Nervous System Flashcards
What is the function of the nervous system?
- coordinates all activities of the body
- enables the body to respond and adapt to changes that occur inside and outside of the body
neuron
the basic structural unit
cell body
consists of nucleus
axon
a single fiber that carries impulses away from the cell body
myelin shaft
covers the axon
dendrite
consist of nerve fibers that carry impulses toward the cell body
synapse
the spaces between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another
afferent nerve fibers
sensory nerves that carry messages from the body to the brain and spinal cord
efferent nerve fibers
motor nerves that carry messages from the brain and spinal cord to the body
associative nerve fibers
interneurons that carry impulses from the sensory neuron to the motor neuron
central ns
contains the brain and spinal cord
peripheral ns
contains nerves and the autonomic ns
autonomic ns
contains peripheral nerves and ganglia
cerebrum
The largest and highest section of the brain
- has folds that separates the lobes
frontal
controls behavior, impulse control, personality, and speech