Chapter 12: Nervous Tissue

Flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 12 on Nervous Tissue, essential for understanding the nervous system and related disorders.

Nervous System

The system that is the foundation of our conscious experience, personality, and behavior, combining the behavioral and life sciences.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Composed of the brain and spinal cord, which are enclosed by the cranium and vertebral column.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Consists of all nervous system elements outside of the CNS, including nerves and ganglia.

Afferent Division (Sensory)

Carries signals from receptors to the CNS.

Efferent Division (Motor)

Carries signals from the CNS to muscles and glands.

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that controls voluntary movement by innervating skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that controls involuntary activities, and is subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Neurons

Specialized cells that transmit nerve impulses; consist of soma, dendrites, and axons.

Neuroglia

Supportive cells in the nervous system that protect neurons and assist in their functions.

Myelin Sheath

Insulation around a nerve fiber formed by glial cells, which speeds up signal conduction.

Action Potential

A dramatic change in membrane polarity produced by voltage-gated ion channels during nerve signal transmission.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where neurotransmitter molecules are released and received.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers released at synaptic terminals that bind to receptors on other neurons, altering their physiology.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A neurological disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline linked to deficiencies in acetylcholine and nerve growth factors.

Parkinson’s Disease

A progressive neurological disorder that leads to motor function loss due to degeneration of dopamine-releasing neurons.

Resting Membrane Potential (RMP)

The electrical potential difference across the membrane of a neuron at rest, typically around -70 mV.

Local Potentials

Changes in membrane potential that are localized to the area of stimulation and can be excitatory or inhibitory.

Summation

The process of adding together postsynaptic potentials to determine whether a neuron will fire an action potential.