Peripheral Nervous System and Motor Output

Flashcards from lecture notes to help review for the exam.

Nerve

A bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system.

Tract

A bundle of axons in the central nervous system.

Ganglion

A group of cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.

Nucleus

A group of cell bodies in the central nervous system.

Sensory Input

Information to the central nervous system.

Motor Output

Information away from the central nervous system to effectors.

Exteroceptors

Receptors that detect things in the external environment; located at the body surface.

Baroreceptor

Receptors that detect pressure.

Mechanoreceptor

Receptors that detect stretch.

Chemoreceptor

Receptors that detect chemicals.

Osmoreceptor

Receptors that detect osmolarity (concentration).

Cholinergic

Anything associated with acetylcholine.

Cholinergic Receptor

Receptors that bind acetylcholine; two kinds, muscarinic and nicotinic.

Adrenergic

Anything associated with epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Adrenergic Receptor

Receptors that bind norepinephrine; two kinds, alpha and beta.

Somatic Motor Output

Controls movement; effectors are skeletal muscle; one efferent motor neuron from the CNS to the effector; myelinated; releases acetylcholine; voluntary control.

Autonomic Motor Output

Controls visceral cells, smooth muscle cells, and cardiac muscle cells; two motor neurons between the CNS and effectors; preganglionic and postganglionic neurons; involuntary control.

Preganglionic Neuron

The first neuron coming out of the central nervous system in the autonomic nervous system.

Postganglionic Neuron

The second neuron that synapses with the preganglionic neuron and goes to the effector in the autonomic nervous system.