biol 3410 11/7 lec

Nervous System

The system that processes sensory information and coordinates motor responses.

Sensory Information

Information that is detected by receptors and sent to the brain or spinal cord.

Motor Functions

The output from the central nervous system that produces a response at an effector.

Integration Center

Part of the central nervous system that processes sensory input and makes decisions on responses.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Comprises the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Encompasses all nervous tissue outside of the brain and spinal cord.

Afferent Pathways

Nerve pathways that carry sensory information into the central nervous system.

Efferent Pathways

Nerve pathways that carry motor commands away from the central nervous system.

Somatic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for voluntary movements and the skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for involuntary control of smooth muscles, cardiac muscles, and glands.

Enteric Nervous System

A complex network of neurons that governs the function of the gastrointestinal system.

Glial Cells

Cells in the nervous system that provide support, nourishment, and protection for neurons.

Action Potential

An electrical signal that travels along the axon of a neuron.

Resting Membrane Potential

The electrical potential of a neuron when it is not actively sending a signal.

Depolarization

The process by which a neuron's membrane potential becomes more positive during an action potential.

Hyperpolarization

The process by which a neuron's membrane potential becomes more negative than the resting potential.

Myelin

A substance that insulates axons and increases the speed of electrical signals.

Schwann Cells

Glial cells in the peripheral nervous system that wrap around axons to form myelin.

Oligodendrocytes

Glial cells in the central nervous system that produce myelin.

Astrocytes

Star-shaped glial cells that support neurons and maintain the blood-brain barrier.

Ependymal Cells

Glial cells that line the ventricles of the brain and produce cerebrospinal fluid.

Microglia

Immune cells in the brain that remove debris and defend against pathogens.