BPS Core Textbooks Series
Developed in collaboration with the British Psychological Society
Central nervous system
The brain and spinal cord
Autonomic nervous system
A self-regulating system that regulates internal organs and glands and is involved in the stress response
Cerebrum
Largest part of the brain, which has an outer layer called the cerebral cortex , responsible for most higher brain functions. It has two hemispheres, each having four lobes.
Corpus callosum
Connects the two hemispheres of the brain
Cerebellum
Part of the brain associated with balance, coordination and fine motor movements.
Limbic system
Contains the hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus that are involved in emotion, motivation, learning and memory.
Amygdala
Found within the limbic system, it processes information related to fear, stress and emotion.
Hypothalamus
It maintains homeostasis, regulates hunger, thirst, controls the sleep-wake cycle sexual behaviour and is plays a major role in the stress response
Sympathetic adrenal medullary response
The body’s immediate reaction to stress, controlled by the sympathetic nervous system and involves the adrenal medulla to secrete adrenaline and nor-adrenaline during the fight or flight response.
Endocrine system
A network of glands that produce hormones. The pituitary and adrenal glands are involved in the tress response and the pancreas in diabetes.
Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal pathway
The slower stress pathway that involves the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenal cortex which secretes cortisol to help manage longer terms stress.
Cardiovascular system
The heart, arteries and veins that transport oxygen and nutrients around the body.
Blood pressure
The pressure of blood on the walls of arteries.
Atherosclerosis
The build up of fatty deposits (plaques)on the walls of arteries that reduces the internal; diameter of the artery, restricting blood flow and contributed to cardiovascular disease.
Arteriosclerosis
An aging process whereby the arteries become less flexible.
Heart attack
Occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart muscle has been blocked.
Angina
Chest pain cause by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle.
Stroke
the blood supply within the brain in compromised by a blockage due to a clot or less commonly there is haemorrhage. Both results in death of brain cells and cause some type of loss of function depending where within the brain that the stroke occurs.
Transient ischemic attack
A temporary blockage to the blood supply in the brain.
Upper respiratory system
The nose, mouth and throat.
Lower respiratory system
The trachea, bronchi, alveoli and lungs.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
A progressive lungs disease that causes breathing difficulty, mucus production, breathlessness and fatigue.
Erythrocytes
Red blood cells that carry oxygen.
Leukocytes
White blood cells that are part of the immune system
Innate immune system
The body’s first line of defence against pathogens, includes the skin, lymphatic system, mucosal membranes in the mouth nose, airways, gastro-intestinal tract, reproductive system and specific leukocytes.
Adaptive immune system
Creates immunity after exposure to specific pathogens
Neutrophils
Fast acting cells that surround and ingest pathogens.
Macrophages
Engulf pathogens and through phagocytosis and signal other immune responses.
Natural killer cells
cells that destroy virus infected cells and cancerous cells through the release of chemicals.
Antibodies
Recognise and attack specific pathogens
T-Helper cells
Help to coordinate the immune response and send messages to other immune cells by indicating the location of pathogens.
Primary cancer
The original site where the cancer first developed.
Secondary cancer
Cancer that has spread from the primary site to other part of the body
Type 1 diabetes
The pancreas does not produce insulin, thought to be due to the immune system attacking cells within the pancreas. An individual will be dependent on insulin to metabolise glucose.
Types 2 diabetes
The body become resistant to the effects of insulin; this type of diabetes is thought to be related to lifestyle factors such as obesity.
Obesity
Excess accumulations of fat that is a risk to health.
Body mass index
A ratio of weight to height that can be used to classify people as being underweight, normal weight, overweight and various classes of obesity.
Waist to hip ratio
The waist measurement is divided by the hip measurement and provides a crude approximation of fat distribution.
Ventromedial hypothalamus
The front, middle part of the hypothalamus, implicated in eating behaviours.
Lateral hypothalamus
Outside part of hypothalamus linked with satiety
Hedonic hunger
Eating for pleasure rather than because of feelings of hunger.
Obesogenic environment
An environment that encourages eating of unhealthy foods and sedentary behaviour.