LO5 Flashcards
what is the role of the nervous system?
the nervous system receives, transmits and responds to information from the external environment and from the body’s internal environment, through a collection of nerve cells.
what are the 5 components of the nervous system?
- the central nervous system
- spinal cord
- autonomic system
- somatic nervous system
- peripheral nervous system
what is the structure and function of the central nervous system?
the CNS is the control centre for the body.
it consists of the brain and spinal cord.
the spinal cord connects to the brain by long lines of individual nerve cells, to every area in the body.
what is the structure and function of the spinal cord?
the spinal cord is protected by specialised bones called vertebrae.
these bones have a hollow centre through which the spinal cord runs.
it transmits information to and from the brain through structures called nerves.
what is the structure and function of the autonomic system?
the autonomic system controls and regulates processes such as heart rate and gut movements (peristalsis).
these actions are automatic - unconsciously controlled.
what is the structure and function of the somatic nervous system?
sensory nerves transmit information from the senses to the brain.
motor nerves transmit information to the muscles from the brain.
the sensory and motor nerve pathways work together, for example when picking something up.
what is the structure and function of the peripheral nervous system?
all the nerves outside of the CNS make up the peripheral nervous system.
it relays information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body, and the reverse information from the body to the brain and spinal cord.
peripheral nerves include autonomic, sensory and motor nerves.
what is the definition of nerves?
cells called neurones, which make up our nervous system.
nerves are specialised cells, they carry messages from one part of the body to another as tiny electrical signals.
these messages are known as nerve impulses.
what are the 10 parts of the brain?
frontal lobe
parietal lobe
limbic lobe
occipital lobe
pineal gland
medulla
cerebellum
corpus callosum
hypothalamus
pituitary gland
what is the structure and function of the cerebral cortex?
the cerebral cortex is the wrinkly, outermost layer of the brain, responsible for thinking and processing sensory information from the body.
there are 4 lobes, each responsible for processing different types of information.
it is made of tightly packed neurons.
what is the structure and function of the cerebellum?
positioned at the back of the skull.
co-ordinates and regulates muscle activity, such as walking and writing.
it is also involved in the control of muscles to maintain balance.
what is the structure and function of the frontal lobes?
carry out higher level mental processes such as thinking, decision making and planning.
what is the structure and function of the corpus callosum?
a bridge of nerve tissue that connects the 2 halves of the brain and enables communication between the two.
what is the structure and function of the hypothalamus?
responsible for the maintenance of body temperature.
it also regulates appetite and thirst.
what is the structure and function of the medulla?
automatically carries out and regulates life-sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing and heart rate
what is the structure and function of meninges?
3 layers of membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
they provide a barrier from the rest of the body and act as protection from infection.
what is the structure and function of a neuron?
neurons are specialised nerve cells that transmit electrical impulses (information) from one part of the body to another.
what are the 3 main sections of a neuron?
axon
dendron (dendrites)
myelin sheath
what is the structure and function of an axon?
axons are the long thread-like part of a nerve cell, along which impulses are conducted away from the cell body to other cells.
there is only one per neuron.
what is the structure and function of a dendron (dendrite)?
dendrons are short, branched structures on the neuron that receive electrical impulses and carry them towards the cell body.
there can be as many as 1000 per neuron.
what is the structure and function of myelin sheath?
the myelin sheath is a fatty white substance that surrounds the axon.
it forms a protective, insulating layer and enables electrical impusles to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells.
what are the 3 sections of a synapse?
pre-synaptic neuron
synaptic cleft
post-synaptic neuron
what is the function of a synapse?
to transfer electrical activity (information) from one cell to another.
how does a synapse work?
an electrical impulse travels along an axon.
this triggers the pre-synaptic neuron to release chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.
the neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse.
they then bind with receptors on the post-synaptic membrane and then the information has been received.