Nervous System - Grade 8

Neuron

The nerve cells that make up the nervous system

Central Nervous System

Brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Nerves throughout the body that send and receive messages from the central nervous system

Purpose of neurons

To transmit messages through the electrical impulses and chemical messages

Dendrite

Branches on the neuron that receive messages from other neurons

Axon

long tube-like part of a neuron which carries messages away from the cell body to the next neuron

Synapse

The space between neurons

Sensory neuron

Neurons that sense information from the environment and send it to the central nervous system.

Motor neuron

Sends messages from central nervous system to the muscles, which causes the muscles to move.

3 main parts of the nervous system

brain, spinal cord, nerves

Neuroplasticity

Explains how the brain changes, reorganizes, and makes new connections

Special nerve cells that pick up information / stimuli from inside and outside environments

Sensory receptors