Human Terms Flashcards
What is the nervous system
It detects and processes changes in the environment and responds to stimuli in the environment.
Therefore, it is responsible for communicating between different parts of the body
Centeral Nervous System
It is made up of the brain and spinal chord
These receive information from around the body and send out signals, telling the body how to react. They interpret and respond to information
Peripheral Nervous System
Connects the CNS to receptors, muscles and glands which take information to and from central nervous system and the body
Somatic
Voluntary muscle movement/conscious muscle movement
afferent
sensory, transmits messages TO CNS
affected by environment
Efferent
Motor, carries messages AWAY from the CNS
EFFECTS the environment
Autonomic and examples
Carries messages involuntary to muscles and glands
e.g. heart beating, digestion, regulating blood pressure, glucose level,
Sympathetic
Fight or flight when needing to respond to stressful or deadly situations
Parasympathetic
Controls bodys functions ot rest and relax
Neurons
Cells that make up the nervous system, they are INFORMATION CARRIERS
Classifying Neurons by Function : name the 3 ways
Afferent (sensory) - carry messages from receptors to cns
Efferent (motor) - carry messages away from cns to effectors being muscles and glands
Interneuron - located in CNS and link between sensory and motor neurons
Classifying Neurons by no. of processes
multipolar: 3+ processes , 2+ dendrites and 1 axon - motor neuron
bi-polar: 1 dendrite and 1 axon - nose, eyes, ears
uni-polar: fused dendrite and axon - sensory neuron
anaxonic: multiple processes where dendrites and axon are NOT obvious
Dendrite
Receives messages from post synaptic neurons
Axon
Conducts impulse towards the axon terminal
Axon terminal
Transmits impulses across synaptic gap to a post synaptic neuron
Myelin Sheath/ Schwann cell
Insulating layer made of proteins which helps signal travel quicker
Cell Body/Soma
Contains specialised structures to maintain cell
Nucleus
Contains DNA, controls and regulates the cell
Synapse
Gap between neurons
neurotransmitters
A chemical that carries messages across the synapses
Myelin
Insulating layer that forms around nerves, made of proteins which protects the axon and helps the signal to run faster.
white matter
myelinated cells
grey matter
cell bodies and dendrites, non myelinated
Name the four lobes of the brain and their functions
Frontal lobe - high order thinking, personality, emotions, motor control
Parietal lobe - Senses, touch perception, body orientation
Occipital lobe - sight, visual reception and interpretation
Temporal Lobe - Hearing, language learning memory
Cerebrum
Largest component, is split into lobes with different functions
Cerebellum
Controls balance, posture and movement
Corpus Callosum
It is the division between the right and left hemispheres of the brain
Mundella oblongata
Assists with breathing and circulation and other involuntary actions
Pons
Assists with respiration, sleeping and motor control
Pituitary Gland
Controls endocrine system
Hypothalamus
links nervous system to endocrine system
Thalamus
Relay station for senses
mengies, and three layers of them
They are the layers that protect and cushion the brain. They also allow vital fluids to be transported around.
Dura Mater: made of tissue that is durable and assists with blood flow to the brain.
Arachnoid Mater: Made of fibers and collagen and has a spider web like appearance. Filled with cerebrospinal fluid which cushions the brain
Pia Mater: Follows the contour of the brain and provides additional layer of support. Assists in production and transportation of CSF
Cerebrospinal Fluid
A clear substance which is produced in spaces of the brain called vesicles. It helps cushion the brain and takes nutrients to the brain and spinal cord and removes waste and toxins from the system.
