Nervous System

Question 1

What are Neurons?

Answer 1

Specialized cells that transmit electrical impulses throughout the body

Question 2

What are Nerves?

Answer 2

Bundles of neurons

Question 3

What are the 2 subsections of our nervous system?

Answer 3

1. Central nervous system (CNS)

2. Peripheral nervous (PNS)

Question 4

What are the 2 main components of the central nervous system?

Answer 4

1. Brain

2. Spinal cord

Question 5

Purpose of the central nervous system?

Answer 5

Responsible for analyzing and interpreting data that your peripheral nervous system (nerves outside of brain and spine) collects

Question 6

What are the 2 types of Neurons used by both Nervous systems?

Answer 6

1. Afferent

2. Efferent

Question 7

General principle of Afferent systems

Answer 7

Carry things to a central point

Question 8

General principle of Efferent systems

Answer 8

Carry things away from a central point

Question 9

What is the Peripheral nervous system?

Answer 9

Part of the nervous system that consist of nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord

Question 10

In the Peripheral system, the afferent parts are called

Answer 10

Sensory neurons

Question 11

How are sensory neurons activated?

Answer 11

Via external stimuli

Question 12

What do afferent neurons do in the Central nervous system?

Answer 12

They carry data into special parts of the brain

Question 13

In the Peripheral system, the efferent parts are called

Answer 13

Motor neurons

Question 14

What are the 2 subsystems on the Efferent(motor neurons) side of the Peripheral Nervous System?

Answer 14

1. Somatic Nervous System

2. Autonomic Nervous

Question 15

What does the Somatic system control?

Answer 15

Controls the things you think about doing

Question 16

What is the Reflex Loop?

Answer 16

The process of afferent nerves send signals to the spinal cord and the spinal cord sending signals back to the muscles without the brain’s involvement.

Question 17

What does the Autonomic System do?

Answer 17

Carries signals from the Central Nervous System that drive bodily functions without thinking about them (digestion, heart beating, breathing, etc.)

Question 18

What are the 2 divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 18

1. Sympathetic Division

2. Parasympathetic Division

Question 19

What does the Sympathetic Division do?

Answer 19

Interprets “stress” and Prepares body for action.

Question 20

How does the Sympathetic Division prepare the body for action?

Answer 20

Increases heart rate, increases blood pressure, dilation of pupils, stimulates adrenal cortex, shuts off blood supply to digestive and reproductive systems, enhances senses

Question 21

How many pairs of nerves does the Sensory-somatic nervous system consist of?

Answer 21

12 cranial pairs
31 spinal pairs
Associated Ganglia

Question 22

What is a ganglia?

Answer 22

A structure containing a number of nerve cell bodies

Question 23

How does the integrative sensory function work?

Answer 23

Uses sensory information to make decisions by joining sensory input with memories already stored in the brain.

Question 24

Anatomy of a Neuron

Answer 24

Dendrites, axon, nodes of Ranvier, Myelin

Question 25

What are dendrites?

Answer 25

Branches that extend from the neuron

Question 26

What is the axon and its function?

Answer 26

The trunk of the neuron and transmits signals to other neurons

Question 27

What is Myelin and its function?

Answer 27

fatty material that intermittently covers the axon which acts as insulation

Question 28

What are the nodes of Ranvier and their function?

Answer 28

Pieces of exposed axon between the Myelin that allow the signal to hope from node to node, increasing speed of signal travel

Question 29

What is Saltatory Conduction

Answer 29

The hopping of electricity from node to node on the neural axon

Question 30

What is a Synapse

Answer 30

Place where the axons branches come into contact with the next cell’s dendrites.

Question 31

How fast are neurotransmissions?

Answer 31

90 metres per second