Cha. 5 - Nervous System Flashcards
(30 cards)
Human movement is accomplished through what 3 systems?
Nervous system, skeletal system and muscular system
What is the Nervous system?
A network of specialized cells called neurons that transmit and coordinate signals, which provides communication within the human body
What is a Neuron?
Specialized cell that is the functional unit of the nervous system.
What parts make up a neuron?
Nucleus, dendrites, axon, node, neurolemma, myelin sheath and synaptic terminals
Neurons are composed of what 3 main parts?
Cell body, axon, and dendrites
What is the nucleus?
Cellular structure or organelle that constrains the majority of the cells genetic material in the form of chromosomes
What are organelles?
Tiny cellular structures that perform specific functions within a cell.
Ex. Nuclei, mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum
What is the Mitochondria?
The parts of the cell that use nutrients to create energy for the cell.
Commonly known as the powerhouse of the cell.
What are effector sites?
A part of the body, such as muscle or organ, that receives a signal from a neuron to produce a physiological response
What are electrolytes?
Minerals that have an electric charge to help transmit nerve impulses throughout the body, such as sodium, potassium and magnesium
What is CNS
A division of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord
What is PNS?
Nerves that connect the rest of the body to the central nervous system
What is Afferent pathway?
Sensory pathway that relays information to the central nervous system
What is the efferent pathway?
A mortar pathway that relays information from the central nervous system to the rest of the body
What are interneurons?
Neurons located within the spinal cord and brain that transmit impulses between afferent and efferent neurons
What are Mechanoreceptors?
Specialized structures that respond to mechanical forces(touch and pressure) within tissues and then transmit signals through the sensory nerves
Two further subdivisions of the PNS include…?
Somatic and automatic nervous system
What is the somatic nervous system?
Nerves that serve the outer areas of the body and skeletal muscle and are largely responsible for the voluntary control of movement
What is the automatic nervous system?
Supplies neural input to organs that run the involuntary processes of the body
E.g. circulating blood, digesting food, and producing hormones
The automatic system is further divided into the…?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
Works to increase neural activity and put the body in a heightened state
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
Works to decrease neural activity and put the body in a more relaxed state
Opposite of sympathetic system
What is proprioception?
The body’s ability to naturally sense its general orientation and relative position of its parts
What is integrative function?
Ability to analyze and interpret the sensory information to allow for proper decision making which produces an appropriate response
