Glossary

Nervous System- controls everything you do, including breathing,

walking, thinking and feeling. This system is made up of your
brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves in your body. The brain is
the control center and the spinal cord is the major highway to and
from the brain. The nerves carry the messages to and from the
body, so the brain can interpret them and take action.
Nerves- long, thin cells that run between organs all over the body.
Sensory nerves carry messages from the sense organs to the
brain.
Brain- the organ in the skull that receives information for the
body's other organs, stores memory, makes decision, and causes
the muscles to move.
Olfactory Bulb- the organ inside the nose that contains sensory
nerves. The brain interprets signals from these nerves as smell.
Nasal Cavity- pathway for the air to move.
Outer Ear- the part of the ear that can be seen on the outside of
your head.
Inner Ear- the semicircular canals and cochlea, which form the
organs of balance and hearing and are embedded in the temporal
bone.
Middle Ear- a membrane of the middle ear that vibrates in
response to sound waves; the tympanic membrane.
Cochela- the spiral cavity of the inner ear containing the organ of
Corti, which produces nerve impulses in response to sound
vibrations.
Iris- part of the eye that has color, iris controls the amount of light
that enters the eye by changing the size of the pupil.

Pupil- small, round, black opening in the middle of the front of the
eye, light enters through the pupil.
Lens- part of the eye that is behind the iris that focuses the eye
on the retina.
Retina- light sensitive area at the back of the eye that sends light
signals to the brain.
Nerve Endings- the part of the nerve that has the sensory
receptors.
Sensitivity- the ability to react to senses.
Membrane- a body tissue.
Taste Buds- sensory organs that are found on your tongue and
allow you to experience tastes that are sweet, salty, sour and
bitter.
Papillae- bumps on the tongue that contain taste buds
Olfactory Receptors- send messages to brain and contain special
cells that help you smell.