parts of CNS
brain and spinal cord
parts of PNS
cranial, spinal, and peripheral nerves
afferent neurons function
sensory and receptor neurons. Carry nerve impulse from receptors or sense organs toward CNS
efferent neurons function
motor or effector neurons that carry nerve impulses away from CNS to effectors such as muscles or glands
somatic nervous system function
regulates voluntary body movements
autonomic nervous system
regulates involuntary body movements
sympathetic nervous system
part of autonomic nervous system and stimulates fight or flight response as well as homeostasis
parasympathetic nervous system
part of autonomic nervous system and responsible for rest and digest or regulation of internal organs and glands
Neuron components
astrocyte (astroglia)
star shaped glial cell in CNS that provide mechanical/structural support
oligodendrocyte
type of neuroglia. Function is to support and insulate axons of CNS via myelin sheet
glial cells
non-neural cells that maintain homeostasis, form myelin, and provide support and protection for CNS and PNS
steps of neurotransmission
gray matter composition
mostly cellular elements: cell bodies of neurons and astroglia with dendrites covered by synapses
white matter composition
mostly axons covered by myelin sheet (oligodendrocytes)
Ectoderm is source for this tissue
2. neural
neuron cell body characteristics
dendrite characteristics
axon characteristics
synapse definition
specialized junction enabling communication between pre and postsynaptic neuron
nerve terminal characteristics
types of neurotransmitters
classic neurotransmitter
peptide neurotransmitter