Study Guide for BSC2085C Anatomy Physiology I

A collection of flashcards based on the key concepts and vocabulary from the study guide for the BSC2085C Anatomy Physiology I course.

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

Controls voluntary movements and skeletal muscle.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

The neurotransmitter used at the neuromuscular junction in the somatic nervous system.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Controls involuntary functions and effectors including cardiac and smooth muscle.

Dual Innervation

The concept that sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions often have opposing effects on the same organ.

Sympathetic Division

Part of the ANS responsible for 'fight-or-flight' responses.

Parasympathetic Division

Part of the ANS responsible for 'rest-and-digest' functions.

Visceral Sensory Input

Sensory signals received from internal organs by the ANS.

Receptive Field

The area monitored by a single sensory receptor.

Adaptation

Decreased sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time.

Chemoreceptors

Detect chemicals such as taste and smell.

Photoreceptors

Detect light; include rods for dim light and cones for color vision.

Hearing Sequence

The process of sound traveling through the ear: tympanic membrane vibrates → ossicles vibrate → pressure waves in cochlea.

Ossicles

Small bones in the ear that amplify sound waves.

Presbyopia

Difficulty seeing near objects due to loss of lens elasticity with aging.

Fovea Centralis

The area in the retina responsible for sharpest vision.

Tonic receptors

Sensory receptors that adapt slowly to constant stimuli.

Phasic receptors

Sensory receptors that adapt quickly to constant stimuli.

Nervous System Divisions

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and transmitting information.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Includes all nervous tissue outside the CNS and connects the CNS to the limbs and organs.

Neuromuscular Junction

The site where a motor neuron communicates with a muscle fiber to elicit contraction.

Reflex Arc

The neural pathway that mediates a reflex action, involving sensory input and motor output.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty layer that surrounds and insulates the axon of some neurons, speeding up signal transmission.

Synaptic Transmission

The process by which neurotransmitters are released from one neuron and bind to receptors on another.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.

Skeletal Muscle Function

Skeletal muscles facilitate movement by contracting and pulling on bones at joints.

Autonomic Nervous System Control

The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate and digestion.

Somatic Reflexes

 Reflex actions controlled by the somatic nervous system that involve skeletal muscles and are voluntary.

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the nervous system to change and adapt in response to experience or injury.

Action Potential

A rapid change in membrane potential that occurs when a neuron is activated, leading to the transmission of a signal.

Sensory Receptors

Specialized cells that detect environmental changes and convert them into electrical signals for the nervous system.

Homeostasis and the Nervous System

The nervous system plays a critical role in maintaining homeostasis by regulating physiological processes.

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

Controls voluntary movements and skeletal muscle.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

The neurotransmitter used at the neuromuscular junction in the somatic nervous system.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Controls involuntary functions and effectors including cardiac and smooth muscle.

Dual Innervation

The concept that sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions often have opposing effects on the same organ.

Sympathetic Division

Part of the ANS responsible for 'fight-or-flight' responses.

Parasympathetic Division

Part of the ANS responsible for 'rest-and-digest' functions.

Visceral Sensory Input

Sensory signals received from internal organs by the ANS.

Receptive Field

The area monitored by a single sensory receptor.

Adaptation

Decreased sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time.

Chemoreceptors

Detect chemicals such as taste and smell.

Photoreceptors

Detect light; include rods for dim light and cones for color vision.

Hearing Sequence

The process of sound traveling through the ear: tympanic membrane vibrates → ossicles vibrate → pressure waves in cochlea.

Ossicles

Small bones in the ear that amplify sound waves.

Presbyopia

Difficulty seeing near objects due to loss of lens elasticity with aging.

Fovea Centralis

The area in the retina responsible for sharpest vision.

Tonic receptors

Sensory receptors that adapt slowly to constant stimuli.

Phasic receptors

Sensory receptors that adapt quickly to constant stimuli.

Nervous System Divisions

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and transmitting information.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Includes all nervous tissue outside the CNS and connects the CNS to the limbs and organs.

Neuromuscular Junction

The site where a motor neuron communicates with a muscle fiber to elicit contraction.

Reflex Arc

The neural pathway that mediates a reflex action, involving sensory input and motor output.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty layer that surrounds and insulates the axon of some neurons, speeding up signal transmission.

Synaptic Transmission

The process by which neurotransmitters are released from one neuron and bind to receptors on another.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.

Skeletal Muscle Function

Skeletal muscles facilitate movement by contracting and pulling on bones at joints.

Autonomic Nervous System Control

The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate and digestion.

Somatic Reflexes

Reflex actions controlled by the somatic nervous system that involve skeletal muscles and are voluntary.

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the nervous system to change and adapt in response to experience or injury.

Action Potential

A rapid change in membrane potential that occurs when a neuron is activated, leading to the transmission of a signal.

Sensory Receptors

Specialized cells that detect environmental changes and convert them into electrical signals for the nervous system.

Homeostasis and the Nervous System

The nervous system plays a critical role in maintaining homeostasis by regulating physiological processes.

Reflex Testing

A clinical procedure that evaluates the integrity of the nervous system by assessing reflex responses.