The Nervous System

The nervous system of a mammal consists of:

The central nervous system (CNS) comprising the brain and the spinal cord.
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) comprising the cranial nerves, spinal nerves and sense
organs.
Neuron
A neuron is a nerve cell.
A nerve fibre is a long protoplasmic extensions of the cell body of a neurone. It serves to
transmit impulses.
A nerve is a collection of nerve fibres.
Types of neurons

1. Sensory neurons:
o a receptor neurone,
o transmits impulses from the sense organ (receptor) to the CNS.
2. Motor neurone:
o an effector neurone.
o transmits impulses from the CNS to the effectors.
3. Relay neurone:
o connects sensory neurones to motor neurones.

Synapse
A synapse is a junction between two neurones.
A dendron transmits impulses towards the cell body of a neurone.
An axon transmits impulses away from the cell body of a neurone.


Reflex Actions
Reflex actions involve messages being transmitted from the sensory neurone to the motor
neurone without involving the conscious part of the brain.
A reflex arc is the shortest pathway by which impulses travel from the receptor to the effector in
a reflex action.
Maktaba Huru Tanzania Sposored by www.news4timeblog.com