01:830:101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Peripheral Nervous System, Somatic Nervous System, Reflex Arc

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: 01:830:101
• Professor: Foels

Document Summary

Phrenology - an early approach to explaining the functions of the brain by trying to link the physical structure of the skull with a variety of characteristics. Neurons - specialized cells of the nervous system that transmit electrical and chemical signals in the body, nerve cells. Cell body - the region of the neuron that includes structures that nourish the cell, and a nucleus containing dna. Dendrites - tiny, branchlike fibers extending from the cell body that receive messages from other neurons and send information in the direction of the cell body. Axon - skinny tube-like structure of a neuron that extends from the cell body, and which sends messages to other neurons through its terminal buds. Myelin sheath - fatty substance that insulates the axon and speeds the transmission of neural messages. Synapse - tiny gap between a terminal bud of one axon and a dendrite of a neighboring neuron, junction between neurons where communication occurs.