| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| brain | major organ in the nervous system that controls the body's actions |
| brain stem | part of the brain that controls functions that maintain life |
| central nervous system (CNS) | controls the brain and spinal cord by receiving signals from the PNS |
| cerebellum | part of the brain that controls coordination and movement |
| cerebrum | part of the brain that controls voluntary movements of the body and thought processes and is the biggest region of the brain |
| chemoreceptor | chemical receptor that allows an animal to taste, smell, and detect sounds |
| coma | damage to the midbrain that causes a loss of consciousness and awareness |
| cranial nerve test | reflex test of the eye where a hand is moved quickly toward the eye without touching the eye or any hair around the eye |
| dorsal root | nerve branch of the vertebrae that contain sensory nerves |
| epilepsy | veterinary term for seizures |
| fight or flight | natural instinct of animals in which they take care of themselves by either running away or protecting themselves by fighting |
| hypothalamus | organ within the brain located in front of the thalamus that controls hormone production |
| interneurons | cells that deliver signals from one neuron to another from the brain to the spinal cord |
| intravertebral disc disease (IVDD) | injury to the spine that causes pressure on the discs and/or spinal cord and may cause partial or complete paralysis |
| involuntary reflex | occurs without the need for thinking and serves as a necessary body function, such as the heart beating |
| knee jerk reaction | reflex used to assess the spinal nerves |
| medulla oblongata | part of the brain that controls the bodys involuntary functions |
| midbrain | part of the brain that controls the senses |
| motor neuron | cells that deliver signals from the central nervous system to the muscles to give a response |
| nervous system | the body's control network primarily controlled by the brain |
| neurons | specialized cells within the nervous system that control impulses |
| paralysis | partial or complete loss of motor skills |
| parasympathetic system | spinal cord system responsible for opposite reactions, such as decreased vital signs, regulated body systems back to normal and controlling peristalsis |
| peripheral nervous system (PNS) | controls the nerves, detects a stimulus, sends signals, and informs the CNS and causes a response for an action to occur |
| peristalsis | wave like motions of the stomach that allow digestion of food |
| pituitary gland | organ located between the thalamus and hypothalamus that controls hormone releases in the body |
| proprioception | relates to the body's ability to recognize body position for posture or movement |
| rabies | a deadly virus that can affect an mammal including humans, usually transmitted by the saliva of an infected animal transferred into the bloodstream |
| receptor | found within the nerves located throughout the body and allows for detecting changes within the body and the environment |
| reflex | units of function that produce a movement created by volts |
| reflex hammer | tool used to tap the area of the knees and joints to elict a response |
| seizure | loss of voluntary control of the body with an amount of unconsciousness causing uncontrolled violent body activity |
| sensory neuron | cells that deliver signals from the CNS |
| spinal cord | strands of fibers that attach the brain stem to the PNS to send and receive signals through the body, begins at the base of the brain and continues to the lumbar vertebrae |
| spinal nerve reflexes | evaluated for proprioceptive reflexes of the muscles and tendons |
| sympathetic system | spinal cord system that is responsible for the fight or flight reaction increased vital signs and certain drug reactions |
| thalamus | organ within the brain located at the top of the brain stem |
| tract | nerves that attach to the spinal cord and run through the body providing sensations and feelings |
| vagus nerve | main nerve within the spinal cord system |
| ventral root | nerve branch of the vertebrae that contains motor nerves |
| vital sign | body signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature |
| volt | electrical units of measurement within the body that create a force within cels |
| voluntary reflex | occurs when an animal asks its body to perform a desired function such as walking or running |
| West Nile Virus | a mosquito borne disease that causes inflammation or sweling of the brain and spinal cord |
