Chapter 2 • Basic Exercise Science: Nervous System Flashcards
Explain basic structure and function of the nervous system, define components of the human movement system (kinetic chain) and describe how these systems respond and adapt to exercise.
Human movement system
The combination and interrelation of the nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems
Nervous system
Conglomeration of billions of cells specifically designed to provide a communication network within the human body
Sensory function
The ability of the nervous system to sense hanged in the internal and external environment
Integrative function
Te ability if the nervous system to analyze and interpret sensory information to allow for proper decision making, which produces the appropriate response
Motor function
The neuromuscular response to the sensory information
Propriocetion
The cumulative sensory input to the central nervous system from all mechanoreceptors that sense body position and limb movement
Neuron
The functional unit of the nervous system
What is another name for sensory neurons?
Afferent
Sensory neuron
Transmit nerve impulses from effector sites (such as muscles and organs) via receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Interneurons
Transmit nerve impulses from one neuron to another
Central nervous system
The portion of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
Cranial and spinal nerves that spread throughout the body
What are the three main parts of a neuron?
1) Cell body (soma)
2) Axon
3) Dendrites
What is the purpose of the axon on a neuron?
It transmits nervous impulses to other neurons or effector sites (muscles & organs)
It provides communication from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body
What does a dendrite (on a neuron) do?
Gather information from other structures and transmit it back into the neuron
Peripheral nervous system
Cranial and spinal nerves that spread throughout the body
What are the two main functions of peripheral nerves?
1) Provide a connection for the nervous system to activate different effector sites (i.e. muscles/motor function)
2) Relay information from effector sites back to the brain via sensory receptors providing a constant update on the relation between the body and environment
What are two subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system?
Somatic and autonomic nervous systems
What’s the function of the somatic nervous system?
Its nerves serve the outer areas of the body and skeletal muscle and are responsible for voluntary control of movement
What is the purpose of the autonomic nervous system?
Supplies neural input to involuntary systems (i.e. heart, digestive systems)
What are sensory receptors?
Specialized structures located throughout the body that convert environmental stimuli (i.e. heat, light, sound, taste and motion) into sensory information the brain and spinal cord use to produce a response
What are the four categories of sensory receptors?
1) Mechanoreceptors
2) Nociceptors
3) Chemoreceptors
4) Photoreceptors
What are mechanoreceptors and what do they do?
A type of sensory receptor. Respond to mechanical forces (i.e. touch and pressure)
What are joint receptors and where are they located?
Joint receptors surround a joint and respond to pressure, acceleration, and declaration of the joint. They are located in and around the joint capsule.
What are the two divisions if the skeletal system?
1) Axial skeleton
2) Appendicular skeleton
What and how many bones make up the axial skeleton?
Skull, rib cage, and the vertebral column. There are about 80 bones.
Where are mechanoreceptors located?
In muscles, ligaments, tendons and joint capsules and include muscle spindles, Golgi tendon organs and joint receptors
What are muscle spindles?
Sensory receptors located within he muscle that run parallel to muscle fibers. They are sensitive to changes in muscle length and rate of length change. Also helps in regulating contraction of muscles via the stretch reflex mechanism.
What are Golgi tendon organs or GTO’s?
Specialized sensory receptors located at the point where skeletal muscle fibers insert into the tendons of skeletal muscles.
What happens when the Golgi tendon organ (GTO) is activated?
It causes the muscle to relax, which prevents the muscle from excessive stress or possibility of injury.
