The brain Flashcards
What does the CNS comprise of?
Brain and spinal cord
Function of the brain
interprets and stores information and
sends orders to muscles, glands and
organs
Function of spinal cord
pathway connecting the
brain and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Function of peripheral nervous system (PNS)
PNS transmits information to and from CNS
What does the PNS comprise of? (what type of systems?)
Autonomic Nervous System
Somatic Nervous System
Where is the PNS?
Contains all portions of NS (outside brain & spinal cord) right down to nerves in the tips of fingers and toes.
Includes sensory & motor nerves connecting CNS to the rest of the body
What is the function of ANS?
Controls the functioning of internal organs (e.g., heart, stomach) glands and blood vessels
What does the ANS comprise of? (which type of nervous systems)
Sympathetic NS
Parasympathetic NS
Function of Sympathetic NS
mobilises bodily resources and increases the output of energy during emotion and stress
Function of Parasympathetic NS
enables body to conserve and restore energy, slows things down
- keeps things running smoothly
What is the function of SNS?
Controls the body’s skeletal muscles
Carries sensory information.
Includes nerves that are connected to sensory receptors (cells that allow you to sense the world) and skeletal muscles (that permit voluntary action)
What does SNS comprise of? and state their functions.
(hint: two inputs)
Sensory input: carries messages from senses to CNS
Motor output: carries messages from CNS to muscles and glands
Function of neurons
the communication specialists,
transmitting information to, from, and within the CNS
Function of gila
hold neurons together, as well as nourish, insulate, and protect them
What are the structures of neurons?
and their features? (5 structures)
- Dendrites: branch-like structures that receive information from other neurons and transmit it to the cell body
- Soma: the cell body that keeps entire cell alive and determines whether it will fire
- axon: neuron’s tube-like extension that transmits messages to other neurons, muscles or gland cells
- axon terminals: terminal branches of axon
- myelin sheath: fatty insulation surrounding the axon, helps
speed the neural impulses - myelin sheath degeneration: multiple sclerosis (communication to
muscles slows, loss of muscle control)
What are the processes for neurons to communicate?
- Electrical process
- Chemical process
- Cleaning up process
What is electrical process and where does it occur?
Action potential: a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels
down an axon.
Information is pushed through the axon based on a process of positive and negative charges of electrical atoms (ions)
It occurs within a neuron.
What is chemical process and where does it occur?
Neurotransmitter: a chemical substance that is released by a transmitting neuron at the synapse and that alters the activity of a receiving neuron
It occurs between neurons
What is cleaning process?
Reuptake: process of reabsorbing excess neurotransmitters by the sending neuron
In summary, how does a neuron communicate?
Electrical impulses travel down a neuron’s axon until reaching a tiny junction known as a synapse.
When an action potential reaches an axon terminal, it stimulates the release of neurotransmitter molecules. Molecules cross the synaptic gap and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron. Electrically charged atoms can enter the receiving neuron and excite or inhibit a new action potential.
The sending neuron reabsorbs excess neurotransmitter molecules (reuptake)
neurotransmitter functions
(Dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, endorphins, gaba)
