CNS & PNS

Central Nervous and Peripheral Nervous Systems

What are the two main parts of the nervous system?

Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System

What does the Central Nervous System include?

The brain and the spinal cord

What does the Peripheral Nervous System include?

All the nerves outside the CNS (Cranial and Spinal Nerves)

What is the primary function of the CNS?

To process information and coordinate the body’s response

What is the primary function of the PNS?

To transmit information to and from the CNS

What is the myelin sheath?

A fatty layer that wraps around axons to insulate and speed up nerve impulses

Which cells form the myelin sheath in the CNS?

Oligodendrocytes

What are Oligodendrocytes?

Special helper cells in brain and spinal cord, its cells make up the myelin sheath

Which cells form the myelin sheath in the PNS?

Schwann cells

What is the function of the Nodes of Ranvier?

They allow electrical impulses to jump between gaps, speeding up signal transmission

What is the difference between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems?

Somatic controls voluntary actions; autonomic controls involuntary functions