisions; the tectum and the tegmentum. | Arachnoid meninx | The arachnoid is a protective barrio of the brain and is located between the other two meninges. | Cerebrospinal fluid | Protects the central nervous system by filling the arachnoid space, central canal of the spinal cord and the cerebral ventricles of the brain. | Diencephalon | The diencephalon is
Appendix B
Structures of the Nervous System
This activity will increase your understanding of the different structures of the nervous system and brain. During the Web activity, you will view a variety of structures of the brain and nervous system and label each with the appropriate term. You will use this document to write a description for the terms you used in the activity.
As you conduct the Structures of the Nervous System activity, follow along with this Word document and fill in the descriptions of those terms you used to label the structures. All of the terms in the activity are listed here, but you only need to provide descriptions for those you used.
Term | Description | Central nervous system | The central nervous system has two divisions; the brain and the spinal cord. The brain is located in the skull and the spinal cord is located in the spine. | Cell body | The cell body is the metabolic center of the neuron. | Peripheral nervous system | The division located outside the skull and spine. | Dendrites | Receives most of the synaptic contacts from other neurons. | Somatic nervous system | | Axon | The long, narrow process that projects from the cell body. | Buttons | Located at the end of the axon and releases chemicals into the synapse. | Autonomic nervous system | | Synapses | The synapses are the gaps between adjacent neurons across which chemicals signals are sent. | Dura mater meninx | The dura meninx is the membrane closest to the skull and surrounds the CNS to protect it. | Mesencephalon | The mesencephalon contains two divisions; the tectum and the tegmentum. | Arachnoid meninx | The arachnoid is a protective barrio of the brain and is located between the other two meninges. | Cerebrospinal fluid | Protects the central nervous system by filling the arachnoid space, central canal of the spinal cord and the cerebral ventricles of the brain. | Diencephalon | The diencephalon is