Nervous System Concepts

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the Nervous System, aiding in understanding and retention of important concepts.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The part of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the limbs and organs.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Sensory (afferent) division

The division of the peripheral nervous system that transmits sensory information to the CNS.

Motor (efferent) division

The division of the peripheral nervous system that transmits motor commands from the CNS to the muscles.

Somatic nervous system

The part of the motor division of the PNS that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

The part of the PNS that controls involuntary body functions and organs.

Sympathetic division

The part of the ANS responsible for the body's 'fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic division

The part of the ANS responsible for 'rest and digest' functions.

Proprioception

The sense that allows us to perceive the position and movement of our body parts.

Free nerve endings

Sensory receptors that respond to pain and temperature.

Meissner's corpuscles

Touch receptors sensitive to light touch and vibration.

Pacinian corpuscles

Pressure receptors located deep in the skin and tissues.

Muscle spindles

Proprioceptors that detect changes in the length of a muscle.

Ruffini endings

Slowly adapting mechanoreceptors that respond to skin stretch and joint angle.

Thalamus

A brain structure that relays sensory information to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex.

Interneuron

A neuron that transmits impulses between other neurons within the CNS.

Reflex arc

The neural pathway that mediates a reflex action.

Epineurium

The outer layer of connective tissue that surrounds a peripheral nerve.

Perineurium

The connective tissue that surrounds groups of nerve fibers (fascicles).

Endoneurium

The connective tissue that surrounds individual nerve fibers.

Wallerian degeneration

The process of degeneration of the distal part of an axon when it is cut or damaged.

Dorsal root ganglion

Cluster of sensory neuron cell bodies located in the dorsal root of a spinal nerve.