The Nervous System Flashcards
the central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
composed of nerves that connect the brain or spinal cord with muscles, glands, and sense organs
oligiodendrocytes
makes myelin in the CNS
schwann cells
makes myelin in the PNS
nodes of ranvier
gaps in the myelin sheath of an axon
function of myelin
speeds up transduction and conserves energy
astrocyte
regulates extracellular fluid by removing potassium and neurotransmitters
microglia
specialised macrophage-like cells
ependymal cells
in fluid-filled cavities, regulate flow of cerebrospinal fluid
function of glial cells
surround the dendrites, soma and axon and provide physical and metabolic support
an axon or nerve fibre
the long extension from a single neuron
a nerve
a group of many axons travelling together to and from the same general location in the PNS
a pathway/tract
a group of axons travelling together in the CNS
a commissure
if the group of axons links the right and left halves of the CNS
ganglia
the cell bodies of neurons with similar functions in the PNS
