nervous system Flashcards
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
nervous system outside of brain and spinal cord; primarily nerves that extend from brain and spinal cord
autonomic nervous system
involuntary part of the peripheral nervous system; regulates glands, smooth muscles and cardiac muscles
sympathetic nervous system
division of the autonomic nervous system in charge of “fight or flight”
parasympathetic nervous system
division of autonomic nervous system in charge of rest and rejuvenation
neuron
nerve cell
dendrite
part of neuron that receives information into the cell
axon
part of neuron that conducts nerve impulses out of the cell
myelin sheath
insulates and protects axons
nerve impulse
electrical message carried by a neuron
electrolyte
conducts electrical impulses in the body
sensory neuron
neuron that gathers sensory information such as taste, smell, touch, sight, hearing, pain, pressure, heat, or light
interneuron
a neuron that carries messages between other neurons to process, integrate, think, and decide
motor neuron
a neuron that carries action messages to muscles and glands
spinal nerves
31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord
