Nervous Tissue Overview

Flashcards summarizing key vocabulary terms related to nervous tissue and the nervous system.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The part of the nervous system that includes all neural tissue outside the CNS.

Afferent Division

The part of the PNS that brings sensory information to the CNS via receptors.

Efferent Division

The part of the PNS that carries motor commands away from the CNS to muscles and glands.

Neurons

Cells responsible for the transfer and processing of information in the nervous system.

Neuroglia

Supporting cells in the nervous system that protect and assist neurons.

Astrocytes

A type of neuroglia in the CNS responsible for maintaining the blood-brain barrier and supporting neural tissue.

Oligodendrocytes

CNS neuroglia that form the myelin sheath around axons.

Myelin Sheath

A multilayered covering that insulates axons to increase the speed of nerve impulses.

Schwann Cells

PNS cells that myelinate axons and form the neurilemma.

Action Potential

The electrical impulse conducted along the axon of a neuron.

Synapse

The junction between an axon terminal and another cell.

Chemical Synapse

Type of synapse where neurotransmitters are released to communicate between cells.

Neuronal Pool

An organized group of neurons that work together for specific processing.

Divergence

A neural circuit that spreads stimulation to multiple neurons or pools.

Convergence

A neural circuit that receives input from multiple sources to a single neuron.

Gray Matter

Regions of the nervous system dominated by neuronal cell bodies and dendrites.

White Matter

Regions of the nervous system consisting of myelinated axons.

Interneuron

Neurons that are involved in processing information between sensory and motor pathways.