Nervous system Flashcards
Central nervous system
Brain-Centre of processing
Spinal cord- transmits information to and from the brain to the rest of the nervous system
Meninges
-Layers of protective tissue around the brain and spinal cord which protect them from damage
-Include dura mater, pia mater and arachnoid matter
-Infection leads to meningitis
Cerebrospinal fluid
-Fluid in the arachnoid membrane, spinal cord canal and cerebral ventricles which cushions the brain protecting it from damage
Build up of CSF causes
Hydrocephalus
Blood brain barrier
Protective layer of capillary cells in the surface of the brain, tight junctions which prevent molecules from coming to the outside of capilaries where brain cells are located. Prevent toxic substances from entering the brain
-Also a blood spinal cord and nerve barrier
Peripheral Nervous system
-Controls voluntary and involuntary processes, facilitates movement and sensory processing, contains all of the nerves apart from the CNS
Somatic nervous system
-Controls voluntary processes and interacts with the internal environment
-Facilitates sensory processing and movement of muscles
-Contains afferent and efferent nerves
Afferent nerves
-Sensory neurons which carry information from receptors towards the CNS so it can be processed
Efferent nerves
-Carry signals from the brain to muscle receptors to facilitate movement
Autonomic nervous system
-Division of the PNS which controls involuntary processes-maintains homeostasis, facilitates fight or flight etc by sending signals to neurons
-Controls viscera (internal organs and glands)
Sympathetic nervous system
Facilitates the fight or flight response by increasing activity within organs giving us more energy to fight or flight
Parasympathetic nervous system
-Facilitates relaxation and conserves energy by decreasing activity in the cell-important for digestion etc.
