Psalm 139:13-

139:13-16

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's
womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully

and wonderfully made; your works
are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-
139:13-16

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the
depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body. All

the days ordained for me were written
in your book before one of them came
to be.

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 Components of a Neuron
dendrites

nucleus cell
body terminal
branches
axon

myelin
sheath

Vocabulary of an Action Potential

resting potential: the state of a neuron
when not engaged in an action potential
(greater positive ions outside the cell
membrane and greater negative ions
inside the cell)

polarization: inside of neuron is
negatively charged relative to the
outside

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Vocabulary of an Action Potential

neural impulse (action potential): the
firing of a nerve cell

threshold of excitation: the level an
impulse must exceed to cause a neuron
to fire

graded potential: a shift in the
electrical charge in a tiny area of a
neuron

Synaptic Transmission
synapse

terminal button
receptor
site synaptic vesicle

neurotransmitter

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 Neurotransmitters and Their
Role

acetylcholine (ACh): plays a role in
arousal, attention, memory, and
motivation

dopamine: plays a role in motor
disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease

serotonin: affects emotions, arousal,
and sleep

Neurotransmitters and Their

Role

norepinephrine: influences wakefulness
and arousal, as well as learning, memory,
and emotional mood

endorphins: reduce pain by inhibiting the
neurons that transmit pain messages to
the brain

4

ervous
System

Central Peripheral

ervous
ervous
System System

Brain Spinal Somatic Autonomic

Cord
ervous
ervous
System System
Hindbrain
Sensory Sympathetic

eurons
ervous
Midbrain System

Forebrain Motor

eurons Parasympathetic

ervous System

Cross--section of the Brain

Cross

Forebrain
Cerebral cortex
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Midbrain
Hindbrain
Cerebellum
Pons
Medulla

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 Hindbrain

medulla: controls breathing, heart rate,
blood pressure

pons: regulation of sleep/wake cycle

cerebellum: involved in balance and
coordination of movement

Midbrain

The relay point for hearing and vision.

One of the places pain is registered.

brain structures found in midbrain:
midbrain:
> superior colliculus
> inferior colliculus
> substantia nigra

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 Forebrain Structures

thalamus

hypothalamus

cerebral cortex

Forebrain Structures

thalamus: sensory switchboard

hypothalamus: governs motivational
(hunger, thirst, sex, sleep, temperature
control) and emotional responses

limbic system: linked primarily to
memory, emotions, drives

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 Structures in the Cerebral
Cortex

frontal lobes

parietal lobes
> primary somatosensory cortex
> primary motor cortex

temporal lobes

occipital lobes

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 Frontal Lobes

voluntary movement

attention

goal
goal--directed behavior

Parietal Lobes

sensations of touch and bodily position

primary somatosensory cortex:
registers and processes body
sensations

primary motor cortex: controls voluntary
muscle movement

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 Temporal Lobe

processes information concerning
hearing, smell, and balance and
equilibrium

Occipital Lobes

processes information for the sense of
vision

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 Reticular Formation

A network of neurons in the hindbrain,

midbrain, and part of the forebrain.

The primary function of this network is
to alert and arouse the higher parts of
the brain.

Limbic System Diagram

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 Limbic System

hippocampus: aids in the processing of
memory for storage

amygdala: involved in fear and
aggression

hypothalamus: bodily maintenance
functions and pleasurable rewards

Left Hemisphere

right hand touch and movement

speech

language

writing for right handers

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 Right Hemisphere

left hand touch
and movement

spatial construction

face recognition

nonverbal imagery

writing for left handers

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic Autonomic

Sensory Motor Sympathetic

Neurons Neurons

Para-
sympathetic

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Sympathetic Nervous System

dilates pupils

no effect on tear glands

weak stimulation of salivary flow

accelerates heart, constricts arterioles

dilates bronchi

inhibits stomach motility & secretions

Parasympathetic Nervous
System

constricts pupils

stimulates tear glands

strong stimulation of salivary flow

inhibits heart, dilates arterioles

constricts bronchi

stimulates stomach motility & secretion

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The Endocrine System Consists
of

glands: tissues that produce and release
hormones

hormones: chemical substances released
by glands that helps regulate bodily
activities

Endocrine Glands

thyroid gland: produces the hormone
thyroxin, which regulates the body’s rate
of metabolism

parathyroid glands: secrete
parathormone, which controls and
balances the levels of calcium and
phosphate in the blood and tissue fluids

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 Endocrine Glands

pineal gland: regulates one’s activity
level over the course of a day

pituitary gland: produces the largest
number of the body’s hormones

posterior pituitary: affects thirst, sexual
behavior, and perhaps paternal and
maternal behavior

Endocrine Glands

anterior pituitary: produces hormones
that cause other glands to produce
hormones; regulates body growth and
also affects motivation and emotion

gonads: the reproductive glands
(testes and ovaries)

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 Adrenal Glands

adrenal cortex: outer covering of the
adrenal glands; releases hormones
important for dealing with stress

adrenal medulla: inner core of the
adrenal glands that also releases
hormones to deal with stress

Pancreas

An organ lying between the stomach and
small intestine.

It secretes insulin and glucagon to
regulate blood-
blood-sugar levels.

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