Nervous system

Cells

Fundamental building block of all living thing

Sensory neurons

Carry messages to the brain from senses

Motor neurons

Carry messages from the brain to the muscles

Neurons

Bundle of cells acting as an information messager

Nervous system

Network of fibres and cells that send messages throughout the body

Central Nervous System

Body’s primary command center

Peripheral Nervous System

Network of nerves and neurons that lie outside Central Control System + spinal cord

Unicellular

Living organism that is composed of only one cell

Multicellular

Living organism that is composed of more than one cell

Sympathetic Nervous System

Deal with stress, danger, or activity (Fight or flight response)

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Helps your body relax, recover, and conserve energy (Rest and digest)

Enteric Nervous System

Controls digestive system independently (Digestive system brain)

Stimuli

Any event, or change in the environment

Thermal receptor

Specialised sensory protein or cell that detects change in temperature

Hair movement receptors

Specialised sensory protein or cell that detects movement of hairs

Low threshold mechanoreceptors

Specialised sensory protein or cell that detects light touch

Depolarisation

Cellular process of a neuron becoming less negative

Repolarisation

Cellular process of a cell membrane potential returning to a negative resting state

Sensors

Detects changes in the environment

Detectors

Notices a specific type of stimulus

Transducers

Converts information to electrical pulses

Wires

Pathway that transmits electrical signals

Transistors

Switches, amplifies or control symbols

Activators

Takes information and causes an action on an organ

Threshold

Minimum number of depolarisation needed for a neuron to activate an action potential

Nerve impulse

Electrical signal that travels along a neuron to transmit information

Specialised protein channel

Membrane protein that opens and closes to let specific ions move across

Mechanoreceptors

Specialised sensory receptor that responds to mechanical pressure, stretching or disorientation

Action potential

Electric impulse

Information from receptors

Concentration gradient

Gradual change in the concentration of a substance across a distance

Chemoreceptors

Specialised sensory receptor that responds to chemical molecules

Reflex arc

Fast automatic pathway from receptor