Neuroscience

• Nervous System


  An extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body
• Neuroscience


  The study of the structure and function of neurons, nerves and nervous tissues
• Parts of the Nervous System

  • Central Nervous System
  • Peripheral Nervous System
• Central Nervous System


  The brain and the spinal cord
• Brain


  • Interprets and stores information and sends orders to muscles, glands, and organs
• Spinal Cord


  Pathway connecting the brain and the peripheral nervous system
• Peripheral Nervous System


  Transmits information to and from the central nervous system
• Divisions of the Peripheral Nervous System

  • Autonomic Nervous System
  • Somatic Nervous System
• Autonomic Nervous System


  Automatically regulates glands, internal organs and blood vessels, pupil dilation, digestion, and blood pressure
• Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System

  • Parasympathetic Division or Rest and Digest
  • Sympathetic Division or Fight-or-flight
• Parasympathetic Division


  Maintains body functions under ordinary conditions; saves energy
• Sympathetic Division


  Prepares the body to react and expand energy in times of stress
• Somatic Nervous System


  Carries sensory information and control movement of the skeletal muscles
• Neurons


  The basic cell that makes up the nervous system and which receives and sends messages within the systems
• Parts of a Neuron

  • Dendrites
  • Soma
  • Axon
• Dendrites


  Branch-like structure that receives messages from other neurons
• Soma


  Responsible for maintaining the life of a cell
• Axon


  Long tube-like structure that carries the neural message to other cells
• Glial Cells


  Grey fatty cells that provide support for the neurons to grow through delivering nutrients and it produces myelin to coat axons - this also clean up waste products and dead neurons
• Myelin


  Insulates, protects and speeds up neural impulses
• Nerves


  Bundles of axons in the body that travel together through the body
• Neurilemma


  Schwann's membrane a tunnel through which damaged nerve fibers can repair themselves
• Ions


  Charged particles
• Resting Potential


  The state of the neuron when no firing a neural impulse
• Action Potential


  The release of neural impulse consisting of a reversal of the electricity charge within the axon; also allows positive sodium ions to enter the cell
• All-or-none - referring to the fact that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all
• Parts involved in sending messages to other cells

  • Axon Terminals
  • Synaptic Knob
  • Synaptic Vesicles
  • Neurotransmitters
  • Synapse or Synaptic Gap
  • Receptor Sites
• Axon Terminals


  Branches at the end of the axon
• Synaptic Knob


  Rounded areas on the end of axon terminals
• Synaptic Vesicles


  Found inside synaptic knob with chemicals inside it
• Neurotransmitters


  Chemical found in the synaptic vesicle which when released has an effect on the next cell
• Synapse or Synaptic Gap


  Fluid filled space between the rounded areas on the end of the axon terminals of one cell and the dendrites or surface of the next cell
• Receptor Sites


  Holes in dendrites to fit certain neurotransmitters
• Types of Neurotransmitters


  • Acetylcholine
  • Serotonin
  • GABA
  • Glutamate
  • Norepinephrine
  • Dopamine
  • Endorphins
• Acetylcholine


  Involved in memory and stimulates movement
• Serotonin


  Affects mood, sleep, appetite
• GABA


  Involved in sleep and inhibits movement
• Glutamate


  Involved in memory formation
• Norepinephrine


  Involved in arousal and mood
• Dopamine


  Involved in control of movement and sensations of pleasure