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Nervous System/ AP Biology

Terms in this set (65)

Neuron
A nerve cell; the fundamental unit of the nervous system, having structure and properties that allow it to conduct signals by taking advantage of the electrical charge across its cell membrane.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body
Nerve
one or more bundles of neurons that connect the brain and the spinal cord with other parts of the body
Ganglia
clusters of nerve cell bodies found along the nerve cords of some animals
Sensory Input
The conduction of signals from sensory receptors to processing centers in the central nervous system
Integration
to process and interpret sensory input and decide if action is needed
Motor Output
The conduction of signals from a processing center in a central nervous system to effector cells
Effector Cells
A cell capable of carrying out some action in response to a command from the nervous system
Reflexes
an automatic and often inborn response to a stimulus that involves a nerve impulse
Sensory Neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system. Afferent neurons
Interneurons
central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Motor Neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands. Efferent neurons
Cell Body
largest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus and much of the cytoplasm
Dendrites
branching extensions of neuron that receives messages from neighboring neurons
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