Nervous System
Organs, tissues, & cells.
In this guide you will explore the basic structures and functions of the nervous system.
Video Overview
Watch this guide overview video; you can select the closed captioning “cc” option if you would like to see the text.
Nervous System Lecture Guide Contents
The material from this guide and corresponding lecture is assessed on the weekly quiz.
Nervous System Objectives
Nervous Overview
List the organs and functions of the central and peripheral parts of the nervous system; describe the somatic and autonomic components of the motor response; and indicate the locations of some of the nerves of the peripheral nervous system, including the sciatic nerves, median & ulnar nerves, and cranial nerves.
Neurons
Identify the parts of a neuron in a drawing or microscopic image, including the dendrites, cell body, axon, and myelin; explain what occurs at a synapse when one neuron communicates with another neuron; and describe the path information takes through nerves in a reaction test that requires a subject to see and respond to a falling object.
Neural Circuits
Outline the basic steps of a reflex arc, including how a signal travels through the nervous system is a “knee jerk” response; and identify parts of the spinal cord, including the gray matter, white matter, and nerve roots.
Neural Impacts
Explain why it is important to understand how the brain functions, not just in terms of individual health, but also economically; describe how pain relief medications and caffeine impact the nervous system; and demonstrate how distractions can impact focus, and why this can be a problem.
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Nervous System
