Term | Definition |
Central Nervous System | (CNS) Consists of the brain and spinal cord. It integrare and co-ordinates all of the incoming neural messages. |
Brain | Is the command centre for all the conscious and unconscious activity |
Spinal Cord | the spinal cord has two functions, to pass information to the brain from the body and vise-versa |
Spinal (withdrawal) reflex | When the information is processed in the spinal cord rather the brain for a quicker response often occurs when pain is sensed. |
Peripheral Nervous System | (PNS) Consists of the neurons in the outer parts of the body. It's purpose is to communicate information from the body's organs, glands and muscles to the CNS and to communicate information from the CNS to the body's organs, glands and muscles. |
Autonomic Nervous System | Think 'automatic'. Consists of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. Responsic |
Somatic Nervous System | Think 'skeletal'. Consists of motor and sensory neurons. Responsible of all voluntary movement of skeletal muscles. |
Sympathetic Nervous System | Fight-Flight response. Becomes active when the body perceives itself to be in danger or stress. |
Parasympathetic Nervous System | THink 'parachute' Maintains automatic functions eg. breathing and digestion and restores the body back to normal. |
Neuron | Are the cells in the human brain. Also found throughout the rest of the body. |
Dendrite | The dendrite of a neuron recieves the neural messages from other neurons. |
Soma | The soma is the cell body. It is the structure that determines whether the neural message will be passed on. |
Axon | The axon is the tube like structure that transmits the information from the soma throughout the neuron. |
Axon terminals | Branches on the end of the axon. |
Myelin Sheath | The white fatty covering that helps to insulate the axon to help deliver messages quicker. |
Synapse | The gap between one neuron's terminal button and another neuron's dendrites. |
Synaptic gap | The gap between one neuron's terminal button and another neuron's dendrites. |
Grey matter | Is the tissue that holds the cell bodies, dendrites and axon terminals of neurons it is where the synapse is. |
White matter | Is made up of axons connecting the grey matter to each other. |
Sensory neurons | Carry sensory information from sense organs to the CNS |
Motor neurons | Carry messages from the CNS to the skeletal muscles, enabling them to move. |
Interneurons | These act as a link between the sensory and motor neurons. They are in the CNS. |
Glial cells | Provide insulation, nutrients and support for the function and repair of the neuron. |
Astrocytes | •Glial cells• star shaped cells and the most numerous glial cells they hold neurons in place and regulate the blood for to neurons. they secrete chemicals to repair neurons & keep neurons healthy. |
Microglia | •Glial cells• extremely small and only found in the brain. Act as immune cells, protecting the neurons and devouring invaders - pacman- also aid in repair and act as garbage collecting removing remains of dead neurons. |
Oligodendroglia | •glial cells• insulate by forming and maintaining the myelin sheath. Also absorbs chemicals that they neuron secretes and vise-versa. |
Shwann Cells | •Glial cells• very similar to oligodendroglia but instead of being in the CNS they are in the PNS. form and maintain myelin sheath. |