Chapter 4
Brain, nerves and senses
Your brain runs everything through billions of nerve cells. Some of its parts keep you breathing, others keep your balance or store memories, and your senses feed it a constant stream of news about the world. Not every message goes through the brain: a reflex takes a shortcut through the spinal cord, which is why you pull your hand off a hot pan before you even feel the pain.
10 cards
See the 10 cards
- Cells that carry messages in the nervous systemNeurons
- Brain part that controls balance and coordinationCerebellum
- Brain part that keeps you breathingBrainstem
- Brain part key to making new memoriesHippocampus
- Side of the brain that moves your right handThe left side
- Eye cells that see colourCones
- The black hole in the middle of the eyePupil
- The snail-shaped part of the inner earCochlea
- The fifth basic taste, after sweet, sour, salty, bitterUmami
- A fast, automatic response that skips the brainReflex