Nervous and Endocrine Systems Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and concepts from nervous and endocrine system lectures.

CNS

Central Nervous System; consists of the brain and spinal cord.

PNS

Peripheral Nervous System; divided into afferent and efferent divisions.

Neurons

Complicated branched cells consisting of a cell body, dendrites, and an axon.

Sensory Neurons

Conduct impulses from peripheral body parts into the brain or spinal cord.

Motor Neurons

Conduct impulses out of the brain or spinal cord to effectors (muscles and glands).

Interneurons

Send impulses from one part of the spinal cord or brain to another.

Neuroglia

Support cells in nervous tissue, including ependymal cells and Schwann cells.

Action Potential

A rapid change in polarity in a nerve cell that allows it to fire.

Refractory Period

Time during which a neuron is unable to fire again until it re-establishes resting potential.

Myelin

Substance that covers the axon, produced by Schwann cells or Oligodendrocytes.

Saltatory Propagation

Impulse movement along myelinated neurons from node to node.

Corpus Callosum

Flat bundle of axons connecting the two hemispheres of the brain.

Hypothalamus

Maintains homeostasis and controls the pituitary gland.

Pituitary Gland

The master endocrine gland that regulates other hormone-producing glands.

Myopia

Nearsightedness caused by elongation of the eyeball.

Hyperopia

Farsightedness caused by a shorter eyeball.

Astigmatism

Defects in the curvature of the lens or cornea causing unfocused light.

Cerebrum

Outer layer of the brain responsible for integration of sensory input.

Diencephalon

Connects the cerebrum to the brain stem and interacts with the endocrine system.

Adrenal Glands

Glands above the kidneys that produce hormones important for stress response.

Endocrine System

System of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Diabetes Type 1

Condition where the pancreas can no longer make insulin.

Diabetes Type 2

Condition where body cells don’t respond as effectively to insulin.