Chapter 10: Neural Homeostatic Control Pathways Flashcards
What are the two components of the nervous system?
The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What is the CNS made of?
The brain and the spinal cord which is responsible for processing, storing and coordinating information
What is the PNS made of?
Neurons which is responsible for transmitting information to the and from the CNS
What are neurons?
A nerve cell that transmits electrical impulses in the body
What are sensory neurons?
A cell that transmits nerve impulses from the receptor to the CNS
What are the interconnecting neurons (interneurons)?
A cell that transmits nerve impulses within the CNS, between sensory and motor neurons
What are motor neurons?
A cell that transmits nerve impulses from the CNS to the effector
What is the process after a stimulus?
From the stimulus to sensory neurons, to interneurons, to the appropriate motor neurons and then to the effectors
What are the common features to all neurons?
The soma, the main cell body and the axon
What is the soma?
The main cell body of a neuron
What is an axon?
The tubular extension of a neuron cell body that conducts the nerve impulse
What is the myelin sheath?
The fatty layers of insulation surrounding the axon of a neuron; made of Schwann cells
What is a Schwann cell?
A cell that wraps around the axon of a neuron to form the myelin sheath
What is the node of Ranvier?
A small space between the Schwann cells along the axon of a neuron
What are dendrites?
A fine, thread-like extension of the neuron that converts external signals to nerve impulses within the neuron
What is the distinguishable factor of a sensory neuron?
The soma is usually located as a side bulge somewhere along the length of the axon
What are the two functions of interneurons
They receive sonsory information from the snsory neurons and send response information to the motor neurons, and they process the information received
What is the distinguishable factor of interneurons?
They have many terminals off their axon and many dendrites off their stoma
What is resting potential?
The state of a neural cell membrane at rest, when outside the cell is more positive than inside
What is depolarisation?
A change in a cell’s membrane potential so that the inside of the membrane is less negative than outside
What is action potential?
The state of a neural cell membrane in active transmission, when inside the cell is more positive than outside
What is a synapse (synaptic cleft)?
The tiny space between an axon terminal and its target (neuron, mucle or gland)
What is a presynaptic neuron?
The neuron sending the signal across the synapse
What is a postsynaptic neuron?
The neuron receiving the signal from the synapse
