The nervous system Flashcards
The nervous system
Communication network. Nerves, neurons, and specialized cells. It’s how everything in your body communicates
Central nervous system (CNS)
Consists of your brain and spinal cord. Command center of the body. Processes information, coordinating responses, and regulating bodily functions (central=spinal)
Peripheral Nervous System
All of the nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord. Transmitting sensory information from the body to the central nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
The things we do without thinking. Things such as breathing, change in pupil size, heartbeat, blinking, etc.
Sympathetic nervous system
Fight to flight response. Response in times of stress or danger. Increases heart rate, dilates airways, and redirects blood flow to essential organ preparing the body to respond to received threats
Parasympathetic nervous system
Restoring the body to a calm state after experiencing stress or danger (automatic)
Neurons
Specialized call that serves as the building blocks of the nervous system. It consists of the cell body (soma), dendrites, and the axon
Glial cells
Provides structural support, insulation, and nourishment (support cells)
Motor neurons
Transmits signals to muscles, glands and organs. Insulating and controlling volunteers or involuntary movements
Sensory neurons
They pick up info from sensory receptors such as the skin, muscles, and organs to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
Interneurons
They serve as the connectors within the central nervous system, relaying signals between the sensory neurons and motor neurons
Interneurons
They serve as the connectors within the central nervous system, relaying signals between the sensory neurons and motor neurons
Reflex arc
Enables quick reactions and protects from danger. A neural pathway that controls reflex actions allowing rapid automatic responses to sensory stimuli without conscious loss. Such as pulling your hand away once you feel something hot.
