Hole's Anatomy and Physiology Chapter 10

The nervous system is divided into the peripheral nervous system, and the central nervous system.

The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord.

The peripheral nervous system consists of all of the nerves that extend to outlying parts of the body, includes spinal and cranial nerves.

Nervous system general functions: Sensory function, Integrative function, and Motor function.

The 'sensory function' of the nervous system consists of sensory receptors and the ends of peripheral neurons the detect changes in the external or internal environment and convert that information in the form of impulses and are transmitted to the CNS.

The integrative function is used when the signals reach the CNS and are immediately used and/or stored in memory------->makes a decision------>decision sent by means of motor function.

The motor function is used to carry impulses from the CNS to effectors.

The two types of nervous tissue and their functions: 1. Neurons - transmit impulses 2. Neuroglia - supportive accessory cells.

The cell body of a neuron contains the nucleus and other organelles and may serve as a receptor surface for other neurons to communicate with.

The chromatophilic substance consist of rough endoplasmic reticulum and is the site of protein synthesis.

Neurons do not reproduce because they lack centrioles, important components of mitosis.

Dendrites are projections for the cell body that carry signals from presynaptic neurons toward the cell body.

An axon serves to conduct impulses away from the body.

The general direction of an impulse: Dendrite----> Cell body----> Axon----> Nerve terminals.

A synapse is the junction betweentwo neurons where the action potential in the pre-synaptic neuron influences the membrane potential of the post-synaptic neuron by release of a neurotransmitter.