Contents of Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain and spinal chord
Contents of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
-Nerves
3 Functions of the Nervous System
Nuerons
Cells that transmit nerve impulses between parts of the nervous system.
Neuroglia
Support and nourish neurons
Sensory Neuron
Takes nerve signals from sensory receptors to the CNS
Sensory receptors
Structures that detect change in the internal and external environments.
Effectors
Carry out the responses to internal and external environmental changes.
Structure of a Neuron
A neuron contains a cell body (contains organelles), dendrites (short extensions that receive signals from sensory receptors or other neurons), axons (the portion of a neuron that conducts nerve impulses)
Myelin Sheath
Protective covering of the axons that develops when Schawann cells PNS or oligodendrocytes (CNS) wrap their membranes around an axon many times.
Nodes of Ranvier
The gaps where there is no myelin sheath
Nerve signals
Electrochemical changes that convey information within the nervous system
Generation of an action potential
Action potential
The process of conduction
Depolarization
Sodium gates open and Na+ rush into the cell, and the cell´s charge changes from positive to negative
Repolarization
Inside of the axon resumes a negative charge as potassium exits the axon
Axon terminal
Small swellings at the ends of axons
Synapse
Region of close proximity
Synaptic cleft
What separates the sending neuron from the receiving neuron
Neurotransmitters
Transmit signals between nerves
The events at a synapse
Acetylchonlinsterase (AChe)
Breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
Integration
The summing up of excitatory and inhibitory signals
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cushions and protects the CNS