Chapter 7 study guide

• Functions of the nervous system

○ sending signals to other cells throughout the body
 i.e. releasing hormones
○ control the body by using sensory receptors
• define (structure, function)
○ CNS = central nervous system
 made up of the brain and spinal cord (dorsal cavity)
 Integrative and control centers
○ PNS = peripheral nervous system
 cranial nerves and spinal nerves
 communication lines between the CNS and the rest of the body
○ Somatic = voluntary
 somatic motor
 conducts impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscles
○ Autonomic = involuntary
 Somatic motor
 Conducts impulses from the CNS to cardiac muscles, smooth muscles, and glands
○ Parasympathetic
 Converses energy
 Promotes “housekeeping” functions during rest
○ Sympathetic
 mobilizes body systems during activity (“fight or flight”)
○ Afferent = sensory division
 Somatic and visceral sensory nerve fibers
 conducts impulses from receptors to the CNS (towards)
○ Efferent = motor division
 Motor nerve fibers
 Conducts impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscles
○ Neurons vs. neuralgia
 Neurons have TWO processes called axons and dendrites… glial cells only have one
 Neurons CAN generate action potentials… glial cells do NOT have chemical synapses
 Neurons HAVE synapses that use neurotransmitters… glial cells do NOT have chemical
synapses
 There are many MORE glial cells in the brain compared to the number of neurons
• Neurons = cells of the nervous system that are specialized to carry “messages” through an
electrochemical process
○ Have specialized extensions called dendrites and axons
 Dendrites bring information to the cell body
 Axons take information away from the cell body
○ Neurons communicate with each other through and electrochemical process
○ Contain some specialized structures (synapses) and chemicals (neurotransmitters)
○ Structure and function of the Neuron

 Dendrites
• Bring information to the cell body
• Usually many dendrites per cell
• No myelin insulation
• Branch near the cell body
 Axon
• Take information away from the cell body
• Generally ONE axon per cell
• Can have myelin
• Branch further from the cell body
 Cell body
• The metabolic center of the neuron
 Myelin sheath
• Wrapped membranes that enclose the axon
 Schwann cells
• Specialized supporting cells that wrap themselves around the axon
 Synapse (syn = to clasp or join)
• Contains a small gap separating neurons
• Consists of…
○ Presynaptic endings that contain neurotransmitters, mitochondria, and
other cell organelles
 ○ A postsynaptic ending that contains receptor sites for neurotransmitters
○ A synaptic cleft or space between the presynaptic and post synaptic
endings
• Motor neuron

• Human brain

○ Cerebellum
○ Medulla
○ Oblongata
○ Pons
○ Cerebrum
○ Spinal cord
 ○ Gyrus
○ Suculus
○ Fissure
○ Frontal lobe
○ Parietal lobe
○ Temporal lobe
○ Occipital lobe
• Parts of a typical reflex

○ Stimulus
○ Receptor
○ Sensory neuron
○ Effector
○ Associative/interneuron
○ Motor neuron