Nervous System

Question 1

afferent/sensory neurons

Answer 1

information from skin/organs to brain and spinal cord

Question 2

interneurons

Answer 2

connect spinal, motor, and sensory neurons

Question 3

efferent/motor neurons

Answer 3

sends information away from nervous system to muscles/organs

Question 4

dendrites

Answer 4

receive messages from other cells

Question 5

axon

Answer 5

passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

Question 6

myelin sheath

Answer 6

covers the axon of some neurones and helps spread neural impulses

Question 7

neural impulse

Answer 7

(action potentional) electrical signal traveling down the axon

Question 8

terminal branches of axon

Answer 8

form junctions with other cells

Question 9

cell body

Answer 9

the cell’s life support center

Question 10

what are the steps to firing a neuron ?

Answer 10

1. depolarization and action potential produced via neuron stimulation
2. action potential travels further along neuron; sodium/potassium ion pump pushes ions out of cell
3. action potential continues down the axon, first section has recharged and ready for stimulation again

Question 11

what are the steps to neurons communicating ?

Answer 11

1. electrical impulses travel down axon until reaching synapse (junction between neurons)
2. neurotransmitter molecules released and go to the receiving neuron
3. sending neuron reabsorbs excess neurotransmitter molecules, process called reuptake

Question 12

acetylcholine (ach)

Answer 12

• connected to muscle movement
• curare
• plays a role in memory
• Alzheimer’s is associated with decline in ACh

Question 13

dopamine

Answer 13

• pleasure chemical
• alertness
• happiness
• muscle control and coordination
• Parkinson’s = lack of dopamine
• Schizophrenia = excess dopamine

Question 14

serotonin

Answer 14

• mood
• emotion
• used in SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors - anti-depressants)
• sleep

Question 15

epinephrine

Answer 15

• adrenaline
• associated with energy

Question 16

norepinephrine

Answer 16

• low levels connected to Depression
• alertness, blood pressure, and heart rate

Question 17

gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Answer 17

• inhibitory neurotransmitter
• slows and calms the nervous system
• sleepiness, less anxiety, less alertness and muscle tension
• too little is associated with anxiety disorders, seizures, tremors, and insomnia

Question 18

glutamate

Answer 18

• excitatory neurotransmitter
• opposite of GABA
• involved in thinking, memory, and learning
• facilitates stronger neural connections
• too much can lead to migraines and seizures

Question 19

endorphins

Answer 19

• body’s natural painkiller
• released during physical activities

Question 20

agonist drugs do what ?

Answer 20

excite neurotransmitters

Question 21

antagonist drugs do what ?

Answer 21

inhibit neurotransmitters

Question 22

what are the two main parts of the overall nervous system ?

Answer 22

peripheral & central (brain and spinal cord)

Question 23

what are the two parts of the peripheral nervous system ?

Answer 23

1. autonomic (controls self-regulated action of internal organs and glands)
2. somatic (controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles)

Question 24

what are the two parts of the autonomic nervous system ?

Answer 24

1. sympathetic (arousing)
2. parasympathetic (calming)

Question 25

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 25

* excites * fight or flight * heart rate increases, pupils dilate, respiration increases, digestion slows

Question 26

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 26

calms

Question 27

endocrine system

Answer 27

* works by passing hormones through the bloodstream * slow to operate; longer lasting effects * works as a team with the nervous system

Question 28

pituitary gland

Answer 28

secretes many different horomes, some of which affect other glands

Question 29

hypothalamus

Answer 29

brain region controlling the pituitary gland

Question 30

thyroid gland

Answer 30

affects metabolism, among other things

Question 31

parathyroids

Answer 31

help regulate the level of calcium in the blood

Question 32

adrenal glands

Answer 32

triggers the "fight or flight" response

Question 33

pancreas

Answer 33

regulates the level of sugar in the blood

Question 34

testis

Answer 34

secretes male sex hormones

Question 35

ovary

Answer 35

secrets female sex hormones

Question 36

action potential

Answer 36

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Question 37

synapse

Answer 37

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

Question 38

neurotransmitters

Answer 38

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

Question 39

peripheral nervous system

Answer 39

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Question 40

nerves

Answer 40

bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

Question 41

somatic nervous system

Answer 41

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

Question 42

autonomic nervous system

Answer 42

controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs

Question 43

reflex

Answer 43

simple, autonomic response to a sensory stimulus

Question 44

hormones

Answer 44

chemical messengers that are produced by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues