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19 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are the main functions of the nervous system? |
- Senses change - Processes & interprets - Causes a response |
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Explain sensing change in the nervous system |
Sensing change is the first function, the change that is recorded is called stimuli and this information is gathered. |
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Explain 'processing and interpreting' in the nervous system? |
The information is processed and interpreted, this is done by making sense of the sensory input and then a decision is made about what should be done (this is called integration) |
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Explain 'causing a response' in the nervous system |
Causing a response happens after the information is processed and interpreted, this is the process of activating the muscles, glands and other tissues (this response is called motor output) |
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The two main components of the nervous system can be broken down into? |
The CNS (Central nervous system) and the PNS (peripheral nervous system) |
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What structures comprise the Central Nervous System (CNS), and what does the CNS do? |
The CNS consists of the brain & the spinal cord, it is the processing & command center of the Nervous system. The CNS interprets incoming sensory information and creates a response based on past experiences, reflexes and current conditions. |
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What structured compromise the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) & what does it do? |
The PNS is part of the nervous system which is found outside of the CNS, it consists of the nerves which are extended from the spinal cord and the brain. These nerves send information to and from the brain and the spinal cord.
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How can the PNS be further broken down? |
The PNS can be broken down into 2 subcategories being the sensory of afferent division and the motor of efferent division. |
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What is the afferent/sensory division? |
The sensory of afferent division consists of nerve fibers that carry information to the CNS constantly informed of events going on both inside and outside of the body.
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What is the afferent/motor division? |
The efferent division carries information from the CNS to the muscles and the glands, by doing so they cause the muscles or glands to respond accordingly.
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What is the structural and functional unit of the nervous system? |
Neurons |
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What are the 4 main parts of a neuron? |
Cell body, dendrites, axon and the myelin. |
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Explain what a Cell body is and what it consists of; |
Consists of large nucleus & houses all necessary organelles, it has 2 main types of branches which are the axons and dendrites. These branches take electrical impulses towards and away from the cell body.
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Explain what Dendrites are; |
Convey incoming messages towards the cell body from other neurons, therefore they allow transmission of impulses from one nerve cell to another
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Explain what the Axon is |
Each neutron has a single axon which transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body. Axon ends are split into axon terminals; this is where impulses are passed onto other cells (i.e. muscle fibers) These intercellular contacts are called synapses.
Note; Axon terminals and other cells do not actually touch at synapses Note; A neuromuscular junction is a synapse between axon terminals and muscle fibers. |
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Explain Myelin? |
Large nerves are covered in myelin which is a white fatty substance, myelin protects and insulates nerves from one another and increases the speed of transmission of nerve impulses more than 150 times.
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What is the purpose of myelin? |
The purpose of Myelin is to insulate and protect the nerves from one another and it also increases the speed of transmission of nerve impulses.
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What is the 'All or None Principle' |
The all or none principle is the principle that the strength by which a nerve or muscle fiber responds to a stimulus is independent of the strength of the stimulus. If that stimulus exceeds the threshold potential, the nerve or muscle fiber will give a complete response; otherwise, there is no response.
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Describe a reflex arc |
A reflex arc is the nerve pathway involved in a reflex action, including as its simplest a sensory nerve and motor nerve with a synapse between.
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