The Nervous System Flashcards
Central nervous system
The portion of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal chord
Reflex
An automatic response to a stimulus, requiring no conscious efforts ( often required the spinal cord)
Peripheral nervous system
All nerves outside the CNS, included sensory & motor nerves
Somatic nervous system
The subdivision of the peripheral NS that connects to sensory receptors and to skeletal muscles
Autonomic nervous system
The subdivision of PNS that regulates the internal organs and Gladys (bladder, stomach, heart, blood vessels)
Sympathetic N S
That mobilizes bodily resources and increases the output of energy during emotions and stress (fight or flight accelerator)
Parasympathetic N S
Operatesduring relaxed States and conserves energy ( digests food- brake)
Biofeedback (Miller 1969,1978)
Monitoring devices track the bodily processes in question and deliver a signal ( light or tone) whenever a person makes a desired response- blood pressure, heart rate, brain waves
Spinal cord
A collection of neurons and supportive tissue running from the base of the brain down to the center of the back
Neurons
Cells that conduct electrochemical signals, the basic unit of the neevoisbsystwm. Also called a nerve cell
Cell assemblies are collection of cells that work together in neural pathways or circuits
Glial cells
Cells that hold neurons in place, insulate neurons, and provide neurons with nutrients
Nerve
A bundle of nerves fibres ( axons and dendrites) in the peripheral nervous system
Dendrites
A neurons branches that receive information from other neurons and transmit it toward the cell body
Cell body
The part of the neuron that keeps it alive and determines whether or not it will fire
Axon
A neurons extending fibre that conducts impulses away from the bell body and transmitsbthemnto other neurons
Myelin sheath
A fatty insulation that may surround the axon of some neurons, also called white matter. After birth develops in sensory andnthwm motor areas, and in adolescence through to the pre frontal cortex
Synapse
A place where transmissions of nerve impulses go from one neuron to the next
Includes the axon terminal, the synaptic cleft, and receptor sites in membrane of the next cell
Action potential
Unmyelinated
Myelinated
Electrical impulses or current travelling down nerve cells. Two types of action
Smooth flow of current or potential.
Jumping skipping flow of potential hopping down nodes
Synaptic end bulb
Synaptic vesicles- little sacs that release neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitter
Acetylcholine
Dopamine
Serotonin
GABA
A chemical substance that is released by transmitting neuron at the synapses and that alters the activity of the receiving neuron
Transmits between nerves and muscles and in Pons (REMSleep) also memory and learning
Important in reward system important in schizophrenia and parkinsons syndrome also learning movement and emotions
Involved in sleep dreaming mood arousal and emotions
Involved in inhibition and regulation of anxiety
Receptor cites
Lock and key only certain ones fit
Neurotransmitter molecules are released into the synaptic cleft between two neurons from vesicles (chambers) in the transmitting neuron’s axon terminal. The molecules then bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron.
As a result, the electrical state of the receiving neuron changes, and depending on the neurotransmitter that is released, the neuron becomes either more or less likely to produce an action potential.
Neuromodulators
A Chemical messenger in the NS that increase or decrease the action of specific neurotransmitters. Drugs will affect action of neurotransmitters release reuptake and block
Endorphins
A chemical substance in the nervous system that are similar in structure and action to opiates they are involved in pain reduction pleasure and memory and are aka endogenous opioid peptides
Hormones
Chemical substances secreted by glands that affect the functioning of other distal organs
