2A: The nervous system Flashcards
Central nervous system
A major division of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord, which receives neural messages from and transmits neural messages to the peripheral nervous system.
Peripheral nervous system
A major division of the nervous system comprising every neuron in the body outside the central nervous system.
Somatic nervous system
A division of the peripheral nervous system that transmits neural messages related to voluntary movement.
Skeletal muscles
muscles connected to the skeleton that carry out voluntary movement.
(somatic nervous system).
Autonomic nervous system
a division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates visceral muscles, organs, and glands, and transmits neural messages to the central nervous system about their activity.
Visceral organs, muscles and glands
muscles, organs, and glands not connected to the skeleton that are predominantly self-regulating and do not require conscious control.
(Autonomic nervous system)
Sympathetic nervous system
a division of the autonomic nervous system that activates visceral muscles, organs,and glands, preparing the body to respond to a threat or stressor
Parasympathetic nervous system
a division of the autonomic nervous system that maintains the optimal and balanced functioning of visceral muscles, organs, and glands.
Parasympathetic nervous system
a division of the autonomic nervous system that maintains the optimal and balanced functioning of visceral muscles, organs, and glands.
Neuron
a nerve cell that receives and transmits neural information
Motor neuron (aka efferent neurons)
neurons that transmit neural messages about motor movement from the central nervous system to the peripheral nervous system
Sensory neurons (aka afferent neurons)
neurons that transmit neural messages about bodily sensations
from the peripheral
nervous system to the
central nervous system
Interneurons
neurons that transfer neural messages between sensory neurons and motor neurons
