biopsych Flashcards
what is the nervous system divided into
central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
what is the function of the peripheral nervous system
sends messages to and from the CNS via neurons
what does the peripheral nervous system consist of
autonomic nervous system
somatic nervous system
what is the function of the autonomic nervous system
-responsible for involuntary responses for vital functions e.g breathing
-controls smooth and cardiac muscles and glands
-control centres are in the brain stem
what is the function of the somatic nervous system
-responsible for voluntary movement e.g walking
-transmits information from brain to control skeletal muscles
-carries commands from the motor cortex
-connects CBS and the senses and integrates the brain with the outside world
what does the CNS consist of
brain and spinal cord
what is the function of the brain
-receives and processes information from the senses e.g visual cortex processes visual info
-centre of conscious awareness
-responsible for higher mental functions
-generates emotions and thoughts
-initiates responses
-stores memories
what is the function of the spinal cord
-conducts signals to and from the brain
-connects nerves to the PNS
-controls reflex actions e.g removing a hand from a hot kettle
what is the autonomic nervous system divided into
sympathetic branch
parasympathetic branch
what is the function of the sympathetic branch
flight or fight response
what is the function of the parasympathetic branch
conserve and restore body energy when relaxed
cell body
includes the nucleus which contains the genetic material of the cell
myelin sheath
protects the axon and helps to speed up transmission
terminal button
the end of the neutron and they send information through to the next neutron, through the release of neurotransmitters
dendrites
where neurotransmitters are found, once the receptors and neurotransmitters bind, this causes a new electrical impulse to occur
nodes of ranvier
speeds up the transmission of the impulse by forcing it to ‘jump’ across the gaps along the axon
axon
sends a nerve impulse through the neutron to transmit a message to the next neuron
where is the sensory neuron located
in the PNS in clusters known as ganglia