The Nervous System Flashcards
What does the CNS do?
coordinates and directs the activities of the body
What does the PNS do?
brings info in from the sensory and internal organs or carries impulses to effect reactions by the muscles.
What does the ANS do?
Controls involuntary functions. Fight or flight and back to homeostasis.
What are the 4 functions of the nervous system?
- Receives stimuli to the CNS
- Interpret the stimuli depending on past experiences.
- Prioritize the stimuli
- Carry out appropriate actions
What are glial cells?
non conducting cells that act as structural support and metabolism of nerve cells.
What do microglial cells do?
fight infectious agents
What do astrocytes do?
Maintain the extracellular environment
What do oligodendrocytes do?
provide myelin for multiple neurons in the CNS
What do Schwann cells do?
provide myelin for individual neurons in the PNS
What do sensory or afferent neurons do?
sense and relay stimuli to CNS (outside spinal cord)
What do interneurons or association neurons do?
integrate and interpret sensory info. (brain and spinal cord)
What do motor or efferent neurons do?
relay the action impulses to the effectors.
what is the job of a neuron?
to transmit electrical impulses throughout the body.
What is the function of a dendrite?
to pick up electrical impulses wither from a sensory organ or from another neuron and carries it to the cell body.
What is the function of a soma?
to house the nucleus and contain cytoplasm rich in nutrients.
