Nervous System Flashcards
What structures make up the CNS?
Brain and spinal cord
What is the structural organization of the Nervous System?
It can be divided into the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
What structures make up the PNS?
Spinal nerves (31) and cranial nerves (12)
What is the functional division of the Nervous System?
It can be divided into the Afferent Sensory division and the Efferent Motor division
What can the Afferent Sensory Division be divided into?
Somatic sensory- information from skin, joints, skeletal muscle, special senses, fascia
Visceral sensory- information from the viscera/organs
What can the Efferent Motor Division be divided into?
Somatic Motor- voluntary nervous system (skeletal muscles)
Autonomic Motor- involuntary nervous system (smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands)
How does information travel via the Afferent Sensory CNS?
Information travels to the CNS from the body
How does information travel via the Efferent Motor CNS?
From the CNS to the rest of the body
What are the 3 cell types that make up the Nervous System?
- Schwann Cells
- Neuroglia Cells (Glial Cells)
- Neurons
What are Glial cells (neuroglia)?
Non-excitable cells that are for support, insulation, and nourishment of neurons
What are Schwann Cells?
These are the glial cells the of the PNS
What do Schwann Cells produce?
Myelin protein for myelinated axons
What is the relationship between Schwann Cells and axons?
Schwann Cells will encase the axon- groups of up to 10unmyelinated axons can be encased by 1 Schwann cell
What is an oligodendrocyte?
It is the type of glial cell in the CNS and is the equivalent of the Schwann cell in the PNS
What is Myelin and what is its function?
Myelin is layers of protein and lipid that forms a sheath around some axons and increases the speed of the impulse transmission between neurons
What is the structural and functional unit of the nervous system?
Neuron
What is the function of the neuron?
Specialized for rapid communication
What are the components of a neuron?
Cell body (soma, Perikarya)
Dendrite
Axon- can be myelinated or unmyelinated
What does a dendrite do?
Carry impulses to the neuron cell body
What does an axon do?
Carry impulses away from the neuron cell body
What is a synapse?
The point at which one neuron communicates with one or more neurons
What facilitates the communication between neurons?
Neurotransmitters
What are some neurotransmitters?
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine
Dopamine
GABA
What is the nucleus in the CNS?
It is a collection of neuron cell bodies