Nervous and Special Senses System Overview

Flashcards for important vocabulary and concepts related to the autonomic nervous system and special senses.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary actions in the body, such as heart rate and digestion.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for 'rest and digest' functions.

Ganglion

A collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.

Preganglionic Neuron

A neuron that transmits signals from the spinal cord to a ganglion.

Postganglionic Neuron

A neuron that transmits signals from a ganglion to the target organ.

Olfactory Nerve (Cranial Nerve I)

Responsible for the sense of smell.

Optic Nerve (Cranial Nerve II)

Responsible for transmitting visual information from the eyes.

Oculomotor Nerve (Cranial Nerve III)

Controls most eye movements and pupil constriction.

Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve V)

Responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions such as biting and chewing.

Vagus Nerve (Cranial Nerve X)

Involved in parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.

Retina

Layer in the eye containing photoreceptors for vision.

Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the conjunctiva, commonly known as pink eye.

Astigmatism

A condition where the cornea is not perfectly round, leading to blurred vision.

Macula

A small central area of the retina responsible for sharp vision.

Cataracts

Clouding of the lens of the eye, affecting vision.

Accommodation

The ability of the eye to change focus from distant to near objects.

Referred Pain

Pain perceived in a location other than where the pain originates.