The Nervous System & The Neuron Flashcards
Nervous System
Body’s communication network that consists of all nerve cells
The Central Nervous System
Coordinates the actions and interactions of the brain & spinal cord, body’s main control center.
The Peripheral nervous system
Includes the sensory nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that connects the CNS to the rest of the body.
Motor Pathway
Signals from brain to muscles/glands
Sensory Pathway
Signals from sensory receptors to the brain
Somatic Nervous System
Includes the nerves that transmit signals from your brain to the skeletal muscles to allow voluntary movement.
Sensory Neurons
Carry information from the nerves to the central nervous system.
Motor Neurons
Carry information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles fibers throughout the body. efferent neurons exit the brain.
Interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
Reflex Arc
Signal is sent from a sensory organ to the spinal cord, which processes the information instead of passing it on to the brain.
Autonomic nervous system
Resulates involuntary and unconscious actions
Sympathetic nervous system*
Emergency response system, if something alarms, enrages, or challenges you “Fight, Fright, or Freeze”
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Functions to calm the person “Rest & Digest”
Neuron
Specialized cell in the nervous system that receives and sends messages with electrochemical signals.
Neurotransmitters
Are chemicals in the brain that carry messages from one neuron to another.
Glial Cells
Cells that Provide physical support for the neurons to grow on and around (glue)
Dendrites
Part of a neuron, branch-like extensions that receives electrical messages from other cells.
Receptor Sites
Receive Signals, receptor sites are the lock where the neurotransmitter molecule fits into
Soma
The Cell Body of the neuron responsible to maintain the cell and keep the neuron functional.
Axon
Fiber that extends from the cell body to the terminal endings, its job is to carry messages out to other cells
Myelin Sheath
Layer of fatty substance produced by certain glial cells, wrap around the axon to protect the nerve fiber from damage, insulating sheath, speeds up the neural message.
Axon Terminals
Tips at the end of the axon, send signal to other neurons
Synapse
Meeting point between neurons, at the end of the terminal button is a gap known as a synapse
Synaptic Vesicles
Store various neurotransmitters (Chemicals) that are released at the synapse
Synaptic Cleft
Less than a millionth of an inch away
