Nervous system Flashcards
What does the central nervous system consist of
Brain and spinal cord
What part of the brain is the hub of the CNS and control centre for controlling muscle actions
Cerebellum
What does the spinal cord communicate between
PNS and brain
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
All the nerves outside the CNS
What are 2 types of neurons
Sensory and Motor
What are the to systems within the PNS
Somatic and Automatic
What is the somatic system responsible for
Outer areas of body and skeletal muscle, controls voluntary control of movements
What can the automatic system be divided into
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
What is the automatic system responsible for
Involuntary processes such as hormones and digestion
What does the sympathetic system do
Speeds up internal processes during activity
What does the parasympathetic system do
Slow down internal processes during activity
What are the 3 main parts of a nerve cell
Cell body (Soma), Axon and Dendrites
What is the cell body of a neuron for
Cell activities and containing components such as nucleus, mitochondria and ribosomes
What is the axon for
Transmitting action potentials
carrying nerve impulse (electro chemical message)
What is the axon covered with
Myelin sheath
What are dendrites for
They are connected to other cells and carry incoming action potentials
How are action potentials created
Controlled movements of sodium and potassium electrolytes
What are found at the end of axons
Synaptic endings
What is found at synaptic endings
Neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACH)
How are action potentials transferred between cells
ACH diffuses across synapse and starts another action potential
What is a motor unit
A motor neurone and all the muscle fibres it innervates
What do large muscles usually have
Motor units containing many muscle fibres
What is the force generated by a muscle related to
Number of units recruited and frequency of discharge
What are muscle proprioceptors
Act as sensors within the muscle and connective tissue of limbs
What do muscle proprioceptors do
Provide feedback of impact of immediate environment of musculoskeletal system to give information about the position of the limbs
What are the 2 types of muscle proprioceptors
Muscle spindles and Golgi tendons
What do muscle spindles detect
Changes in muscle length
What do Golgi tendons detect
Changes in muscle tension
What is the stretch reflex mechanism
A protective mechanism to prevent muscle tears
How do muscle spindles work
Small sensory unit wrapped like a coil around muscle fibre like a coil, they contract or expand when the muscle lengthens or shortens
What is the stretch reflex
When the muscle shortens as a result of rapid contraction
How does a Golgi tendon organ detect tension
When the muscle contracts it pulls on the tendon do GTO can measure tension
What is the inverse stretch flex
Relaxation response caused by the GTO
What do GTO and muscle spindles act as
On and off switches for muscular activity during exercise
What technique of training highlights muscle spindles
Plyometrics
What is reciprocal inhibition
When a motor unit prevents the antagonist muscle from contracting during agonist contraction
What are early strength improvements in resistance training a result of
CNS
What improvements to the CNS does training have
Faster reaction time, greater force generation, enhanced stability etc
