MEDN2001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Luigi Galvani, Peripheral Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System
Document Summary
Scientific study of how the nervous system (cns and pns) The nervous system directs an individual"s normal interactions" with external stimuli. Thus, the nervous system includes all thoughts, perceptions, bodily actions, behaviours, and ultimately: consciousness. Dualism: mind and body are separate; mind is distinct from brain . Rene descartes (1596-1650): soul controlled muscles via the pineal gland by hydraulic mechanisms. Monism: mind/brain is the nervous system rapidly gained acceptance among neuroscientists, facilitated by discovering electricity in the 18th century (ben franklin, luigi galvani) Sensed in pns and sent back to toe cns for processing and action. Pns - the nerves that extend from spinal column. Neurons: responsible for information transmission throughout the nervous system. Cell body: contains nucleus and other biologic essentials to keep cell alive. Dendrites: fibres that project out of the cell body, receiving info from other neurons. Axon terminals: end of the axon; send messages to a different neuron - dendrites of the next neuron.
