nervous system-Anatomy

What are the 3 main functions of the nervous system?

Sensory input, integration (processing), motor response.

What is sensory input?

Detecting stimuli like touch, pain, temperature, smell, taste, hearing, and vision.

What part of the neuron receives signals?

Dendrites.

What part of the neuron sends signals away?

Axon.

What is a synapse?

The gap between neurons where signals are transmitted.

What are glial (neuroglia) cells?

Support cells that protect, nourish, and maintain neurons.

What do astrocytes do?

Help form the blood-brain barrier and support neurons.

Which cells make myelin in the CNS?

Oligodendrocytes.

Which cells make myelin in the PNS?

Schwann cells.

What do microglia do?

Act as immune cells that clean up debris (phagocytosis).

What is the CNS?

Brain and spinal cord.

What is the PNS?

All nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

What does afferent mean?

Sensory information going TO the CNS.

What does efferent mean?

Motor information leaving the CNS.

What is the somatic nervous system?

Voluntary control of skeletal muscles.

What is the autonomic nervous system?

Involuntary control of organs, glands, and muscles.

What does the sympathetic division do?

Fight or flight (stress mode).

What does the parasympathetic division do?

Rest and digest (calm mode).

What does the frontal lobe control?

Thinking, personality, emotions, movement, decision-making, speech.

What does the parietal lobe control?

Touch and sensory information.

What does the temporal lobe control?

Hearing, memory, language, emotions.

What does the occipital lobe control?

Vision.

What is the cerebrum?

The main part of the brain responsible for thinking, memory, and voluntary actions.

What does the cerebellum do?

Controls coordination, balance, and movement.

What does the brainstem control?

Breathing, heart rate, sleep, and basic life functions.

What separates the right and left hemispheres?

Longitudinal fissure.

Difference between gray matter and white matter?

Gray matter = neuron cell bodies

White matter = axons and myeli

What are gyri and sulci?

Gyri = ridges

Sulci = grooves

What is the corpus callosum?

The largest white matter tract connecting the left and right hemispheres.

What is the insula?

Part of the cerebral cortex involved in pain, emotions, and body awareness.

What is the amygdala?

Processes emotions, controls fight-or-flight, and forms emotional memories.

What does the thalamus do?

Relay center for sensory information; involved in movement and consciousness.

What does the hypothalamus control?

Body temperature, hunger, thirst, mood, sex drive, blood pressure, and sleep.