CB2E/F Flashcards
What is the central nervous system
Brain and spinal cord
What is the function of the nervous system
Allows an organism to rapidly react to environmental and internal changes
What are neurones
Nerve cells adapted to quickly transmit nerve impulse. They are the functional units of the nervous system
What is the function of the axon
Carries impluses away from the cell body
Enables the transmission of nerve impluses over long distances
What is the function of dendrites and dendrons
Carry impulses towards the cell body
Dendrites provide a large surface area to receive impulses
What is the role of the myelin sheath
Electrically insulating layer
Surrounds the axon and increases the speed of impulses
Outline the function of a sensory neurone
Carry sense impulses to CNS
Outline the function of a motor neurone
Carries impulses from the CNS to effectors
Outline the function of a relay neurone
Carries impulses from sensory neurones to motor neuronoes within the CNS
What is a synapse
A small gap between neurones across which a nerve impulse is transmitted via neurotransmitters
Why do synapses slow down the transmission of nerve impulses
It takes time for the neurotransmitters to diffuse across the synapse abd bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neurone
What is the reflex arc
1) Stimulus
2)
