The Nervous System Flashcards
What is the nervous system consisted of and what is it responsible for?
The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves and is responsible for controlling the voluntary and involuntary actions of the body and mind.
What is the autonomic nervous system and what is it divided into?
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system responsible for involuntary functions and movement (cardiac function, breathing, digestion)
The (ANS) is further divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
Sympathetic nervous system: autonomic system responsible for “fight or flight”.
Parasympathetic nervous sysyem: autonomic system responsible for “rest and digest”.
What is the somatic nervous system?
The part of the nervous system in charge of controlling voluntary movement. (Exercise, chewing, waving)
What are afferent neurons?
Sensory neurons sending info from a stimulus to the central nervous system (CNS)
What are efferent neurons?
Motor neurons sending info from the CNS to the muscles to generate movement.
What are spinal nerves and how many are there?
Bundles of nerves connected to the spinal cord carrying information toward the periphary.
Cervical spine - 8 pairs
Thoratic spine - 12 pairs
Lumbar spine - 5 pairs
Sacral spine - 5 pairs
Coccyx - 1 pair
What are cranial nerves?
The 12 sensory and motor nerves extending directly from the brain.
What is the peripheral nervous system?
The nerves & ganglia (relay areas for nerve signals) outside of the brain and spinal cord.
Its primary purpose is to connect the CNS to the rest of the body via the extensive network of nerves that serve the limbs and organs of the body.
What is the spinal cord?
The neural tissue extending fr the medulla oblangata to the lumbar region (lower back) of the verterbral column.
What is the hypothalamus?
The region at the base of the brain responsible for maintaining homeostasis.
Homeostasis: a self-regulating process by which the bodyqintains tue stability of its physiological processes for the putpose of optimal function. (pH, internal temperature, blood glucose levels, blood pressure, constant body temperature.)
What is the occipital lobe and the visual cortex?
The posterior lobe of the brain responsible for vision.
Visual cortex: the specific region of the occipital lobe responsible for sight and visual perception.
What is the temporal lobe?
Lateral lobe of the brain responsible for hearing, memory, and emotion.
What is the somatosensory cortex?
The region of the parietal lobe responsible for processing sensations like pain, temperature, and touch.
What is the parietal lobe?
The brain lobe involved in processing sensory information.
What is the frontal lobe?
The brain lobe involved in motor control, emotion, and language.
Motor cortex: plans and coordination of movement.
Prefrontal cortex: responsible for problem solving, impulsivity, attention, and language.
What is the thalamus?
The brain region responsible for relaying sensory amd motor signals amd regulating consciousness.
What is the medulla oblongata?
The base of the brain stem responsible for involuntary functions like swallowing, sneezing, and heart function.
What is the cerebellum?
The region of the brain responsible for conscious motor coordination.
What is the cerebrum?
The uppermost and largest part of the brain consisting of a left and right hemisphere, responsible for receiving and processinf sensory information and controlling the body.
What is the central nervous system (CNS)?
The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
What are interneurons?
Nerve cells that connect neurons to other neurons.
What are motor neurons?
Nerve cells that initiate muscle contraction or activate glands.
What are sensory neurons?
Nerve cells involved in communicating tactile, auditory, or visual information.
What is nervous tissue and how many types are there?
Tissue found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that coordinates body activities.
There are 3 types:
Neurons: theost fundamental component of the brain and nervous system capable of transmitting info to and from other neurons, muscles, or glands.
Neuroglia: cells in the brain and spinal cord that form a supporting structure foe the neurons and provide them with insulation.
Neurosecretory tissues: neurons that translate neural signals into chemical stimuli.
What is a motor unit?
A single motor neuron amd the muscle fibers it controls.
What is the All-Or-None principle?
The principle stating the strength of a neural electrical signal is independent of the magnitude of the stimulus so long as the neural threshold is achieved.
