Chapter 3- Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards
Anterior
Toward the front
Posterior
toward the back
Ventral
toward the abdomen
dorsal
toward the back
superior
toward the top
inferior
toward the bottom
Proximal
toward the body
Distal
Away from the body
Medial
Toward the midline
Lateral
toward the side
afferent
toward the central nervous system
efferent
going away from the central nervous system
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
nerves that emerge from the brain and spinal cord to innervate the rest of the body
cranial nerves
12 pairs of nerves that emerge from the brain
spinal nerves
31 pairs of nerves that emerge from the spinal cord
neurons
highly specialized cells that make up the nervous system and carry it’s sensory and motor information
dendrites
afferent extensions that bring nerve impulses into the cell body
axons
efferent extensions that take nerve impulses away from the cell body
synapse
space where two neurons meet
neurotransmitters
chemical agents that help to carry information across the synaptic cleft, which is the minute space between the axon of the transmitting neuron and the dendrite of the receiving neuron
Myelin
coating or sheath of neuron that contributes to the rapid relay of nerve impulses
brain
chief operator of the central nervous system, initiates and regulates all motor, sensory, and cognitive processes
brain stem
sits directly on top of the spinal cord, consists of nerve tracts that carry sensory information to the brain and motor information away from the brain