Nervous System: Terminology

Effector

an organ, muscle or gland that receives the impulse from the CNS and carries out the appropriate message.

Interneuron

Nerve cells that transmit impulses between different types of nerve cells.

Motor neuron

Nerve cells that respond to messages from the brain to perform an action.

Neurotransmitter

A chemical substance that enables an electrical impulse to flow smoothly between consecutive neurons.

Receptor

A nerve cell that detects/receives the stimulus and converts it into an impulse.

(see, touch, smell, hear, taste)

Reflex

A quick involuntary, automatic action that involves the spinal cord and does NOT involve the brain.

Reflex arc

The pathway where the impulse is transmitted to cause a response to stimulus during a reflex.

Sensory neuron

Nerve cells that are activated by stimuli from the environment (five senses)

Stimulus

A physical or chemical change in the environment that requires a response from the organism.

Synapse

A gap between two consecutive neurons or between a neuron and an effector.