The Nervous System Flashcards
(20 cards)
Stimulus
Any change or signal in the environment that an organism can recognize and react to
Response
A reaction to a stimulus
Neurons
Cells that carry info through your nervous system
Nerve impulse
The message that a neutron carries
Dendrite
A branch-like structure that picks up the impulses
Axon
The long structure leading away from the cell body
Nerve
A bundle of nerve fibers
Sensory neuron
Picks up a stimulus and coverts it into a nerve impulse
Interneuron
Carries a nerve impulse to another interneuron or to a moot neuron
Motor neuron
Sends an impulse to a muscle or gland, enabling it to respond
Central nervous system
Includes the brain and spinal cord, and acts like a traffic cop
Peripheral nervous system
Includes all the nerves outside of the central nervous system, which are like the car drivers
Brain
Control center
Spinal cord
A thick column of nervous tissue that links the brain to the peripheral nervous system
Cerebrum
Interprets input from your senses, controls movement, and carries out complex mental processing
Cerebellum
Coordinates your muscle actions and helps you keep your balance
Brain system
Controls your body’s involuntary actions
Somatic nervous system
Controls voluntary actions
Automatic nervous system
Controls involuntary actions
Reflex
An automatic response that occurs rapidly without conscious control
