Nervous System Flashcards
nervous system divided into two
central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
central nervous sytem structure
brain and spinal cord
central nervous system function
integrative and control centers
*acts as central command for all communication and actions of the body.
peripheral nervous system structure
cranial nerves and spinal nerves
peripheral nervous system function
communication lines between the CNS and the rest of the body
*allows signals sent by the brain to reach their target destination in the body
Neuron function
comprise the nervous system
nerve charecteristics
long bundles of neuronal axons that transmit signals from the central nervous system.
how do nerve signals start
as graded electrical impulses generated at the dendrites of neurons
chemical neurotransmitters secreted from
axon terminals into the synapse
what happens in the synapse
neurotransmitters bind to either another neuron or a muscle cell
neuron function
send and receive signals in the nervous system
sensory neuron function
afferent, send messages to central nervous system such as touch, smell, and pain.
Motor neuron function
efferent, send messages to muscle and can be subdivided into the autonomic and somatic nervous systems
motor neurons can be subdivided into
somatic and autonomic nervous systems
autonomic nervous system function
controls involuntary actions involving cardiac muscle and smooth muscle such as heart rhythm, digestion, and breathing
