Unit 3 AOS1 Flashcards
brain
complex structure that receives and processes sensory stimuli from the body and coordinates responses, including voluntary movements, emotions and conscious thought
Central nervous system (CNS)
The brain and the spinal cord; process and coordinate responses to sensory stimuli
spinal cord
a dense bundle of nerves that carries sensory information from the body to the brain and motor information from the brain to the body.
Spinal reflex
an involuntary and unconscious response to a stimulus involving the spinal cord, which occurs without input from the brain
sensory receptor
a sensory nerve ending that produces an afferent or sensory impulse when stimulated
sensory neuron
a nerve cell that carries sensory signals throughout the nervous system
interneuron
a nerve cell in the spinal cord that connects motor and sensory neurons by relaying information between the two
motor neuron
a nerve cell that transmits motor impulses from the spinal cord to the skeletal and smooth muscles
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
all the nerves outside of the central nervous system that carry messages between the CNS and muscles, organs and glands throughout the body.
Somatic nervous system
a subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information to the central nervous system and motor information to the body
autonomic nervous system
a subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s internal environment in an autonomous or self-regulated manner
sympathetic nervous system
a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that increases our arousal, readying the body for a quick response
parasympathetic nervous system
a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that controls the body’s internal environment in an autonomous or self-regulated manner
unconscious response
any response of our nervous system that does not require awareness
conscious response
any response of the nervous system that requires awareness
neuron
an individual nerve cell that is specialised to receive, process and/or transmit information within the nervous system
neural transmission
an electrical impulse that occurs when a neuron is activated or fires
neurotransmitter
a chemical produced by neurons that carries messages to other neurons or cells within the nervous system, including muscles, organs and glands.
synapse
the point of communication between two neurons or between a neuron and a target cell such as a muscle or gland
synaptic vesicles
a membrane-bound sphere filled with neurotransmitter molecules
synaptic gap
the space between the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron and the membrane of the post-synaptic neuron
receptor site
a membrane protein on the dendrites of neurons that receive and detect specific neurotransmitters
excitatory effect
the increased likelihood that the post-synaptic neuron will fire and action potential or neural impulse
Glutamate
the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, which is involved with learning and memory
inhibitory effect
the decreased likelihood that the post-synaptic neuron will fire and action potential or neural impulse
GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)
the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, associated with anxiety, specific phobias and Parkinson’s disease