1. Neurons and the Nervous System

2. Nervous System Central nervous system (CNS): Brain Spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS):
Sensory neurons
Motor neurons (somatic and autonomic)

3. The Nervous System The Nervous System Central Nervous System (CNS)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Brain
Spinal Cord
Motor Neurons
Sensory Neurons
Somatic Nervous System
voluntary movements via skeletal muscles
Autonomic Nervous System
organs, smooth muscles
Sympathetic
- “Fight-or-Flight” responses
Parasympathetic
- maintenance

4. Divisions of the autonomic nervous system
Rest
Action
Figure 3.20 on page 89
The sympathetic division of the nervous system prepares the body for action, whereas the parasympathetic returns it to a resting state.

5. The Nervous System A physical organ system like any other
The main cell of the nervous system are:
Neurons

6. The Neuron The basic functional unit of the nervous system.
Function: Send impulses to and from the CNS and PNS

7. Neuron Structure

8. Dendrite  Fine hair-like extensions on the end of a neuron.
Function: receive incoming stimuli.
Cell Body or Soma  The control center of the neuron.
Function: Directs impulses from the dendrites to the axon.
Nucleus  Control center of the Soma.
Function: Tells the soma what to do.

9. Axon Pathway for the nerve impulse (electrical message) from the soma to the opposite end of the neuron.
Myelin Sheath  An insulating layer around an axon. Made up of Schwann cells.
Nodes of Ranvier  Gaps between schwann cells.
Conduction of the impulse. (Situation where speed of an impulse is greatly increased by the message ‘jumping’ the gaps in an axon).

11. Types of Neurons There are 3 types of neurons.
Sensory Neurons  Neurons located near receptor organs (skin, eyes, ears).
Function: receive incoming stimuli from the environment.
Motor Neurons  Neurons located near effectors (muscles and glands)
Function: Carry impules to effectors to initiate a response.
Interneurons  Neurons that relay messages between other neurons such as sensory and motor neurons. (found most often in Brain and Spinal chord).

12. Types of Neurons

13. Nerves
Nerves  Collections of neurons that are joined together by connective tissue.
Responsible for transferring impulses from receptors to CNS and back to effectors.

14. Three main types of neurons
Sensory Neurons
Interneurons
Motor Neurons

15. CNS CNS Sensory vs. Motor sensory nerve
e.g., skin
Neurons that send signals from the senses, skin, muscles, and internal organs to the CNS
motor nerve
CNS
e.g., muscle
Neurons that transmit commands from the CNS to the muscles, glands, and organs
Gray’s Anatomy

16. The Withdrawal Reflex Figure 2.5B from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

17. Neuron Anatomy and Neural Communication

18. Dendrites of another neuron
Neurons
Cell Body
Dendrites
Axon
Myelin Sheath
Dendrites of another neuron
Axon of another neuron

19. Neural Anatomy Dendrite Axon
the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon
the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages are sent to other neurons or to muscles or glands

20. Neural Anatomy and communication
Synapse
junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft
Synapse movie

21. Specific Parts: The Neuron Structure
Figure 2.6 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:

22. Specific Parts: The Neuron Function1. 3. 2.
Figure 2.6 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Neurons = 3 functions: Reception, Conduction, Transmission

23. Communication Impulse releases neurotransmitter from vesicles
Neurotransmitter enters synaptic gap
Neurotransmitter binds to receptors on the receiving neuron
Figure 2.7 from:
Kassin, S. (2001). Psychology, third edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:

24. Myelin Sheath Fatty material made by glial cells Insulates the axon
Allows for rapid movement of electrical impulses along axon
Nodes of Ranvier: gaps in myelin sheath where action potentials are transmitted
Multiple sclerosis is a breakdown of myelin sheath
Speed of neural impulse Ranges from 2 – 200+ mph

25. Myelinization clip
Myelin conduction clip

26. Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that travel across the synaptic gaps between neurons
when released by the sending neuron,
neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether it will generate a neural impulse