Nervous System

Ganglia

Nerve cell cluster; group of nerve cell bodies

Axon

Long slender projection of a nerve cell

Central Nervous System

Brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Cranial and peripheral nerves (everything other than brain and spinal cord)

Regeneration

Process of renewal, restoration and growth

White Matter

Contains axons that are surrounded by myelin

Grey Matter

Darker areas of the brain and spinal cord consisting mainly of nerve cell bodies

Reflex Arc

The nerve pathway involved in a reflex...The pathway is this stimulus, sensory neuron, dorsal root of spinal cord, motor neuron, and effector organ

Neurotransmitter

Chemical transmitters that help nerve impulses move through a synapse

Sensory Receptors

A sensory receptor that will respond to a stimulus

Stimulus

Something that causes a reaction

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the nervous system that controls voluntary movements like skeletal muscles

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the nervous system that controls involuntary movements like heart rate, heart beat, respirations, digestion, and smooth muscle

Action Potential

Nerve Impulse

Synapse

Permits a neuron to pass an electrical signal from one neuron to another

Sympathetic Nervous System

A major division of the autonomic nervous system that controls the "fight or flight" response, increased blood pressure and heart rate, decreased digestion, and dilation of pupils.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A major division of the autonomic nervous system that controls rest and relaxation

Afferent Neuron

Another name for a sensory neuron

Efferent Neuron

Another name for a motor neuron

Synaptic Vesicle

Store and release neurotransmitters at a synapse.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter that helps in muscle contraction

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter that gives the sensation of pleasure "natural high"

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter that functions in mood

Neuromuscular Junction

Where nervous system and muscular system meet

Hormones

A chemical that is released into the bloodstream that makes an organ of your body do something.

Neuroglia

supporting cells in the nervous system "nerve glue"

Generator Potential

When a sensory neuron is excited by some form of energy, the resulting graded potential is called a(n) ________.

Endocrine

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Exocrine

Gland that secretes its products through ducts to the surface of an organ or tissue or into a vessel

Epinephrine

Neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress. Also known as adrenaline.

Norepinephrine

Increases alertness and wakefulness