The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus, just above the brainstem and controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and circadian rhythms.

The thalamus can be thought of as a relay station for sensory and motor signals to and from the cerebral cortex. The brainstem is responsible for breathing, circulation, and digestion. The cerebellum plays an important role in coordination of body movements and muscle memory.

The basal nuclei is located deep in the cerebral hemisphere and midbrain. It functions with the thalamus to regulate motor signals (regulation only, it does not initiate movement). The basal nuclei encourages wanted and appropriate movement signals and filters out unwanted signals. The caudate nucleus and putamen make up the striatum, and this along with globus pallidus make up the basal nuclei. 

The meninges are responsible for protecting the brain and spinal cord. The tough dura mater is the outermost layer of the meninges, while the pia mater is the delicate inner layer that lines the brain and spinal cord.

In order from the outermost to innermost layer, the meninges are: dura mater, arachnoid mater, subarachnoid space, and pia mater. The arachnoid mater and subarachnoid space create separation and cushioning between the dura mater and pia mater.

GABA is the only neurotransmitter to actively suppress the formation of an action potential when binding to the dendrites on the postsynaptic neuron.

Norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate have various physiological effects in different regions of the body, but all acts to stimulate the formation of an action potential.

The hypothalamus has several key functions. It is responsible for regulating thirst and water balance, anterior pituitary control, and posterior pituitary hormone synthesis and release. The hypothalamus also regulates hunger, body temperature, the autonomic nervous system, and sexual responses.

The thalamus is the major relay center for all ascending sensory information (expect smell/olfaction) and distributes sensory information to the appropriate part of the brain cortex.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) consists of a set of pathways to and from the central nervous system (CNS) that innervate and regulate smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands. The ANS is distinct from the somatic nervous system, which innervates skeletal muscle. The ANS has three divisions the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems.

Synapses between neurons are made in the autonomic ganglia. Parasympathetic ganglia are located in or near the effector organs, while sympathetic ganglia are located in the paravertebral chain. Preganglionic neurons have their cell bodies in the CNS and synapse in autonomic ganglia. 

Norepinephrine and epinephrine are both classified as monoamines. Thus, the enzyme that destroys norepinephrine and epinephrine at the synaptic cleft is monoamine oxidase. Cholinesterase is the enzyme that terminates acetylcholine activity. Lactase is an enzyme that is involved in the breakdown of the sugar lactose. A protease is an enzyme that degrades proteins by breaking peptide bonds found between amino acids. 

The axon hillock is the last place where membrane potentials are summated before the generation of an action potential. The newly-created action potential travels down the axon to the axon terminal.

The cell responsible for myelination in the central nervous system is known as the oligodendrocyte. Myelination of neurons in the peripheral nervous system are made possible by Schwann Cells.