Central Nervous System

One of two major branches of the nervous system. Main organs: Brain and Spinal Cord

Peripheral Nervous System

One of two major branches of the nervous system. Main organs: sensory receptors and ganglia

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the peripheral nervous system. Things you consciously control

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the peripheral nervous system. Things that are involuntary

Sympathetic nervous system

Part of the autonomic nervous system. Fight or flight mode. Uses adrenaline

Parasympathetic nervous system

Part of the autonomic nervous system. Rest and digest

Cerebrospinal Fluid

A layer of protection of the nervous system. Liquid that acts like a cushion. Made in the ventricles

Meninges

A layer of protection of the nervous system. Membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Three types.

Bone

A layer of protection of the nervous system.

Dura Mater

The outermost meninge. Tough mother

Arachnoid

The middle meninge. Looks like a spider web

Pia mater

The innermost meninge. Delicate mother. The layer that is actually on the surface of the brain and spinal cord.

Neuron

Nerve cell.

Neuroglial cells

Support cells that make up 90% of the brain and spinal cord.

Axon

The tail of a neuron. It carries an impulse away from the cell body.

Dendrite

The parts of the neuron that brings information to the cell body. Neurons have multiple dendrites.

Cell body

The major part of the neuron that does the processing. It can't divide.

Schwann cells

Neuroglial cells that wrap around the axon. This allows for saltatory conduction

Node of Ranvier

The gap between schwann cells on a myelinated neuron.

Saltatory Conduction

The process where an impulse jumps from one node of ranvier to the other to send an impulse quickly

Myelinated fibers

Neurons that have schwann cells. White matter of the brain

Unmyelinated fibers

Neurons that lack schwann cells. Gray matter of the brain.

The functions of the nervous system

Sensory, Integrative, and Motor