The Brain and Neurons
Neurons Messages carried by the nervous system are electrical signals = impulses Nerve cells that transmit impulses = neurons Sensory neurons: carry impulses from sense organs to the spinal cord and brain Motor neurons: carry impulses from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands Interneurons: connect sensory and motor neurons and carry impulses between them
Parts of a Neuron Cell body = largest part containing nucleus and cytoplasm (most metabolic activity occur here) Dendrites = short, branched extensions spreading out from the cell body and they carry impulses from the environment or other neurons towards the cell body Axon = long fibers that carry impulses away from the cell body and ends at the axon terminal
A Neuron Section 35-2 Nucleus Axon terminals Cell body Myelin sheath Nodes Cell body Axon Nucleus Dendrites
Synapse At the end of the neuron, the impulse reaches an axon terminal where the impulse may be passed along to another neuron or another cell The location where a neuron can transfer an impulse to another cell = synapse The synapse is a small gap that separates the axon terminal from the dendrites of the next neuron or another cell The terminals contain tiny sacs or vesicles filled with neurotransmitters = chemicals used by a neuron to transmit an impulse across a synapse The impulse will continue with the stimulation exceeds the cell’s threshold
Dendrite of adjacent neuron Figure 35-8 The Synapse Section 35-2 Direction of Impulse Dendrite of adjacent neuron Axon Receptor Vesicle Axon terminal Synaptic cleft Neurotransmitter
Reaction activity Reaction time = the amount of time required for an impulse travel from your sensory neurons to your motor neurons
Brain and Spinal cord Both are protected by bone wrapped in 3 layers of connective tissue = meninges layers may have a space between them filled with cerebrospinal fluid which protects (shock absorber) and exchanges nutrients and waste
Brain About 100 billion neurons, mainly interneurons Major parts of the brain: Cerebrum Cerebellum Brain stem Thalamus Hypothalamus
Figure 35-9 The Brain Cerebrum Thalamus Pineal gland Hypothalamus Section 35-3 Pons Pituitary gland Hypothalamus Cerebrum Medulla oblongata Spinal cord Cerebellum Pineal gland Thalamus