The nervous system

• Axon:

  • Sends signal from cell body on to next neuron
  • Carries both electrical and chemical signals
• Dendrite:

  • Receives signal from environment or from other neuron
• Interneuron:

  • Carries out a response to information.
• Motor neuron:

  • Transfer signals from CNS to muscles and glands.
• Sensory neuron:

  • Receives information.
• Reflex:

  • Involuntary reaction that does not involve the brain for safety purposes. An example is your hand touching a hot stove then pulling it away quickly, or blinking when something comes close to your face.
• Synapse:

  • Space between neurons where chemicals from axon of one neuron flow across to the dendrites of another neuron
• Examples of something controlled by your autonomic nervous system:

  • Digestion, hormone release, focusing of your lens in your eye
• Examples of something controlled by your somatic nervous system:

  • Running, waving, talking
• Cell body: Processes the signal/message
• Brain stem: Controls involuntary actions (autonomic nervous system), examples are breathing and heart rate.
• Cerebellum: Controls balance and coordination. Example: being able to touch one hand to the other with your eyes closed.
• Cerebrum: Controls memory, thinking, sensory processing, motor functions, and more. Example: recalling this information in your brain, recognizing what an apple is and what an orange is.
• Autonomic Nervous System: Controls involuntary muscles/things you don't think about/don't have control over. An example is breathing and heart rate.
• Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord.
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): All neurons and nerves EXCEPT the brain and spinal cord.
• Somatic Nervous System: Voluntary muscles/things you DO have control over. An example is kicking a soccer ball, reading, writing, speaking...
• Types of receptors in your eye:

  • Rods for black and white vision and cones for color vision, located on the retina at the back of the eye
• Types of receptors in your fingers:

  • Touch receptors for pressure, pain, and temperature
• Types of receptors in your tongue:

  • Receptors for sweet, salty, sour, and bitter chemicals