Nervous system Flashcards
what is the function of the nervous system?
• To collect process and responded to information in the environment
• To coordinate the working of different organs and cells
What are the two divisions of the nervous system?
Central nervous system
Peripheral nervous system
What are the two functions of the CNS?
Control behaviour
Regulate the bodies, physiological processes
What is the function of the brain?
involved in psychological processes and its main job is to ensure life is maintained
What is the function of the spinal cord?
transfers electrical impulses between the brain and peripheral NS allowing the brain to monitor and regulate body processes
Contain circuits of nerve cells that enable simple reflexes
What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
send info to the CNS and transmit messages from CNS to muscles/glands
What are the divisions of the peripheral nervous system?
somatic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
What is the function of the somatic nervous system?
transmit info from the receptor cells intense organs to the CNS
Receives info from the CNS that directs muscles to act
What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
responsible for unconscious bodily functions
Transmits and receives impulses from organs
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system
coordinates organs in situations when the individual is aroused and using energy
- signals heart and lungs to work harder
What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
coordinates organs when we’re relaxed to conserve energy
- promotes digestion and slows heart and breathing
What is an neurone
a nerve cell that receives and transmits impulses to and from other cells
What is the function of the cell body
control centre of the neurone and includes the nucleus
What is the function of the nucleus
contains genetic material of the cell
What is the function of the dendrites?
receive signals from other neurones or sensory receptor cells
What is the function of the axon
carries nerve impulses in the form of action potentials.
impulse travels down the axon to the synapse
What is the function of the mylein sheath?
insulates the axon so electrical impulses travel faster along the axon
What is the axon terminal?
connects the neurone to others by synaptic transmission
What is the function of the motor neurone
carries impulses from the CNS to other areas of the body and muscles
What is the function of the relay neurones?
lie between sensory and motor neurones and connect sensory and motor neurones
What is the function of the sensory neurone
transmit nerve impulses from sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Which neurones are multipolar
Motor and relay
Which neurone is unipolar?
sensory neurone
What is synaptic transmission
process which neighbouring neurones communicate with others by sending chemical msgs across the synaptic gap
What is a neurotransmitter?
brain chemicals released fron synaptic vesicles that relay across the synapse from one neurone to another
Outline synaptic transmision
- info is passed down axon as action potential and reaches synaptic gap
- in the axon terminals are synaptic vesicles which contain neurotransmitters
- action potential stimulates release of neurotransmitters from vesicles
- neurotransmitters carry signal across gap and bind to receptor sites on the postsynaptic cell which becomes activated
- when postsynaptic cell is activated they either produce excitatory or inhibitory effects on the cell
What is the function of an excitatory neurotransmitter?
increase positive charge on post synaptic neurone
increases likelihood neurone will fire and pass impulse
What is the function of an inhibitory neurotransmitter?
increase negative charge of post synaptic neurone
decreases likelihood that the neurone will fire and pass electrical impulse
