Nervous System Flashcards
the connection of the muscles to the brain and spinal cord through a network of nerve circuits that direct the ebb and flow of muscular energy
neuromuscular (nervous) system
CNS consists of…
brain and spinal cord
what protects the brain
skull
what protects the spinal cord
vertebral column
2 parts that the nervous system is divided into
CNS and PNS (peripheral nervous system)
2 categories of the PNS
afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor)
role of the afferent (sensory) division of the PNS
carries nerve impulses to the CNS from receptors located in the skin, fascia, joints, and visceral organs; afferent sensory data is incoming information
role of the efferent (motor) division of the PNS
handles outgoing information
2 sub-divisions of the efferent (motor) division of the PNS
somatic and autonomic nervous systems
mostly under conscious control and carries nerve impulses from the CNS to the skeletal muscles
somatic nervous system
made up of nerves that transmit impulses to the smooth muscles, cardiac muscle, and glands and are not consciously controlled
autonomic nervous system
2 sub-divisions of the autonomic nervous system
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
nervous system that is activated when there is a stressor or emergency (e.g., fear, pain, anger) and activates the “fight or flight” response
sympathetic nervous system
nervous system that aids in controlling normal functions when the body is relaxed (at rest) and aids in digesting food, storing energy, and promoting growth
parasympathetic nervous system
the most basic structural and functional component of the nervous system
neuron (nerve cell)
what a neuron is composed of
1) Soma - cell body
2) 1 or more processes - fibrous extensions called dendrites and axons
conduct electrical impulses toward the cell body
dendrites
transmit electrical signals away from the cell body
axons
T/F: Neurons may have hundreds of dendrites depending on the type of neuron, but each only has one axon.
True
what separates neurons from each other
synapse
the sense of knowing where the body is in relation to its various segments and the external environment
proprioception
receptors located in the skin, in and around the joints and muscles, and in the inner ear which gather sensory information
proprioceptors
2 main types of musculotendinous receptors
Golgi tendon organ (GTO) and muscle spindle
a sensory organ with a tendon that, when stimulated, causes an inhibition of the entire muscle group to protect against too much force
GTO
the sensory organ within a muscle that is sensitive to stretch and this protects the muscle against too much stretch
muscle spindle
location of the GTO
between the muscle belly and its tendon
location of the muscle spindle
in the muscle belly and lies parallel to the muscle fibers
one of the main functions of the GTO
when it senses muscle contraction, it causes an inhibition of that muscle (autogenic inhibition)
one of the main functions of the muscle spindle
when a muscle is stretched, the muscle spindle causes the muscle to contract (reflexive contraction, stretch reflex) and the antagonist muscle to relax (reciprocal inhibition)
T/F: Static stretching shows how autogenic inhibition works.
True
