Mr P bio 6 nerves Flashcards
(60 cards)
what are the two structures of the nervous system?
central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system
what is the CNS composed of?
brain and spinal cord
what is the peripheral nervous system composed of?
all the neurones that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
what are the two types of neurones within the peripheral nervous system?
sensory neurones
motor neurones
what do sensory neurones do?
carry nerve impulses from receptors towards the CNS
what do motor neurones do?
carry impulses away from the CNS to effector
what is the peripheral nervous system split into?
somatic- controls conscious activity
autonomic-controls unconscious activity
what is the autonomic nervous system split into?
sympathetic- ‘fight or flight’ system
parasympathetic- ‘rest and digest’ calms the body down
what are the 3 main types of neurones?
-sensory
-motor
-relay
what are neurones?
specialised cells which are adapted to their function- to carry electrical impulses from one part of the body to another
what does a sensory neurone do?
transmits impulses from receptors to the CNS
what does a motor neurone do?
transmits electrical impulses from the CNS to effectors
what does the relay neurone do?
transmits electrical impulses between sensory and motor neurones
what is the soma within a neurone?
nucleus and cytoplasm, produces proteins and neurotransmitters
what are the dendrites on a neurone?
carry impulses away from soma
what is the axon of a neurone?
carries impulses away from the soma
what do the schwann cells on a neurone do?
produce myelin
what is the myelin sheath?
myelin insulate the axon, increasing speed of transmission of impulse
what are the nodes of ranvier?
gaps between schwann cells where myelin sheath is absent
what is the axon terminal
connect neurone to effector
what is the spinal cord?
column of nervous tissue that runs along the back and lies inside the vertebral column for protection
what is a reflex?
a rapid, short lives, localised and involuntary response to a stimulus, to prevent further injury
what is the importance of a reflex arc?
protect the body from harm, they do not have to be learnt, fast
what is a nerve impulse?
a temporary reversal of the electrical potential differences across the axon membrane