PSYC 3170 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: The Peripheral, Homeostasis, Brainstem
20 Sep 2017
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Document Summary
The nervous systems constantly integrates the actions of our internal organs. Neurons: specialized nerve cells that provide commands to many of the organs such as the heart and digestive tract. Dendrites: project fro, the cell body that are receivers for messages adjacent to neurons. Synaptic knobs: connect to the dendrites usually through fluid filled gap. Synapse: the process of synaptic knobs to dendrites. Neurotransmitter: impulses in a neuron travel through the axon and stimulate the synaptic knobs to release this chemical, which then travels to the dendrites of an adjacent neuron. Excite: likelihood that an electrical impulse will be generated. Inhibit: an impulse is less likely to be generated. The brain weights about 25% of the weight it will have when the child reaches adulthood. Most of the growth in brain size after birth results from an increase in the number of glial cells and myelin. Myelin: white fatty substance that surrounds the axons and some neurons.
