Neuroscience: Brain Structures, Nervous Systems, and Neuron Function

Somatic nervous system

Convey information from the skin and muscles to the central nervous system.

Autonomic nervous system

Take messages to and from the body's internal organs.

Sympathetic nervous system

Fight or flight, stress response.

Parasympathetic nervous system

Calms the body.

Left hemisphere

Focuses on details, speech, step by step logic, controls right side of your body.

Right hemisphere

Focuses on big picture, face recognition, tone of voice, spatial awareness, controls left side of body.

Glial cells

Most common cell in the nervous system; keeps neurons running smoothly.

Neurons structure

Dendrites receive information, move it to neuron cell body.

Cell body

Contains nucleus, deals with growth and maintenance.

Axon

Carries information away from cell body toward other cells.

Myelin sheath

Encases and insulates most axons.

Resting potential

The stable negative charge in an inactive neuron.

Action potential

Brief wave of positive charge going down the axon.