Nervous System Flashcards
Body System Review
neuron
cell that carries nerve impulses throughout the
body and is composed of a cell body, an axon, and dendrites.
dendrite
neuron structure that receives nerve impulses from other neurons and transmits them to the cell body.
cell body
neuron structure that contains the nucleus and many organelles.
axon
neuron structure that transmits nerve impulses from the cell body to other neurons and muscles.
reflex arc
nerve pathway consisting of a sensory neuron, an interneuron, and a motor neuron.
action potential
nerve impulse
threshold
minimum stimulus needed to produce a
nerve impulse
node
gap in the myelin sheath along the length of an axon; nerve impulses move from node to node.
synapse
gap between one neuron’s
axon and another nueron’s dendrite.
neurotransmitter
chemical that diffuses across a
synapse and binds to receptors on a neighboring neuron’s
dendrite, causing channels to open on the neighboring cell
and the creation of a new action potential.
central nervous system
consists of the brain and
spinal cord and coordinates all of the body’s activities.
peripheral nervous system
consists of sensory and
motor neurons that transmit information to and from the
central nervous system.
cerebrum
largest part of the brain; is divided into two hemispheres and carries out higher thought processes involved with language, learning, memory, and voluntary body movements.
medulla oblongata
part of the brain stem that helps
control blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate.
pons
part of the brain stem that helps control breathing rate.
hypothalamus
part of the brain that regulates body temperature, appetite, thirst, and water balance.
autonomic nervous system
part of the peripheral
nervous system that transmits impulses from the central
nervous system to internal organs.
sympathetic nervous system
branch of the autonomic nervous system that controls organs and is most
active during emergencies or stress.
parasympathetic nervous system
branch of the
autonomic nervous system that controls organs and is most
active when the body is at rest.
nervous system structures
- Brain
- Spinal cord
- Neurons (nerve cell)-
types of neurons and what do they do
a. Sensory neurons- gather info from the environment & send it to the brain/spinal cord
b. Interneurons- interprets the info
c. Motor neurons- responds to the info sent from the interneurons.
neuron pathway
sensory neurons –> interneurons –> motor neurons
parts of a neuron
dendrite, cell body, axon
what is myelin
a fatty coat which
insulates the axon and speeds up the transmission of the
electrical impulses.