• some neurotransmitters can be categorized as generally excitatory (glutamate) or generally inhibitory (GABA)

damage to neurons

• multiple sclerosis (ms)

  • affects neurons by damaging myelin sheath

  • damage disrupts efficient transmission of electrical impulses along nerve cells, leading to a variety of neurological symptoms

• myasthenia gravis (mg)

  • an autoimmune disorder than impacts communication btwn neurons & muscles

  • autoimmune attack on acetyl choline

  • brain & body are not connected

the nervous system

• central nervous system (CNS)

  • brain

    • neural center of body & body’s control center

  • spine

    • super highway of nerves & body’s way of transmitting messages to & from brain

  • center of body

• peripheral nervous system (PNS)

  • sensory & motor neurons that connect CNS to rest of body

  • autonomic nervous system

    • controls involuntary functions (breathing, heartbeat, etc)

    • sympathetic

      • physically arouses body

      • fight or flight

    • parasympathetic

      • calms

      • rest & digest

  • somatic nervous system

    • voluntary mvmnts that we control (run, jump, etc)

types of neurons

• sensory neurons

  • carry incoming messages/info from sense receptors to CNS

• interneurons

  • the only neurons in CNS & act as messengers btwn sensory & motor neurons

  • ex: touching hot stove

• motor neurons

  • carry outgoing info from CNS to PNS & muscles

• reflex arc

  • demonstrates how neurons w/i central & peripheral nervous systems work together to stimuli

  • 3 types of neurons work together in spinal cord to create a reflex arc: sensory neurons, motor neurons, & interneurons