Nervous System: Sensory Pathways

A collection of vocabulary flashcards summarizing the key concepts related to the nervous system's sensory pathways.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Includes the brain and spinal cord, serving as integrative and control centers.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Includes cranial nerves and spinal nerves, which serve as communication lines between the CNS and the rest of the body.

Sensory Division (Afferent)

Conducts impulses from receptors to the CNS.

Motor Division (Efferent)

Conducts impulses from the CNS to effectors like muscles and glands.

Visceral Motor (Autonomic Nervous System)

Conducts impulses from the CNS to cardiac muscles, smooth muscles, and glands, involuntarily.

Somatic Motor (Somatic Nervous System)

Conducts impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscles, voluntarily.

Exteroceptors

Sensory receptors that detect external stimuli from outside the body.

Proprioceptors

Sensory receptors that detect stretch and movement within muscles, tendons, and joints.

Interoceptors

Sensory receptors that detect changes inside the body.

Nociceptors

Receptors that detect harmful stimuli or tissue damage, associated with pain.

Thermoreceptors

Receptors that detect temperature changes.

Pain Pathways

Includes fast pain (sharp, well-localized) and slow pain (dull, poorly localized); involves pathways to the thalamus and somatosensory cortex.

Ascending Pathways

Pathways transmitting sensory information to the CNS.

Descending Pathways

Pathways transmitting responses from the CNS to the body.

Analgesia Center

Part of the brainstem that inhibits the transmission of pain impulses.

Referred Pain

Pain felt in a location different from the source, often due to shared nerve pathways.

Somatosensory Cortex

Part of the brain that processes sensory information from the body.