Function and Organisation of the Nervous System

This set of flashcards covers the vocabulary related to the functions, organization, and cellular components of the nervous system based on the provided lecture notes.

Nervous system

The body’s control centre and communications network, including all neural tissue, which carries information and instructions from one body region to another.

Integrating

The process of decoding, analysing, and interpreting given sensory information.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The main control system of the body, consisting of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing sensory data and motor commands.

Peripheral Nervous system (PNS)

Consists of the nerve processes that connect the brain and spinal cord with receptors and effectors.

Afferent system

A division of the PNS consisting of sensory neurons that bring information from receptors in the periphery toward the CNS.

Efferent system

A division of the PNS consisting of motor neurons that convey information away from the CNS to muscles and glands.

Somatic Nervous System

A division of the efferent system consisting of neurons that conduct impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscle tissue, usually under conscious voluntary control.

Autonomic Nervous System

A division of the efferent system consisting of motor neurons from the CNS to smooth muscle tissue, cardiac muscle, and glands, usually under unconscious, involuntary control.

Sympathetic nervous system

A division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilises body systems during emergency situations, known as the 'fight, fright, flight, freeze' response.

Parasympathetic nervous system

A division of the autonomic nervous system that conserves energy and promotes non-emergency functions.

Neurons

Nervous tissue cells that convey information from one part of the body to another by electrochemical impulses.

Dendrites

The receptive regions of a neuron that receive information and are stimulated by environmental changes or the activity of other cells.

Cell Body

The biosynthetic center of the neuron that contains the nucleus and usual cell organelles and maintains the neuron.

Axon

A single long thin fibre that transmits the nerve impulse or information away from the cell body.

Terminal branches

Also known as synaptic knobs or telodendria, these are located at the end of the axon and pass information onto the next cell or effector.

Neuroglia

Support cells that attach neurons to blood vessels, produce the myelin sheath, and can carry out phagocytosis, but do not carry impulses.

Schwann Cells

A type of neuroglia cell that produces myelin.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty insulating material that surrounds some axons and speeds up the electrical impulse or action potential.

Synapse

The gap or junction between the terminal branches of one neuron and the dendrites of the other where they do not touch.