Nervous System Flashcards
Outline the structure and function of the nervous system
Nervous system is split into 2 main parts the central and peripheral nervous system
Central nervous system is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. Brain is responsible for higher mental functioning
and spinal cord for reflex actions and transmitting information to the brain
Peripheral nervous system is sub divided into automatic and somatic nervous system
Outline the structure and function of the nervous system
Somatic system is responsible for voluntary movements such as walking and transmits information from the brain to skeletal muscles/effectors
Automatic nervous system is responsible for involuntary functions such as breathing and digestion
Automatic nervous system can be sub divided again into the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches
What are the cells that make up the nervous system called ?
Nueron
They communicate with each other using a mixture of electrical and chemical signals
Cell body
Includes nucleus which contains the genetic material of the cell
Myelin sheath
Protects the axon helps speed up transmission of the message
Nodes of Ranvier
Speeds up transmission of impulse forcing it to jump across gaps along axon
Axon
Sends nerve impulse (action potential) through neurone
Dendrites
Once receptor and neurotransmitter bind
This occurs new electrical impulse occur
Terminal button
The end of the nueron
Send information through to next nueron
Though release of neurotransmitters
Sensory neurons
PNS in clusters known as ganglia
Send information towards brain (CNS)
Receptors found in eyes ears tongue and skin
Long dendrites short axons
Relay nueron
In brain and visual system
Found in CNS carry nerve impulses between neurons
Analyse sensations decide how to respond to
Short dendrites and short axons
Motor nueron
Found in CNS but the long axons form part of PNS
Send information from brain to effectors such as muscle glands
Short dendrites and long axons
