The Nervous System

Question 1

Nervous tissue

Answer 1

The main compound of the nervous system
-creates nerve impulses that travel from one body part to another in milliseconds
-nervous tissue contains two cells known as neurons and glial cells

Question 2

Glial cells

Answer 2

-provide protection and support to nervous tissue
-eg atrocytes, oligodrocytes, schwann cells and satellite cells.

Question 3

Neurons

Answer 3

Specialised cells that conduct electrical impulses

Question 4

Myelin sheath

Answer 4

Acts as an insulator that surrounds most sensory and motor neurons
-speeds up conduction of action potentials
-protects the neurons from damage (interneuron are mainly unmyelinated this is believed to help them be more sensitive to changes.

Question 5

Synapse

Answer 5

-a junction between nerve cells
-neurontransmitters transmit the signal across the gap between nerve cells by diffusion
-release is triggered by an action potential

Question 6

Motor neurons

Answer 6

-responsible for carrying signals away from the CNS towards muscles to cause movement
-release neurotransmitters to trigger responses leaning to muscle movement
-located in the brain stem or spinal cord, and connect to muscles, glands and organs throughout the body

Question 7

Interneuron (relay neuron)

Answer 7

-allows sensory and motor neurons to communicate
-connect various neurons within the brain/spinal cord
-short axons
-multipolar (one axon and several dendrites)

Question 8

Sensory neurons

Answer 8

-carry nerve impulses from sensory receptors towards the central nervous system and brain
-when they reach the brain they are translated into sensations 5 senses
-pseudounipolar ( they have one axon split into two branches)