nervous system

NERVOUS SYSTEM MCGONIGLE Intro to Psychology

Nervous System  Made

up of the spinal cord and the brain

 Neurons

: Nerve cell – the neurons transmit messages to the spinal cord and to the brain. ( knee reflex)

3

types of neurons.

Types of Neurons  Sensory  Motor

Neurons

Neurons

 Interneurons

neurons.

– found between other

Dendrite  Branches

that extend from the cell body to most neurons.

 Receive

information and transmit impulses toward the cell body. (hot stove/step on a nail)

Cell Body of Nucleus  Cell

Body: Contains nucleus, control center of the cell.  Regulates production of protein within the cell.  Neurons

– limited ability to repair damaged cells. (Pat’s story)

Axons  Long

tubelike structure attached to a neuron

 Transmits

impulses away from cell body + toward another neuron, muscle cell or gland.

Spinal Cord  Long

column of nerve tissue about as thick as your index finger.

 Generally

speaking – 18” long (c shaped)  Vertebra - bones that make up back (6 C)  Connective tissue- spinal meninge – help protect spinal cord.

Brain  Cerebrum:

largest and most complex part of the brain.

 Billions

of neurons– conscious thought, learning, memory ( long + short)

 Brain

cells – do not reproduce

Left Hemisphere  Right

side of the body

 Language  Thinking  Reasoning

 Analyzing

Right Hemisphere  Music

Talents ( singing/ playing instruments)

 Art

( painting/ drawing)

 Spatial

Relationships ( Maps/ Graphs)

4 Lobes of the Brain  Frontal

Lobe

 Parietal

Lobe

 Occipital

Lobe

 Temporal

Lobe

Frontal Lobe  All

voluntary movements ( hand/eye coordination)

 Use

of language – foreign languages.

Parietal Lobe  Sensory  Heat  Cold  Pain

 Touch

Information :

Occipital Lobe  Vision

– eyes-

 Optic

nerve

 Do

we see w/ our eyes or brain?

Temporal Lobe  Hearing

+ Smell (connected- memory)

 Memory  Thought  Judgment

Cerebellum  2nd

largest part of the brain.

 Coordinates

movement of skeletal muscles (jock/nerd)  Receives messages from sensory neurons in the inner ear.  Maintains body posture + balance.

Brain Stem  3”

stalk of nerve cells and fibers that connect spinal cord to the rest of the brain.

 Incoming

and outgoing messages pass through the brain stem.

Medulla Oblongata  Lowest

part of the brain stem

 Regulates  Reflexes:

heartbeat + respiratory rates

coughing, sneezing, vomiting

Pons  1”

in length

 Above

the medulla

 Pathway-

connects nerve impulses to other parts of the brain.  Helps regulate breathing.

Midbrain

 Highest

part of the brain stem

 Controls  Turning

eyeball movement and pupil size

your head at an unexpected noise

Thalamus  Page

60 in textbook  Important Relay center for incoming impulses ( nail/ hot stove)  Receive

 Above

info from eyes and ears.

the hypothalamus..

Hypothalamus  Controls

and balances body processes to regulate: ( means under the thalamus)

 Body

temp (sweat)  Appetite  Regulate Sleep  Pituitary Glands

Hypothalamus controls  Metabolism  Sexual

(discuss disturbances)

Development (behavior)

 Emotional

Responses (aggression)

Peripheral Nervous System  Consists

of all nerves that are not part of the Central Nervous System

 Carries

messages between CNS and the rest of the body

2

Parts: Autonomic + Somatic

Autonomic Nervous System  Consists

of Network of nerves divided into 2 smaller networks.

 “Fight/Flight

 Reflex-

responses”

spontaneous response of body to stimulus.

Somatic Nervous System  Sensory  Relay

messages from receptors to:

 Eyes  Ears  Nose  Tongue  Skin

Neurons

Parasympathetic Nervous System  During

rest and relaxation

 Opposes  Slows

actions of sympathetic system

down body functions: heartbeat, lowers blood pressure, opens blood vessels.

Vocab Quiz on Thursday  From

Central Nervous System to the Pons

 Terms

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