PYSC Exam 2 FlashCards

• Nervous System

  Complex network of cells and tissues that transmit signals through different parts of body
• Function of nervous system

  allow organisms to detect stimuli, gather and process information, produces responses to stimuli, coordinates the workings of different cells
• CNS

  Central Nervous System - includes the brain and spinal cord,
• Brain

  most complex organ - responsible for higher cognitive functioning, sensory processing, and decision making
• Spinal Cord

  communication pathway between brain and body - extends from base stem (medulla oblongata) to the lower back
• Responsibility of the spinal cord

  transmitting sensory information, conveying motor commands from the brain to muscles
• Brain and Spinal Cord

  Responsible for all of our movements - the brain sends signals through the spinal cord to the muscles
• PNS - Peripheral Nervous System

  handles the central nervous systems input and output - consists of the somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
• Somatic Nervous System

  carries sensory information from the sensory organs (skin, eyes, ear, nose) muscles
• What does the somatic nervous system do?


  permits sensation and voluntary actions - (afferent)helps us process sensation - (efferent) transmitting motor commands
• Afferent

  help us process sensation
• Efferent

  transmitting motor commands
• Autonomic Nervous System

  regulates blood vessels, glands, and internal (visceral) organs - responsible for involuntary actions
• Sympathetic Nervous System


  mobilizes the body for action - fight or flight response
• Sympathetic Nervous System - responsibility

  increasing heart rate, redirecting blood flow away from non-essential

  functions, triggering release of adrenaline
• Parasympathetic Nervous System

  conserves energy - restores normalcy
• Parasympathetic Nervous System - responsibilities

  slowing heart rate, constricting airways, promoting rest and relaxation

  (Counter Balances Sympathetic Nervous System)
• Neurons

  fundamental building blocks of the nervous system = play a role in chemical and electrical signals - allow to make decisions - 86-100 million in the brain
• Dendrites - branching extensions that emanate from the cell body

  receive incoming signals from other neurons
• Cell Body (Soma)

  central part of the neuron - contains nucleus - houses the neuron's genetic material and various other organelles for cell
• Axon

  long slender projection- extends from cell body away close to the terminal - carries the neurons output signals, known as action potentials
• Myelin Sheath

  Fatty layer that covers axon - helps to speed up neuron impulses
• Axon Hillock

  plays a curial role in the initiation of action potentials
• Schwann Cells

  wrap around the axons of neurons in the PNS - provide them with myelin sheath
• Synapse

  specializes junction between neuron or neurons - the site which communication occurs - between a neuron and a target cell
• Axon Terminal

  at the end of a neuron where it forms a synapse with another neuron or target cell
• Terminal buttons

  bulbous structures found at the end of axon terminals
• Dendrite 


  This is the….

  
• Cell Body


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• Nucleus


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• Schwann Cells


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• Myelin sheath 


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• Node of ranvier


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• Axon Terminal 


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• Axon 


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• Sodium Potassium Pump

   moves sodium and potassium ions into the cell - 3 Sodium (NA) and 2 Potassium move in and out - vital for action potential
• Action Potential

  The stage where the sodium potassium pump is in action
• Stimulus

  A rest
• depolarization

  Na cells are going to rush
• repolarization

  potassium ion are exiting - gates in the cell are allowing it to do so