Nervous System Physiology Flashcards
(30 cards)
List four basic functions of the nervous system.
- Activate muscle contraction.
- Regulate respiratory movement to maintain normal blood oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH levels.
- Regulate blood volumes and pressures in the circulation system.
- Modulate digestive system motility and secretion.
Name some higher-order functions of the nervous system
Learning, Thinking, Memory, Emotion, Mood
The nervous system is one of the two major _________ systems of the body.
control
What is the nervous system composed of?
Trillions of cells distributed in a network throughout the brain, spinal cord, and periphery.
What are the three overlapping functions of the nervous system?
Sensory input, Integration, Motor output
Describe the “sensory input” function of the nervous system.
The nervous system uses its millions of sensory receptors to monitor changes occurring both inside and outside the body. The gathered information is called sensory input.
Describe the “integration” function of the nervous system.
The nervous system processes and interprets sensory input and decides what should be done at each moment – a process called integration.
Describe the “motor output” function of the nervous system.
The nervous system activates effector organs – the muscles and glands – to cause a response, called motor output.
What are the two main parts the nervous system is divided into for convenience?
The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
What does the central nervous system (CNS) consist of?
The brain and spinal cord
What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS) consist of?
The nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord with the body’s muscles, glands, sense organs, and other tissues.
What is the central nervous system (CNS)?
The integrating and control center of the nervous system.
What are the functions of the CNS?
It interprets sensory input and dictates motor output based on reflexes, current conditions, and past experience.
What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS) serve as?
Communication lines that link all parts of the body to the CNS.
What are the two functional subdivisions of the PNS?
The sensory (or afferent) division and the motor (or efferent) division.
What is a neuron?
The basic functional unit of the nervous system.
What is a common feature of all neurons?
They all share features that allow cell-to-cell communication
What do long extensions or processes of neurons do?
Connect neurons to each other and perform the neurons’ input and output functions.
What is the cell body (or soma) of a neuron?
The major biosynthetic center of a neuron that contains the usual organelles needed to synthesize proteins and other chemicals
What are dendrites?
The main receptive or input regions of a neuron that provide an enormous surface area for receiving signals from other neurons.
What type of glial cell forms the myelin sheath in the brain and spinal cord (CNS)?
Oligodendrocytes
What type of glial cell forms the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
Schwann cells
What is the main function of the myelin sheath around an axon?
speed up conduction of the electrical signals along the axon and conserves energy
What are the gaps between segments of myelin sheath called?
Nodes of Ranvier
