Nervous System Flashcards
Nervous System Consists of: (6 Parts)
- Brain
- Spinal Cord
- Nerves
- Ganglia
- Sensory Receptors
- Effector Organs (muscles + glands)
Central Nervous System (CNS)
- The body’s coordinating center for mechanical/chemical actions.
- Made up of the BRAIN and SPINAL CORD
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
- All parts of the nervous system that relay info between the central nervous system and other parts of the body.
- Divided into autonomic and somatic nervous system
Somatic Nervous System (voluntary)
- controls skeletal muscles, bones and skin
- sensory nerves (environment -> SNS)
- motor nerves (CNS -> body parts)
Autonomic Nervous System (involuntary)
Controls organs
Divided into:
- Sympathetic Nervous System
- Parasympathetic Nervous System
Parasympathetic (relax)
PNS- Autonomic
- contracts pupils
- stimulates salivation
- contracts bronchi
- slows heart beat
- stimulates digestive activity
- stimulates gall bladder
- contracts bladder
Sympathetic (flight or flight)
PNS- Autonomic
- dilates pupils
- inhibits salivation
- relaxes bronchi
- accelerates heart beat
- inhibits digestive activity
- stimulates glucose release by liver
- relaxes bladder
Types of Nerves Cells
- Glial: non-conducting cells important for structural support and the metabolism of nerve cells.
- Neurons: nerve cells that conduct impulses, they are the functional units of the nervous system.
Sensory Neurons
Neurons that carry impulses (stimuli) from sensory receptors to CNS.
- Known as AFFERENT (towards) neurons
- Ganglia are collections of sensory nerve cell bodies (chemoreceptors, photoreceptors)
Motor Neurons
Neurons that carry impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles, organs, etc.)
-Known as EFFERENT (away) neurons
Interneurons
Integrates and interprets info and connects to outgoing motor neurons
- Found in brain and spinal cord
- Link sensory neurons to motor neurons
5 Essential Components for Reflex Arc
- Receptor
- Sensory Neuron
- Interneuron (in spinal cord)
- Motor Neuron
- Effector
Resting Potential
Voltage difference across a cell membrane when it is at REST.
- usually = -70mV
Higher conc. of potassium ions (K+) INSIDE, higher conc. of sodium (Na+) OUTSIDE
- “Polarized Membrane”
Action Potential
Nerve Impulse
- all or none occurrence
- triggered by membrane potential reaching threshold potential
- strength of action potential is always the same, stronger stimuli only cause MORE FREQUENT action potentials
Depolarization
Some Na+ channels open, sodium ions move into cell via facilitated diffusion.
K+ channels are closed, so potassium is trapped inside.
Inside of the cell becomes more positive than outside of the cell.