Unit One Flashcards
spinal cord
long bundle of neurons that carries information to and away from the brain; helps control pain response
peripheral nervous system
made of the nerves and neurons not contained in the brain and spinal cord
allows the brain and spinal cord to communicate with the sensory systems and to control the muscles and glands of the body
divided into somatic and autonomic nervous systems
somatic nervous system
controls the voluntary muscles of the body
involves the sensory pathway and the motor pathway
autonomic nervous system
controls automatic functions of the body (organs, glands, involuntary muscles)
has sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
sensory pathway
sensory neurons carrying information to spinal cord and/or brain
motor pathway
nerves that carry information to voluntary skeletal muscles
sympathetic division
fight or flight functions—reacts to stressful events and bodily arousal
parasympathetic division
eat drink and rest functions—restores body to normal functioning after arousal and is responsible for day-to-day functioning of glands and organs
endocrine glands
secrete chemicals called hormones into bloodstream
affect behavior and emotions by influencing the activity of the brain and by controlling muscles and organs such as the heart, pancreas, and sex organs
spinal cord reflexes
involve sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons
enable fast, often lifesaving, actions that do not require conscious thought
pancreas
controls level of blood sugar in body by secreting insulin and glucagon
diabetes vs hypoglycemia
too little insulin is diabetes
too much insulin is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar, hungry)
gonads
secrete hormones that regulate sexual behavior and reproduction
ovaries in female and testes in male
ovaries
female gonads
testes
male gonads
adrenal glands
everyone has two, on top of each kidney
has two sections
stress stuff
adrenal medulla
releases epinephrine and norepinephrine when people are under stress
aids in sympathetic arousal
adrenal cortex
produces corticoids
corticoids
adrenal cortex produces over 30 different hormones called corticoids
also called steroids
regulate salt intake, help initiate and control stress reactions, and provide source of sex hormones
cortisol
most important adrenal hormone
released when body experiences physical and psychological stress
important in release of glucose during stress (gives brain energy) and release of fatty acids (gives muscles energy)
neuroscience
the field of study that deals with the structure of the brain and components of the nervous system
neuron
specialized cell in nervous system
send and receive messages within that system
have specialized components
have an electrical charge at rest (resting potential)
are affected by neurotransmitters, chemicals that have an effect on neurons
are separated by a gap called the synapse, when nerve impulse reaches axon terminals, neurotransmitter is released into synaptic space
glial cells
provide physical and metabolic support to neurons
communicate with other cells
specific types have stem cell like properties
myelin
insulates axons and speeds up transmission of neural message