Biopsy key terms

• Automatic nervous system (ANS) - Governs the brain’s involuntary activities and is self regulating. Divided into sympathetic branch and parasympathetic branch
• Central nervous system (CNS) - Comprises the brain and spinal cord. Receives information from senses and controls body responses
• Peripheral nervous system - Part of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord. Responsible for carrying sensory and motor information to and from the central nervous system
• Somatic nervous system - Part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for voluntary control, carrying sensory and motor information to and from the CNS
• Spinal cord - Bundle of nerve fibres enclosed in the spinal column which connects nearly all parts of the body with the brain
• Sympathetic nervous system - part of the ANS responsible for fight or flight responses
• Parasympathetic nervous system - part of the ANS responsible for rest and digest responses
• Motor neurones - form synapses with muscles and control their contractions
• Neurotransmitter - Chemical substances that relay nerve impulses across a synapse
• Relay neurons - Connect sensory and motor neurones. Found in the CNS
• Sensory neurons - carry nerve impulses from sensory receptors to spinal cord and the brain
• Synapse - gap between end of the axon of one neurone and the dendrite or cell body of another neurone