Nervous system Flashcards
(21 cards)
Brain
processes information
brain Controls
Thoughts, emotions, heart rate, breathing, perception, and memories
Spinal cord
Bundle of nerves extending down the brain
spinal cord Enclosed in
Vertebrae bones
spinal cord Relays information
To/from the brain & used in reflex arc
Neuron
The basic cell of the nervous system
neuron Conducts
Electrical impulses
neuron Communicates with other
Neurons,organs, and muscles
3 types of neurons
1 sensory 2 inter 3 motor
Reflex arc steps: step 1
A stimulus is packed up by a sensory neuron
Step 2
A sensory sends an impulse to the spinal cord
Step 3
The spinal cord immediately sends an impulse to the motor neuron
Step 4
Only a few neurons are involved - not the brain
Sensory nerves carry…
Impulses from the sense organs (receptors) to the brain and spinal cord
Receptors detect
External or internal changes
Motor nerves
Carry impulses from the CNS to muscles or glands
Causes muscles to
Contract or glands to secrete hormones
Somatic nervous system
Voluntary control of body movements via skeletal muscles
Autonomic nervous system
Involuntary control of smooth muscles (digestion, breathing, etc)
Sympathetic division
Controls the body’s responses to a perceived threat and is responsible for the “fight or flight” response
Parasympathetic division
Controls homeostasis when the body is at rest and is responsible for the body’s rest and digest function
