CAS PS 211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Schwann Cell, Endorphins, Autonomic Nervous System
15 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
The nervous system is important in the maintenance of homeostasis. The nervous system contains the central nervous system (brain & spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (everything else). The peripheral nervous system contains the somatic nervous system (control of motor functions), and the autonomic nervous system (non-motor function). The autonomic nervous system contains the sympathetic nervous system, which monitors the fight or flight response, speeding up the heart rate and increasing breathing when necessary. It also contains the parasympathetic nervous system, which regulates automatic functions, and slows down heart rate and breathing. An action potential, or an electrical signal carried across a neuron, travels through saltatory conduction. Saltatory conduction is when the signal jumps and repolarizes constantly to help carry it foster. Thus, the action potential jumps between the nodes of ranvier along the axon of a neuron. The axon is insulated by the myelin sheath. Schwann cells are separated by the nodes of ranvier.
