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Middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. The Greek arachne means spider.
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Arachnoid membrane
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Microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell.
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Axon
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Blood vessels (capillaries) that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out.
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Blood-brain barrier
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Lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord. The pons and medulla oblongata are part of this.
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Brainstem
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Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord.
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Cauda equina
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Part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus.
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Cell body
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Brain and the spinal cord.
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Central nervous system (CNS)
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Part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.
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Cerebellum
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Outer region of the cerebrum; containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain.
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Cerebral cortex
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Fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord.
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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
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Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought and memory.
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Cerebrum
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Microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse.
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Dendrite
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Thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord; from the Latin, meaning "hard mother."
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Dura mater
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A collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.
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Ganglion
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Cells in the nervous system that do not carry impulses but are supportive and connective in function. Examples are astrocytes, microglial cells, and oligodendroglia. There are about 100 billion of these cells.
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Glial cells
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