Ch 11 Nervous System Flashcards
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain, spinal cord integrates incoming information & initiates an outgoing response
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
All other nerves, pathways going towards and away from CNS
Nervous System
Functions: sensory perceptions, mental activities, stimulating muscle movement, secretions of glands
Neuron
Basic unit of nervous system, nerve cell
Dendrites
Extension of cell body, receives impulse
Axon
Carries impulse away from the cell body
Afferent Neurons
Action potentials toward the CNS; (arrives at CNS)
Sensory Neuron
Receives stimuli; afferent neuron
Efferent Neuron
Action potentials away from CNS; (exits CNS)
Motor Neuron
Attached to a muscle or gland; efferent neuron
Interneuron
Within the CNS from one neuron to another (relay, connecting impulses)
Myelin
Protects and insulates axon; faster impulse (allows impulse to “jump” from node to node)
Nodes of Ranvier
Not continuous on axon; spaces an impulse can jump to on a myelinated axon
Unmyelinated Axon
Slower impulse
Action Potential
Electrical signals; depolarization; more positive inside the cell & more negative outside cell membrane
Ion
Movement across membrane allows an electrical signal to occur/result
Resting Potential
Polarized and Repolarized; more negative inside cell & more positive outside cell membrane
All or None Principle
Neuron will fire or won’t; sending an impulse or not
Threshold
Minimum amount of stimulus needed to start an impulse
Synapse
Junction or space between two cells
Neurotransmitter
Chemicals that transfer electrical messages (impulse) across the synapse (crosses gap/space between neurons)
Stimulus
Any change in environment; temperature, sound, smell
Reflex
A predictable response to a stimulus which may or may not be conscious
Reflex Arc
Includes receptor, sensory neuron, interneuron, motor neuron, effector