central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord.

peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of all the nervous tissue outside the CNS (nerves and ganglia).
sensory division, or afferent (toward) division, of the PNS conducts action potentials from sensory receptors to
the CNS
motor division, or efferent (away) division, of the PNS conducts action potentials from the CNS to effector
organs
somatic nervous system- voluntary movement
autonomic nervous system- self governing
sympathetic- flight or fight
parasympathetic- back to normal
sensory neurons- neurons that transmit action potentials from the periphery to the CNS
motor neurons- neurons that transmit action potentials from the CNS toward the periphery
enteric nervous system (ENS) is a unique subdivision of the PNS -DIGESTION
The two types of cells that make up the nervous system are neurons and glial cells.
Difference: neurons transport signals, glial do not. Glial divides, neurons do not.
Neurons receive stimuli, conduct action potentials, and transmit signals to other neurons or effector organs.
three parts to a neuron: a cell body and two types of processes, called dendrites and axons.
Types of Neurons
1. Multipolar neurons have many dendrites and a single axon
2. Bipolar neurons
3. Pseudo-unipolar neurons
Glial Cells- these cells do not conduct action potential
five types of glial cells
1. Astrocytes - major supporting cells in the CNS. -participate in forming blood-brain barrier
2. Ependymal- produce cerebrospinal fluid
3. Microglia- immune cells of the CNS. - help protect the brain by removing bacteria and cell debris
4. Oligodendrocytes (CNS) provide an insulating material that surrounds axons
5. schwann cells (Pns)

FUNCTIONAL CATEGORY

Sensory (Afferent) Neuron – Neurons that conducts impulses toward the CNS from the body periphery. Motor
(Efferent) Neuron – Neurons that conducts impulses away from the CNS to muscles and glands.
Association Neuron (Interneuron) – A neuron serving as part of the conduction pathway between sensory and
motor neurons.
Myelin sheaths are specialized layers that wrap around the axons of some neurons.
- excellent insulator that prevents almost all ion movement across the cell membrane.
Myelination of an axon increases the speed and efficiency of action potential generation along the axon
Node of Ranvier- Gaps in the myelin sheath
ION CHANNEL
Each of these channels is selective as to the type of ion (or ions) it allows to pass.
three main types of gated channels:
Gated channels are closed until opened by specific signals.
Chemically gated channels are opened by neurotransmitters or other chemicals,
voltage-gated channels are opened by a change in membrane potential.
sodium-potassium pump- stabilizes the resting membrane potential by maintaining the concentration
gradients for sodium and potassium.
- first ejects three Sodium from the cell and then transports two Potassium back into the cell.
Resting Membrane Potential
uneven charge distribution is called the resting membrane potential (-70 mV) means its polarized
generated by three main factors:
1. a higher concentration of K+ immediately inside the cell membrane
2. a higher concentration of Na+ immediately outside the cell membrane,
3. greater permeability of the cell membrane to K+ than to Na+

Generation of RMP:
Resting cell has high concentration of K and Na, since the cell membrane is not permeable to
negatively charge proteins they are isolated inside the cell membrane. (do not allow gases and
liquids to pass through)
There are more potassium leakage (leak channels) than Sodium. In resting cell, only leak
channels are open. Due to ion concentration differences, diffusion occurs. K goes out, Na goes
in.
Sodium potassium pump stabilize the rpm by maintaining the concentration gradients for
sodium and potassium (3 Na out, 2 K in)
The resting membrane potential is established when the movement of K+ out of the cell is
equal to the movement of K+ into the cell
ACTION POTENTIAL
Resting State (-70 mv)
Depolarization (+40 mv) decrease in membrane potential
Repolarization (-70 mv)
Hyperpolarization (-75 mv) increase in membrane potential
1. Autonomic Neurons 2. Sensory Motor neurons
How action potential generates:
Resting state. each active potassium channel has a single voltage-sensitive gate that is closed in the resting
state and opens slowly in response to depolarization.
Depolarization. Sodium channels open. depolarization is small, na channel closes, if large enough, Na+ enters
the cell so that the local potential reaches a threshold value.
Once a local potential reaches threshold, an all-or-none action potential is started. During the depolarization
phase, the voltage across the cell membrane changes from approximately −70 mV to approximately +20 mV.
repolarization phase, the voltage across the cell membrane returns to −70 mV. The charge reversal causes
Na+ channels to close and more K+ channels to open
brief period of hyperpolarization. . Na+ then stops entering the cell, and K+ leaves the cell
returns to its resting membrane potential. The entire process lasts 1 or 2 milliseconds (ms).
* if threshold is reached, an action potential occurs; if the threshold is not reached, no action potential occurs.
SYNAPSE
Meeting point between two neurons.
2 types –Electrical • immediate
–Chemical • Controlled and slower • Precise and selective
NEUROTRANSMITTERS