Basics of the Nervous System

Which are part of the central nervous system (CNS)?

• brain

• spinal cord

• spinal nerves

• cranial nerves (that run mostly to the head and neck)

• peripheral nerves (that run to and from skin, muscles, glands, etc.)

What is the formal term for a nerve cell that conducts electrochemical signals through the body?

• synapse

• neurotransmitter

• neuron

• vesicle

Which is the receiving end of the nerve cell, that receives signals from other neurons? (the listener)

• cell body

• terminal end fiber

• dendrite

• axon

Which is the part of the nervous system that controls unconscious bodily functions? (i.e. breathing, digestion, heart rate)

• autonomic nervous system

• somatic nervous system

The sympathetic nervous system controls unconscious bodily functions involved in our:

• rest and digest functions

• fight or flight response

Largest part of the neuron that contains the nucleus

• axon

• cell body (aka soma)

• synapse

• dendrites

Carries messages away from the cell body of a neuron (the talker)

• nucleus

• axon

• dendrite

• neuron

Sends messages from your brain and spinal cord to muscle cells

• sensory neuron
• inter neuron
• motor neuron
• reflex

Nervous system that consists of a network of nerves branching out from the central nervous system

• voluntary
• central
• peripheral
• autonomic

Change in the environment that causes a response

• senses
• response
• reflex
• stimulus