Anatomy: Nervous System Flashcards
What does the central nervous system consist of?
Brain and the spinal cord
What is the function of the central nervous system?
Acts as the central command for all communication and actions of the body
What does the peripheral nervous system consist of?
All of the nerves that branch out to the rest of the body and ganglia
What is the function of the peripheral nervous system consist of?
Allows the signals sent by the brain to reach their target destination in the body
What are sensory (afferent) neurons?
Send messages to the central nervous system about sensory information
Such as
- Touch
- Smell
- Pain
What are motor (efferent) neurons?
Send messages to muscle and can be subdivided into the autonomic (involuntary) motor system and the somatic (voluntary) nervous system
What is the autonomic nervous system?
Controls involuntary actions involving the cardiac and smooth muscle
Ex. heart rhythm, digestion, and breathing
What is the somatic nervous system?
Controls voluntary actions involving skeletal muscle
Ex. walking, throwing, or typing
Involuntary
Without intentional control
Voluntary
With intentional control
Central nervous system
The part of the nervous system that consists of all the nerves and ganglia that branch out from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the actions of the body
Peripheral nervous system
The part of the nervous system that consists of all the nerves and ganglia that branch out from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body, allowing signals sent by the brain to reach their destinations
Axon
A nerve fiber that carries a nerve impulse away from the neuron cell body
Dendrite
A nerve fiber that carries a nerve impulse towards the neuron cell body
Synapse
The structure that allows neurons to pass signals to other neurons, muscles, or glands
