Function 3: Controls itself and senses environment A. Nervous System: Controls and coordinates body systems, senses and reacts to changes in your environment Important Terms and Parts: Neuron (Nerve Cell): receives and sends electrical and chemical messages. (p. 445) Nerve Impulse: the electrical and chemical signal that relays messages through nervous system Nerves: bundles of nerve cells; 3 types: sensory, motor, and mixed. Brain: Main control center of NS; directs and coordinates all body processes, thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. Spinal Cord: extends from brain down your back; relays information to/from body to/from brain.

A. Cerebrum: Largest part; Responsible for all your conscious (voluntary) activities Site of intelligence, learning, judgment Left hemisphere controls right side of body, tends to be analytical/ mathematical Right hemisphere controls the left side of body, tends to be creative and artistic C. Brainstem: Connects brain to spinal cord; Controls involuntary functions like breathing, blood pressure, hear rate, swallowing, etc. Also involved in hearing and vision. B. Cerebellum: Second largest part; Coordinates and balances muscle action for graceful movement When you learn a physical movement (to throw a ball), it happens here.

The Learning Process Requires stimulus : interesting, new experiences in environment and Practice: thinking and doing to strengthen the synaptic pathways (connections) Important Terms and Parts: Synapse: The connections between nerve cells; this is where information is exchanged and stored. Activity affects how well they work. Short term memory: limited space available; learning here must be transferred to long term memory or it is lost. Long term memory: requires that neurons make connections between each other; the more connections, then the easier it will be to remember it.

Function 3: Controls itself and senses environment B. Endocrine System: Controls many daily body activities, controls body’s long-term development Important Terms and Parts: An Endocrine System Response: Hormones: chemicals that affect a specific part of the body; can turn it on/off or slow down/speed up other organs; Ex. Adrenaline, estrogen, testosterone. Endocrine Glands: organs that make hormones and inject them directly into bloodstream. Pituitary: master gland that controls many other endocrine glands. Pancreas: regulates blood sugar levels by releasing insulin and glucagon. Thyroid: regulates your body’s metabolism.