The Nervous System

How do messages travel from neuron to neuron?

A neuron receives an electrical signal called an impulse. Impulses are passed from neuron to neuron until they reach their final destination. Messages in neurons travel through a myelin sheath in the axon which acts like an insulator for the electrical impulse to move smoothly down until it reaches it's ready to reach the next nerve cell in line. Nerves don't touch, so in between the axon terminals there is a gap called a synapse. Any message that travels down the neuron needs to jump the gap using special chemicals called neurotransmitters.

What is the job of nerves?

Nerves are bundles of axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that act as information highways to carry signals between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body.

What is the main way the CNS and PNS work together in the nervous system?

The CNS and PNS work together to respond to stimuli in your surrondings through the five senses.

What makes up the CNS? What is the role of the CNS in the nervous system?

The CNS includes the spinal cord and the brain. The CNS is responsible for integrating sensory information and responding accordingly. It also controls simple musculoskeletal reflexes without input from the brain.

What makes up the PNS? What is the role of the PNS in the nervous system?

The PNS includes all nerves branching from CNS to body. The primary role of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the organs, limbs, and skin. It also is responsible for conveying motor commands to all voluntary striated muscles in the body, carrying sensory information about the external world and the body to the brain and spinal cord, and regulating autonomic functions such as blood pressure or sweating.

What is the job of the pituitary and where is it located?

The Pituitary is known as the "master gland" and regulates how your other glands operate. This pituitary gland secretes and stores hormones, which it uses to stimulate your other glands. Hormones regulate your body's temperature, urine production, growth, and the production of sex hormones. The tie looking thing that extends down from the optic tract.

What are the 4 different parts of the brain?

The brain has four parts: the hemispheres, the lobes, the cerebellum, and the brain stem.

What is the job of the brain?

The brain is the most complex part of the human body. It is the center of consciousness and also controls all voluntary and involuntary movement and bodily functions. The brain is a group of special cells that send electrical signals to the rest of the body through the central nervous system.

What is the job of the brain stem? List the eight different parts.

The brain stem has eight parts: thalamus, optic nerve, optic tract, pituitary, midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata, and the spinal cord. The brain stem serves a critical role in regulating certain involuntary actions of the body, including heartbeat and breathing. It is the stem looking thing that is under the cerebellum.

What is the job of the cerebellum?

The cerebellum performs everyday voluntary (movements you choose to carry out) tasks such as walking and writing. Helps us stay balanced and upright along with coordinating our muscles. The cerebellum folds over the brain stem and is under the left and right hemisphere.

What is the job of the frontal lobe and where is it located?

The frontal is top part of the hemispheres and is responsible for cognotive functions and voluntary movement.

What is the job of the hemispheres?

The hemispheres are two symmetrical parts equal, the right and the left. Both of them are equal in size. The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body. The corpus callosum allows the two sides of the brain to communicate with each other.

What is the job of the medulla oblongata and where is it located?

The medulla oblongata maintains involuntary body functions necessary for life such as breathing, swallowing, blood pressure, and heart rate. The top part of the bottom of the stem.

What is the job of the midbrain and where is it located?

The midbrain regulates body movement, vision, and hearing. The two lined rectangles that run underneath the optic tract.

What is the purpose/job of the nervous system?

The nervous system is the major controlling, regulatory, and communicating system in the body. It is the center of all mental activity including thought, learning, and memory. The nervous system is responsible for regulating and maintaining homeostasis, regulaing body functions through stimulus & response. The nervous system's job is to receive and respond to information from inside and outside the body.

What is the job of the occipital lobe and where is it located?

The occipital is the bottom middle part of the hemispheres and is responsible primarily for vision.

What is the job of the optic nerve and where is it located?

The optic nerve transfers visual information form the retina in the eye to the vision centers of the brain. They are connected to the optic tract and look like macaroni.

What is the job of the optic tract and where is it located?

The optic tract is part of the optic nerve found where the nerves of the left eye and right eye cross to create a complete picture. Located under the optic nerve and extends across the stem.

What is the job of the parietal lobe and where is it located?

The parietal is the middle section of the hemispheres and processes information about temperature, taste, touch, and movement.

How does our nervous system responds to various stimuli (sensory - vision, hearing, smell/taste, touch)?

The peripheral nervous system includes a large system of nerves that are linked to the brain and spinal cord. It is comprised of sensory receptors, which process changes in internal and external stimuli and communicate that information to the CNS. Both of these systems within the PNS work together with the CNS to regulate bodily function and provide reactions to external stimuli. The PNS provides the connection between internal or external stimuli and the central nervous system to allow the body to respond to its environment.

What is the job of the pons and where is it located?

The pons link to the cerebellum to help with posture and movement. The pons serve as a message station between several areas of the brain. It helps relay messages from the cortex and the cerebellim. Controls our sleeping states and dreams. The part of the brain stem that looks like it connects the two different parts.

What does the ruler lab show us about the nervous system?

The ruler lab shows us that it is easier for the nervous system to react faster when it is focused. It also shows us how long it takes the nervous system to see the ruler drop and then react to it by closing their fingers.

What is the job of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord is a complex organization of nerve cells responsible for movement and sensation. The spinal cord links the brain with body nerves and it controls reflexes. It is protected by vertebrae. It carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body. The spinal cord connects with all the muscles in the body and allows them to move.

What is the job of the spinal cord in the brain stem and where is it located?

The spinal cord is a long, thin bundle of nervous tissue that extends from the brain. Makes up part of the CNS. It transmits signals between the brain and rest of the body. By itself, it can control numerous reflexes. The bottom part of the bottom of the stem.

What is the job of the temporal lobe and where is it located?

The temporal is the bottom left/right part of the hemispheres that processes memories and integrates them with the five senses.

What is the job of the thalamus and where is it located?

The thalamus is involved in sensory perception controlling sleep and awake states of consciousness. It also regulates movement. Located at the top right and top left part of the brain stem and is large with no color

What are the three main components of the nervous system?

The three main components of the nervous system are the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

What are the three main parts of the neuron, where are they located, and what are their jobs?

The three main parts of the neuron are dendrites, the cell body, and the axon. Dendrites deliver impulses to the cell body. They are the branch looking things that surrond the cell body. The cell body contains nucleus and organelles. The cell body is the circle shape that is inside of the dendrites. The axon carries impulse away from cell body. The axon is the tail looking thing that veers away from the cell body and dendrites.

What are the two main branches of the nervous system?

The two main branches of the nervous system are the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

What are the four parts of the lobes?

There are four parts of the lobes the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.