NASM Chapter 5- Nervous System

human movement system

The collective components and structures that work together to move the body: muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems.

kinetic chain

A concept that describes the human body as a chain of interdependent links that work together to perform movement.

nervous system

A network of specialized cells called neurons that transmit and coordinate signals, providing a communication network within the human body.

neurons

Specialized cell that is the functional unit of the nervous system.

cervical spine

purple

thoracic spine

orange

lumbar spine

red

hip joints

blue

knee joints

yellow

ankle joints

green

nucleus

purple (neuron)

dendrites

black (neuron)

axon

orange (neuron)

node

blue (neurson)

neurolemma

pink (neuron)

myelin sheath

light green (neuron)

synaptic terminals

dark green (neuron)

enlargements

area that becomes wider because there are more neurons and nerve fibers there

cervical enlargement

supplies the arms and hands

lumbar enlargement

supplies the legs and feet

sensory, motor, and interneurons

three types of neurons

nucleus

Cellular structure or organelle that contains the majority of the cell’s genetic material in the form of chromosomes.

organelles

Tiny cellular structures that perform specific functions within a cell. Examples include nuclei, mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum.

mitochondria

The parts of the cell that use nutrients to create energy for the cell; commonly known as the powerhouses of the cell.

effector sites

A part of the body, such as a muscle or organ, that receives a signal from a neuron to produce a physiological response.

electrolytes

Minerals that have an electrical charge to help transmit nerve impulses throughout the body, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

magnesium, sodium, potassium, and water

4 types of electrolytes

central nervous system

A division of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

peripheral nervous system

Nerves that connect the rest of the body to the central nervous system.

afferent pathway

Sensory pathway that relays information to the central nervous system.

cell body, axon, and dendrites

3 parts of neuron

brain

black

brain stem

red

cervical nerves (c1-8)

dark green

cervical enlargement

dark purple

spinal cord

light purple

thoracic nerves (t1-12)

blue

lumbar enlargement

pink

lumbar nerves (L1-5)

light green

sacral nerves (S1-5)

orange

coccygeal nerve

yellow

CNS

gray

brain

black

central nervous system

red

spinal nerves

orange

cranial nerves

green

peripheral nervous system

pink

efferent pathway

A motor pathway that relays information from the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

interneurons

Neurons located within the spinal cord and brain that transmit impulses between afferent and efferent neurons.

mechanoreceptors

Specialized structures that respond to mechanical forces (touch and pressure) within tissues and then transmit signals through sensory nerves.

somatic nervous system

Nerves that serve the outer areas of the body and skeletal muscle and are largely responsible for the voluntary control of movement.

receptor

one

afferent or sensory nerve

two

integration center

three

efferent or motor nerve

four

autonomic nervous system

A division of the peripheral nervous system that supplies neural input to organs that run the involuntary processes of the body (e.g., circulating blood, digesting food, producing hormones).

sympathetic nervous system

Subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that works to increase neural activity and put the body in a heightened state.

parasympathetic nervous system

Subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that works to decrease neural activity and put the body in a more relaxed state.

sensory function

Ability of the nervous system to sense changes in either the internal or external environment.

proprioception

The body’s ability to naturally sense its general orientation and relative position of its parts.

integrative function

The ability of the nervous system to analyze and interpret the sensory information to allow for proper decision-making, which produces an appropriate response.

motor function

The neuromuscular (or nervous and muscular systems) response to the integrated sensory information.

muscle spindles

Sensory receptors sensitive to change in length of the muscle and the rate of that change.

stretch reflex

Neurological signal from the muscle spindle that causes a muscle to contract to prevent excessive lengthening.

spinal cord

green

sensory nerve

purple

muscle spindle

pink

motor nerve

orange

golgi tendon organ (GTO)

A specialized sensory receptor located at the point where skeletal muscle fibers insert into the tendons of skeletal muscle; sensitive to changes in muscular tension and rate of tension change.

joint receptors

Receptors located in and around the joint capsule that respond to pressure, acceleration, and deceleration of the joint.

neuroplasticity

The concept that the brain will continually change or grow, reforming neural pathways throughout an individual’s entire life span.

neurocircuitry

The interconnection of neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

motor skills

Specific movements through the coordinated effort of the sensory and motor subsystems.

brain stem

what structure regulates breathing?

brain

which structure is center or coordination and nervous system activity?

spinal cord

which structure connects the brain to all other parts of the body?