Your Nervous System

Engage
 Lorenzo’s Oil Discussion
 Explore
 Quick Communications
 Neuron Models
 Explain
Nervous System
 Four Major Parts of the Nervous System
 Neurons
 Nerves
 Brain
 Spinal Cord
 Two Major Nervous System
 Central Nervous System
 Peripheral Nervous System

 Nerves and Neurons are found in both and

this is where we will begin
 Neuron
”Nerve Cell”
 Functional Unit of Nervous System
1. Cell Body – center part of the cell containing the
nucleus
2. Dendrites
 Carries messages toward the cell body.
 Fingerlike projections
3. Axon
 Carries messages away from the cell body.
 Elongated extension of the cell body
 End of the axon is divided into fingerlike projections called
axon terminals.
 Neuron Model
 To check for understanding you will need
to construct a neuron model that contains
dendrites, a cell body (soma), axon, and
axon terminals.
 Types of Neurons
 Sensory Neurons – picks up the stimuli
(nerve impulse) and carries it to the spinal
cord and brain.
 Interneurons- Found within the brain and
spinal cord. Relays the message between
the sensory neurons and the motor
neurons.
 Motor Neurons – transfers impulses away
from the brain to the spinal cord
 How Neurons Work
1. Reception
 Receptors in the skin sense stimuli
2. Transmission
 Sensory neurons transmit the touch message
3. Data Interpretation
 Information is sorted and interpreted
4. Transmission
 Motor Neurons transmit a response message to a
muscle
5. Response
 Muscles are activated causing a response
 Impulse Transmission
 Start with a RESTING neuron – one NOT
transmitting an impulse
 Plasma membrane controls [ ] of ions
inside the cell
 Na+ and K+ on both sides of membrane
 Na+ Higher Conc Outside
 K+ Higher Conc Inside
 Remember Na+/K+ ATPase Pump
Sodium Potassium Pump
How an Impulse Travels
 Stimulus excites a neuron
 Na+ channels open, Na+
build up inside
 Inside more + that outside
 Change in charge
(depolarization)
 Membrane immediately
behind depolarization returns
to RESTING STATE
 RESTING STATE – inside
negative, outside positive
 1. Resting State
 A neuron is not conducting an impulse
 The K+ concentration is much higher
inside the cell than out
 The Na+ concentration is much higher
outside the cell than in
 2. Depolarization
 A nerve cell is stimulated
 Membrane becomes permeable to Na+ for
an instant and they quickly move into the
cell
 The inner surface of the cell membrane is
now more positively charged then the
outside.
 3. Repolarization
 When the cell membrane becomes
depolarized, K+ automatically leaves the
cell until the cell is back to its resting state.
 4. The Impulse Travels
 “Wave” of depolarization – transmission of an
impulse along length of axon
 All or None Principle – must reach a threshold
level or the impulse dies
 Covered by a white covering called a myelin
sheath (Schwann Cells), an insulator
 Myelin sheath causes the ion exchange to occur
only at the nodes which speeds up the process
 For a short time after depolarization; the neuron
cannot be stimulated
 5. Transmission Across a Synapse
 Neurons do not actually touch. This gap
between the two cells is call a SYNAPSE
 Impulses are carried across a synapse by
chemical messengers called
neurotransmitters.
 Approximately 30 different neurotransmitters;
do one of two things:
1. Stimulate the action potential in a second cell
2. Inhibit the action potential in the next cell
 6. Refractory Period
 The period of time it takes a neuron to
return to its resting potential after being
stimulated
 A neuron cannot be stimulated during this
period
 This period of time is about 0.0004 of a
second
 Elaboration
 Neurotransmission:
Nifty Neurons and Muscle Messages
 Evaluation
Parts of Nervous System
 List the Four Major Parts of the
Nervous System
 Neurons
 Nerves
 Brain
 Spinal Cord