1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.