Chapter 2/ Nervous System Flashcards
Nervous system
One of the main organ systems of the body. Conglomeration of billions of cells specifically designed to provide a communication network within the human body. The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord. The Peripheral nervous system (PNS) contains only nerves and connects the brain and spinal cord (CNS) to the rest of the body.
Sensory function
Ability of the nervous system to sense changes in either internal or external environment. One of three primary functions of the nervous system.
Integrative function
Ability of the nervous system to analyze and interpret sensory information to allow for proper decision making, producing an appropriate response.
Motor function
Neuromuscular (nervous and muscular) response to sensory info. Ex: causing muscle contraction when you touch a hot stove so that you jerk your hand back.
What the nervous system is responsible for:
The nervous system is responsible for the recruitment of muscles, learned patterns of movements, and the functioning of every organ in the human body.
Proprioception
Cumulative sensory input to the central nervous system from all mechanoreceptors that sense body position and limb movement.
Ex: when you run, your feet give you proprioceptive feedback on the type of surface you’re running on. Training proprioception improves balance, coordination, and posture.
Neuron
Functional unit of the nervous system. There are billions of neurons that make up the nervous system, provides it with ability to communicate internally with itself as well as externally with environment. Transmits impulses through both electrical and chemical signals. Forms the core of the nervous system which includes the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral ganglia.
Extra neuron info:
- Neurons are composed of cell body, axon, and dendrites.
* the cell body of a neuron contains a nucleus, lysosomes, mitochondria, and a Golgi complex.
Interneurons
Transmit nerve impulses from one neuron to another. Hence INTERneuron. Between neurons.
Motor (efferent) neurons
Transmit nerve impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the effector sites such as muscles or glands.
Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
The CNS consists of your brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral are the nerves that branch out from your brain and spine into the rest of your body.
•think CNS is brain and spine, peripheral is everything else.
Mechanoreceptors
Specialized structures that respond to mechanical pressure within tissues and then transmit signals through sensory nerves. • Respond to outside forces such as touch, pressure, stretching, sound waves, and motion. • Senses distortions in body tissues.
Muscle spindles
Sensory receptors, run parallel to muscle fibers. • Are sensitive to changes in muscle length and rate of length change. • Help regulate the contraction of muscles via the stretch reflex mechanism. • This mechanism is a normal response to the body to a stretch stimulus in the muscle, it is designed to protect and prevent over stretching and muscle damage.
Gogli Tendon Organs (GTOs)
Specialized sensory receptors located where the skeletal muscle fibers attach to the tendons• sensitive to changes in muscular tension and rate of tension change. Activating the Gogli tendon organ causes the muscle to relax which prevents the muscle from excessive stress or injury. • THERES ALMOST ALWAYS A QUESTION OVER THE GTO. •
Joint receptors
Located around a joint capsule, respond to pressure, acceleration, and deceleration of the joint. Signals extreme joint positions and thus helps prevent injury.
