Nervous System Flashcards
(279 cards)
What is a system?
collection of different organs and tissues that has a specific function
What is the nervous system made up of?
a network of nerve cells (neurons and fibres)and their supporting cells
What does the nervous system basically do?
transmit nerve impulses between different parts of the body
What is the basic function of the nervous system?
allows sentient organisms to live effectively in their environment
What are ganglia?
collections of cell bodies
What are the 4 key functions of the nervous system?
sense and monitor environment
respond, react and move around environment
integrate, process and store information
maintain internal stasis of the body
What tissues and cells does sensing and monitoring the environment involve?
sensory tissues and organs, sensory nerves
What cells and tissues are involved in responding to and moving around the environment?
motor nerves and muscles
What cells and tissues are involved in maintaining internal stasis of the body?
motor nerves, smooth/cardiac muscle and glands
What are the two locations of the nervous system?
central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
What is the CNS comprised of?
brain and spinal chord
What is the PNS comprised of?
all nerves that are not found in the brain/spinal chord
What can the sensory nervous system also be known as?
afferent
What can the motor nervous system also be known as?
efferent
What is the difference between somatic and autonomic nervous systems?
somatic is voluntary and autonomic is involuntary
What are glia?
supporting cells of CNS and PNS
How does regeneration of nerves differ between CNS and PNS?
CNS- nerves do not regenerate after injury, there is no secretion of growth factors and inhibitory factors are actually released
PNS- nerves regenerate well after injury
What are the 2 branches of the autonomic nervous system?
sympathetic and parasympathetic
What does the sympathetic nervous system do?
fight of flight mechanism, speeds things up and diverts blood where it is needed (e.g. away from digestive system towards muscles)
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?
rest and digest mechanism, slows everything down, diverts blood back to slower areas (e.g. towards digestive system)
What main divisions of the nervous system are the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems associated with?
CNS and PNS
What is a neuron?
the functional unit of the nervous system
What 3 types of neuron are there?
sensory, motor and interneurons
What are neurons specialised to do?
detect and react to stimuli