Topic 7: Nervous System Part 1: Central Nervous System

• What are the two main systems that maintain homeostasis?

  Nervous system and endocrine system
• What branch of medical science deals with the nervous system?

  Neurology
• What is the primary function of the nervous system?

  To maintain homeostasis
• How can different regions of the brain be differentiated?

  Using tools like microscopes or electrophysiology
• What are the three senses involved in balance and body position?

  Balance, body position, and touch
• What are the three main functions of the nervous system?

  Sensory, integrative, and motor functions
• What is a stimulus in the context of the nervous system?

  A change that registers in the environment
• What are the five senses recognized by the nervous system?

  Taste, smell, touch, sight, and hearing
• What type of muscle does the nervous system control for movement?

  Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle
• What is integration in the nervous system?

  Processing stimuli to generate a response
• What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

  • Central Nervous System (CNS)
  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
• What are the two main types of cells in the nervous system?

  Neurons and neuroglia
• What is the primary function of neurons?

  Nerve impulse conduction
• What do neuroglia do?

  Support, nourish, and protect neurons
• What are the parts of a neuron?

  Dendrite, cell body, and axon
• What is the function of Schwann cells?

  Produce myelin in the PNS
• What is the myelin sheath's role?

  Insulates the axon and increases impulse speed
• What are the Nodes of Ranvier?

  Gaps in the myelin sheath
• What are the three types of neurons?

  Sensory, motor, and interneurons
• What do sensory neurons do?

  Bring messages to the CNS
• What do motor neurons do?

  Carry messages from the CNS
• What do interneurons do?

  Connect sensory and motor neurons in the CNS
• What do neuroglia in the CNS include?

  Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, ependymal cells
• What is the function of oligodendrocytes?

  Myelinate axons in the CNS
• What is the function of satellite cells?

  Support neurons in the ganglion
• What is myelination?

  Wrapping layers of membrane around an axon
• What is white matter composed of?

  Myelinated axons
• What does gray matter contain?

  Neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, unmyelinated axons
• How does gray matter appear in the spinal cord?

  Forms an H-shaped inner core
• What is the role of the nucleus in the CNS?

  Localized center of function for neurons
• What is a ganglion?

  A cluster of neuronal cell bodies in the PNS
• What is a nerve?

  A bundle of axons in the PNS
• What is a tract?

  A bundle of axons in the CNS
• What is excitability in neurons?

  The ability to respond to a stimulus
• What is the All or Nothing Rule?

  The stimulus must be strong enough to start an impulse
• How do impulses travel along a neuron?

  From dendrite to cell body to axon
• What is a synapse?

  A gap between two neurons
• What role do neurotransmitters play?

  Start the impulse in the next neuron
• What are action potentials?

  Brief changes in electrical charge across the membrane
• What is resting potential?

  Negative electrical potential inside the axon