The Nervous System Flashcards
What is the nervous system
The nervous system is a complex network of nerves which are specialised cells that respond to stimuli, coordinate your muscle and maintain homeostasis.
What is the central nervous system?
Brain and spinal chord
Integrative contraol centre
What is the peripheral nervous system?
Peripheral nerves (cranial and spinal)
Communication between CNS and body
What is the Sensory (Afferent) division?
Composed of sensory neurons
Conducts signal from receptors to CNS
What is the motor (efferent) division?
Composed of motor neurons
Conducts signals from CNS to effectors
What is the autonomic nervous system?
control involuntary responses
What is the somatic nervous system?
Controls voluntary movement
What is the sympathetic division?
Mobilises body systems
Flight/flight responses
What is the parasympathetic division?
Conserves energy
rest and digest responses
What are the 3 main parts of the brain?
the cerebral hemisphere
the medulla
the cerebellum
What is the cerebral hemisphere?
controls complex behaviours such as thought, memory and learning.
What is the medulla?
attaches the brain to the spinal cord. Controls autonomic functions such as breathing, digestion, heart rate and swallowing.
What is the cerebellum?
controls voluntary functions such as balance, coordination and speech.
What are the three major differences between a human brain and other animals’ brains?
Weight
Size
more ridges and folds (increase surface area)
What is a neuron?
A neuron or nerve cell carries electrical impulses
What is the space between a neuron called?
Synapse
What are the three main types of neurons?
Sensory
Relay
Motor
What is a sensory neuron?
respond to stimuli (touch, taste, smell, hear, sight) to send nerve impulses to the central nervous system (CNS)
What is a relay nerve?
carry nerve impulses from one neuron to another (like in the brain or spinal cord) within the CNS.
What is a motor neuron
carry nerve impulses from CNS to effectors (muscles)
What is a dendrite?
They accept chemicals from the axon terminals
What is an axon?
Propagates nerve impulse
What is a myelin sheath?
Insulates the axon to increase speed of nerve impulse
What is a node of ranvier?
The location of the nerve transmission
What is a schwann cell?
Produces myelin
What is an axon terminal?
Releases chemicals via exocytosis
