AP Psych-The Nervous System

What is the central nervous system (CNS)?

The body's primary processing and control center.

What are the main components of the central nervous system (CNS)?

The brain and the spinal cord.

What is the function of the brain in the CNS?

To integrate sensory information and direct motor responses.

What is the role of the spinal cord?

To carry incoming and outgoing messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS) do?

Gathers information and transmits CNS decisions to body parts.

What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

The self-regulated action of internal organs or glands.

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Promotes the 'rest and digest' response, calming the body.

What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?

Triggers the 'fight or flight' response, preparing the body to confront danger.

What does the somatic nervous system control?

Controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles.

What is a neuron?

The basic unit of communication in the brain and nervous system.

What is the function of dendrites?

To receive information or signals from other neurons.

What is the soma in a neuron?

The cell body that contains the nucleus.

What is the axon?

The part of a neuron that sends messages from the dendrite to the terminal buttons

What are glial cells?

Support cells for neurons that hold them together, protect them, and help produce myelin.

What is the role of terminal buttons?

To form junctions with other neurons and contain neurotransmitters.

What are sensory (afferent) neurons?

Neurons that carry information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system.

What do motor (efferent) neurons do?

They carry information from the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

What are interneurons?

Neurons located only in the CNS that process information.