Nervous system Flashcards
What does the central nervous system consist of
Brain and spinal cord
What part of the brain is the hub of the CNS and control centre for controlling muscle actions
Cerebellum
What does the spinal cord communicate between
PNS and brain
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
All the nerves outside the CNS
What are 2 types of neurons
Sensory and Motor
What are the to systems within the PNS
Somatic and Automatic
What is the somatic system responsible for
Outer areas of body and skeletal muscle, controls voluntary control of movements
What can the automatic system be divided into
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
What is the automatic system responsible for
Involuntary processes such as hormones and digestion
What does the sympathetic system do
Speeds up internal processes during activity
What does the parasympathetic system do
Slow down internal processes during activity
What are the 3 main parts of a nerve cell
Cell body (Soma), Axon and Dendrites
What is the cell body of a neuron for
Cell activities and containing components such as nucleus, mitochondria and ribosomes
What is the axon for
Transmitting action potentials
carrying nerve impulse (electro chemical message)
What is the axon covered with
Myelin sheath
What are dendrites for
They are connected to other cells and carry incoming action potentials
How are action potentials created
Controlled movements of sodium and potassium electrolytes
What are found at the end of axons
Synaptic endings
What is found at synaptic endings
Neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACH)
How are action potentials transferred between cells
ACH diffuses across synapse and starts another action potential
What is a motor unit
A motor neurone and all the muscle fibres it innervates
What do large muscles usually have
Motor units containing many muscle fibres
What is the force generated by a muscle related to
Number of units recruited and frequency of discharge
What are muscle proprioceptors
Act as sensors within the muscle and connective tissue of limbs
