Chapter 31: Nervous System Flashcards
What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
collect information
What is the function of the central nervous system?
processes and responds to information
What makes up the peripheral nervous system?
mostly nerves
What makes up the central nervous system?
brain and spinal cord
What transmits impulses?
neurons
What is the function of sensory neurons?
send impulses from sensory organs to central nervous system
What is the function of motor neurons?
send impulses from central nervous system to muscles and glands
What is the function of interneurons?
process information from sensory neurons and sends commands to other interneurons or motor neurons
What makes up a neuron?
cell body, dendrites (receive impulses), and axon (carries impulses to terminals)
What insulates the axon?
myelin sheath
How does a impulse begin?
when neuron is stimulated by another neuron/environment
How is resting potential produced?
when the inside of the cell becomes negatively charged compared to the outside
When is action potential/ nerve impulse produced?
when the inside is positively charged compared to outside
Can stimuli weaker than the threshold produce an impulse?
no
What is a synapse?
when an impulse is transferred from one neuron to another cell
How does the synapse occur?
vesicles carry neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit impulses) which are released and diffuse into the synaptic cleft. Neurotransmitters then bind to receptors of the receiving cell, which opens the cells ion channels. If the stimulation is stronger than the threshold, a new impulse begins. neurotransmitters are either recycled or broken down by enzymes
What are the tree major parts of the brain?
cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem
What is the function of the spinal cord?
main link between body and brain
What is the spinal cord made of?
large cluster of neurons
What is a reflex?
quick, automatic response
What are the functions of the cerebrum (largest region)?
voluntary activities, intelligence, learning, and judgement
Is it true that each hemisphere deals mainly witn the other side of the body?
yes
Where is the limbic system? What is its function?
Region deep within the brain that controls emotional behaviors and memory
Where are the thalamus and hypothalamus located?
between brain stem and cerebrum
What is the function of the thalamus?
relays messages from sensory organs to proper region of the brain
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
recognition, analysis of hunger, fatigue, anger, and body temperature, and helps coordinate nervous snd endocrine systems
Where is the cerebellum (second largest region)? What is it function?
back and lower region of the brain. Helps coordinate and balance actions of these muscles. (muscle memory)
Where is the brain stem? What is its function?
located bellow cerebellum and controls vital functions like blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing, and swallowing
What are the three regions of the brain stem?
midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata
What are the four lobes of the brain and location?
frontal lobe (top, front), temporal lobe (lower, front), parietal lobe (top, back), and occipital lobe (lower, back)
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
evaluating consequences, making judgments, and forming plans
What is the function of the temporal lobe?
controlling hearing and smell
What is the function of the parietal lobe?
control reading and speech
What is the function of the occipital lobe?
vision
What are the five sensory receptors?
chemoreceptors (chemicals), photoreceptors (light), mechanoreceptors (touch, pressure, stretch), thermoreceptors (temperature changes), pain receptors (tissue injury)
How is the somatic nervous system controlled?
conscious control
What is a reflex arc
quick impulse that is processed by spinal cord and responded to (reflex)
What controls the autonomic nervous system?
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems which fine tune involuntary actions like heart rate
What is the function of the nervous system?
collect information about the body’s internal and external environment, process it, and respond to it
