PSYC 15065G Chapter 2: The Biological Perspective

• School: Sheridan College
• Department: Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies
• Course: PSYC 15065G
• Professor: Ruth Martin

Document Summary

Nervous system: complex system of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body. Neuron is a basic cell in the nervous system that receives messages within the system. Dendrites are branch-like structures that receives messages from other neurons. Dendrites are attached to the soma (cell body) Soma keeps the entire cell alive and functioning and contains the nucleus. The axon is attached to the soma and its job is to carry messages out to other cells. Glial cells serve as a sort of structure on which neurons develop and work and hold neurons in place. Glial cells: cells that provide support for the neurons to grow on and around, and help influence the generation of new neurons. Two specialized types of glial cells are: oligodendrocytes and schwann cells. Oligodendrocytes produce myelin in the brain and spinal cord. Schwann produces myelin in the neurons in pns.