Download 149

Vocabulary for test Friday May 9th
Nervous System - the network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses
between parts of the body ; includes brain, spinal cord and nerves
Central nervous system – the control center of the body that includes the brain and spinal
cord
Peripheral nervous system –All the nerves located outside the central nervous system;
connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Brain – The part of the central nervous system that is located in the skull and controls most
functions in the body.
Nerve – a whitish fiber or bundle of fibers that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain
or spinal cord, and impulses from these to the muscles and organs.
Neuron - a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.
Spinal cord - the cylindrical bundle of nerve fibers and associated tissue that is enclosed in
the spine and connects nearly all parts of the body to the brain, with which it forms the
central nervous system.
Reflexes – Rapid, predictable, involuntary motor responses to stimuli
Mouth - performs mechanical digestion of food (chewing) Food mixes with saliva in the
mouth and begins the process of chemical digestion making the food soft and mushy. The
tongue then pushes the food into the esophagus.
Esophagus - a stretchy pipe that is about 25 cm long. Muscles in the esophagus push your
food down into your stomach.
Stomach - is a stretchy, smooth muscle lined pouch that is shaped like a letter J. The
stomach stores food you eat, breaks it down into a liquid mixture called chyme, and then
empties the mixture into the small intestine.
Small intestine - is a tube that is 22 feet long in and 3-5 cm wide in adults. Here food is
broken down so that your body can absorb all the vitamins, minerals, proteins,
carbohydrates and fats. Food stays here around 4 hours until it becomes a very thin watery
material
Liver - The liver's main job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before
passing it to the rest of the body. The liver also detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs.
As it does so, the liver secretes bile that ends up back in the intestines. The liver also makes
proteins important for blood clotting and other functions.
Large Intestine - the last part of the digestive system in vertebrate animals. Its function is to
absorb water from the matter, and then to pass useless waste material from the body.
Rectum -the final straight portion of the large intestine
Anus - the final straight portion of the large intestine