Nervous System

Describe the Central Nervous System

The central nervous system consist of the brain and spinal cord. Acts as the central command for all communication and actions of the body

Describe the Peripheral Nervous System

Includes all of the nerves and ganglia that branch out from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. Allowing signals sent by the brain to reach their target destination in the body

What happens when a stimulus is processed in the CNS?

the peripheral motor nerves send efferent impulses to both the somatic and autonomic division to carry out a response

Describe the somatic division

The somatic division is voluntary, meaning we have control. For example, walking and talking

Describe the autonomic division

The autonomic or visceral division is involuntary, meaning we cannot control it. For example, heart rate and breathing

Describe afferent (sensory) neurons

Conduct impulses from sensory receptors to the CNS about sensory information (touch, smell, and pain)

Describe efferent (motor) neurons

Send messages to muscle, can be autonomic or somatic.

Describe the axon

a nerve fiber that carries a nerve impulse away from the neuron cell body

Describe the dendrite

a nerve fiber that carries a nerve impulse towards the neuron cell body

Describe the synapse

The structure that allows neurons to pass signals to other neurons, muscles, or glands