Portage Learning A&P 1 Module 6 (2025)
Main functions of the nervous system - ANS>>Sending, receiving, and processing sensory
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
information to coordinate the body's responses.
bb bb bb bb bb bb
Sensory input - ANS>>Information received by the nervous system from sensory receptors.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Stimuli - ANS>>Changes in the internal or external environment detected by receptors.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Integration function of the nervous system - ANS>>Interpreting sensory information and
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
creating a response.
bb bb bb
Motor output - ANS>>The response the nervous system activates in muscles or glands.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Effector organ - ANS>>The organ or tissue that carries out the body's response.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Function of the central nervous system (CNS) - ANS>>Processes information and sends out
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
instructions. Includes the brain and spinal cord.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Function of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) - ANS>>Transmits sensory input to the CNS
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
and motor commands from the CNS to the body. Includes cranial and spinal nerves.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Somatic sensory receptors - ANS>>Detect pain, pressure, temperature, touch, and body
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
position.
bb
Visceral receptors - ANS>>Detect internal changes such as organ activity, blood pressure,
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
chemicals, and tension.
bb bb bb
Special receptors - ANS>>Detect smell, taste, hearing, sight, and balance.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
,Portage Learning A&P 1 Module 6 (2025)
Afferent pathway - ANS>>The sensory pathway that carries information to the CNS.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Efferent pathway - ANS>>The motor pathway that carries commands from the CNS to
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
muscles and glands.
bb bb bb
Somatic nervous system - ANS>>Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Autonomic nervous system - ANS>>Controls involuntary functions of smooth and cardiac
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
muscles, and glands.
bb bb bb
Two divisions of the autonomic nervous system - ANS>>Sympathetic and parasympathetic
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
nervous systems.
bb bb
Role of the sympathetic nervous system - ANS>>Activates the body for 'fight or flight' —
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
increases heart rate and prepares for stress or activity.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Role of the parasympathetic nervous system - ANS>>Promotes 'rest and digest' — aids
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
digestion and conserves energy.
bb bb bb bb
Function of nervous tissue - ANS>>Sends and receives electrical and chemical signals
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
throughout the body.
bb bb bb
Neurons - ANS>>Nerve cells that carry signals to, from, and within the nervous system.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Neuron cell body (soma) - ANS>>Produces cell components, synthesizes neurotransmitters,
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
and contains many mitochondria for ATP.
bb bb bb bb bb bb
, Portage Learning A&P 1 Module 6 (2025)
Dendrites - ANS>>Extensions that receive incoming signals from other neurons.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Axon - ANS>>The long projection that carries electrical impulses away from the cell body to
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
axon terminals.
bb bb
Axon terminals - ANS>>Ends of axons that store and release neurotransmitters.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Axon hillock - ANS>>The region where the axon connects to the cell body and action
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
potentials begin.
bb bb
Neurotransmitters - ANS>>Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons or
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
from neurons to muscles/glands.
bb bb bb bb
Synaptic vesicles - ANS>>Small sacs in the axon terminal that store neurotransmitters.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Synaptic cleft - ANS>>The small gap between two neurons where neurotransmitters are
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
released.
bb
Presynaptic neuron - ANS>>The neuron that sends the signal before the synaptic cleft.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Postsynaptic neuron - ANS>>The neuron that receives the signal after the synaptic cleft.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Multipolar neuron - ANS>>A motor neuron with one axon and many dendrites; most
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
common type in CNS.
bb bb bb bb
Bipolar neuron - ANS>>Found in special senses (sight, smell, taste); one dendrite and one
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
axon.
bb
Main functions of the nervous system - ANS>>Sending, receiving, and processing sensory
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
information to coordinate the body's responses.
bb bb bb bb bb bb
Sensory input - ANS>>Information received by the nervous system from sensory receptors.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Stimuli - ANS>>Changes in the internal or external environment detected by receptors.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Integration function of the nervous system - ANS>>Interpreting sensory information and
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
creating a response.
bb bb bb
Motor output - ANS>>The response the nervous system activates in muscles or glands.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Effector organ - ANS>>The organ or tissue that carries out the body's response.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Function of the central nervous system (CNS) - ANS>>Processes information and sends out
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
instructions. Includes the brain and spinal cord.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Function of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) - ANS>>Transmits sensory input to the CNS
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
and motor commands from the CNS to the body. Includes cranial and spinal nerves.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Somatic sensory receptors - ANS>>Detect pain, pressure, temperature, touch, and body
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
position.
bb
Visceral receptors - ANS>>Detect internal changes such as organ activity, blood pressure,
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
chemicals, and tension.
bb bb bb
Special receptors - ANS>>Detect smell, taste, hearing, sight, and balance.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
,Portage Learning A&P 1 Module 6 (2025)
Afferent pathway - ANS>>The sensory pathway that carries information to the CNS.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Efferent pathway - ANS>>The motor pathway that carries commands from the CNS to
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
muscles and glands.
bb bb bb
Somatic nervous system - ANS>>Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Autonomic nervous system - ANS>>Controls involuntary functions of smooth and cardiac
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
muscles, and glands.
bb bb bb
Two divisions of the autonomic nervous system - ANS>>Sympathetic and parasympathetic
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
nervous systems.
bb bb
Role of the sympathetic nervous system - ANS>>Activates the body for 'fight or flight' —
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
increases heart rate and prepares for stress or activity.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Role of the parasympathetic nervous system - ANS>>Promotes 'rest and digest' — aids
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
digestion and conserves energy.
bb bb bb bb
Function of nervous tissue - ANS>>Sends and receives electrical and chemical signals
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
throughout the body.
bb bb bb
Neurons - ANS>>Nerve cells that carry signals to, from, and within the nervous system.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Neuron cell body (soma) - ANS>>Produces cell components, synthesizes neurotransmitters,
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
and contains many mitochondria for ATP.
bb bb bb bb bb bb
, Portage Learning A&P 1 Module 6 (2025)
Dendrites - ANS>>Extensions that receive incoming signals from other neurons.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Axon - ANS>>The long projection that carries electrical impulses away from the cell body to
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
axon terminals.
bb bb
Axon terminals - ANS>>Ends of axons that store and release neurotransmitters.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Axon hillock - ANS>>The region where the axon connects to the cell body and action
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
potentials begin.
bb bb
Neurotransmitters - ANS>>Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons or
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
from neurons to muscles/glands.
bb bb bb bb
Synaptic vesicles - ANS>>Small sacs in the axon terminal that store neurotransmitters.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Synaptic cleft - ANS>>The small gap between two neurons where neurotransmitters are
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
released.
bb
Presynaptic neuron - ANS>>The neuron that sends the signal before the synaptic cleft.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Postsynaptic neuron - ANS>>The neuron that receives the signal after the synaptic cleft.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Multipolar neuron - ANS>>A motor neuron with one axon and many dendrites; most
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
common type in CNS.
bb bb bb bb
Bipolar neuron - ANS>>Found in special senses (sight, smell, taste); one dendrite and one
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
axon.
bb
