essays-name
| ‘The Nervous System’ |
essays-viwe
| ‘The Nervous System’ Terminology Neurons (nur - aan): Cells part of the nervous system. Neurons send messages to and from the brain. Axon (ak - saan): The part of a nerve cell through which impulses travel away from the cell body Dendrites (den - drites): A nerve cell's protoplasmic filaments that carry impulses toward the cell body Myelin (mai - uh - luhn): The white, fatty substance forming a sheath about certain nerve fibers Neurotransmitters (nur - ow - tranz - mi - trz): A biochemical substance, such as acetylcholine or norepinephrine, that transmits or inhibits nerve impulses at a synapse Central Nervous System (sen - truhl nur - vuh si - stm): The part of your nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord Peripheral Nervous System (pr - i - fr - uhl nur - vuhs si - stm): The portion of the nervous system lying outside the brain and spinal cord. Spinal Cord (spai - nuhl kord): A thick cord of nerves inside your spine that connects your brain to nerves in all body parts. Brainstem (brayn - stem): A stalklike structure at the base of the brain that connects the spinal cord with the cerebrum and includes the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain Cerebellum (seh - ruh - beh - luhm): A part of the brain in humans and other mammals that controls the body's movements and balance. Cerebrum (sr - ee - bruhm): The largest part of the brain and is believed to control conscious and voluntary processes. Synapses (si - nap - suhz): One of the points in the nervous system at which a signal passes from one nerve cell to another. Reflex (ree - fleks): [1] A reflex or a reflex action is something that you do automatically and without thinking, as a habit or as a reaction to something; [2] A reflex or a reflex action is a normal, uncontrollable reaction of your body to something that you feel, see or experience Motor Neurons (mow - tr nur - aanz): A type of neuron that carries nerve impulses that activate a muscle, gland, etc. Sensory Neurons (sen - sr ee nur - aanz): A type of neuron that carries impulses from a sense organ to the brain or spinal cord Autonomic Nervous System (aa - tuh - naa - muhk nur - vuhs si - stm): The part of the nervous system responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions is called the autonomic nervous system. It has two main components: the sympathetic system, which prepares the body for action or emergencies, and the parasympathetic system, which promotes rest . Sympathetic Nervous System (sim - puh - theh - tik nur - vuhs si - stm): The division of the autonomic nervous system that opposes the parasympathetic system is the sympathetic nervous system. It accelerates the heartbeat, dilates the bronchi, and inhibits the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, preparing the body for "fight or flight" responses. Parasympathetic Nervous System (peh - ruh - sim - puh - theh - tik nur - vuhs si - stm): The division of the autonomic nervous system that opposes the sympathetic system is the parasympathetic nervous system. It slows the heartbeat, constricts the bronchi in the lungs, and stimulates the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, promoting "rest and digest" functions. Ganglion (gang - glee - uhn): A mass of nerve cells serving as a center from which nerve impulses are transmitted Receptor (ruh - sep - tr): Nerve endings in your body that react to changes and stimuli and make your body respond in a particular way |