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Central Nervous System
Part of the nervous system made up of the brain and spinal cord
Autonomic Division
Part of the motor division responsible for automatic or involuntary responses
Axon
Neuron fibers that conduct impulses away from the body
Node of Ranvier
Gaps along the axon that are not covered by myelin sheath; impulses jump from node to node
Sensory Neuron
Type of neuron that carries impulses from receptors to the CNS
Peripheral Nervous System
Part of the nervous system made up of nerves outside the CNS
Cells of the nervous system that insulate, support, and protect delicate neurons
Axon Terminal
Branches at the end of an axon that contains the cell body
Axon Terminal
Branching end of an axon; responds to a nerve impulse by releasing neurotransmitter from vesicles
Interneuron
Type of neuron that connects sensory and motor neurons in the CNS
Sensory (Afferent) Division
Division of the PNS composed of nerves that carry information TO the CNS
Neurons
Nerve cells
Myelin
White, fatty material found in neuron coverings
Synapse
The space between an axon terminal and the membrane of the next cell
Motor neuron
Type of neuron that carries impulses from the CNS to a muscle or gland
Motor (Efferent) Division
Division of the PNS composed to nerves that carry information FROM the CNS
Dendrites
Fibers that receive and convey message to the cell body of a neuron
Myelin Sheath
Covering composed of Schwann cells that insulates nerve fiber and increases the rate of transmission
White matter
Bundles of myelinated axons in the brain and spinal cord
Proprioceptor
Sensory receptors in muscles and tendons that detect stretch or tension in skeletal muscles, tendons, and joints; maintain balance and posture
Somatic Division
Part of the motor division responsible for conscious or voluntary control of skeletal muscles and reflexes
Cell body
The metabolic center of a neuron; contains the nucleus
Schwann cell
Cells that are wrapped around axon; produce myelin
Gray Matter
Unmyelinated and tightly-packed neuron cell bodies
Irritability
Functional property of a neuron that enables it to respond to a stimulus and convert it into a nerve impulse