The nervous system is primarily a complex communication and regulatory system in the body. It allows an animal to respond to changes in its internal and external environments.
I. General terminology
II. Divisions
A. Central Nervous System1. Brain2. Spinal cord
B. Peripheral Nervous System
1. Nerves2. Somatic portion
3. Autonomic portion
III. Basic anatomy and physiology
A. Neuron1. Cell bodya. Contentsb. Groups of neuron cell bodies
2. Cell processes
a. Dendritesi. Numberii. Direction of impulse conduction
b. Axon
i. Numberii. Direction of impulse conduction
iii. Schwann cells
iv. Myelin sheath
v. Nodes of Ranvier
vi. Speed of conduction
vii. Telodendron
viii. Synapse
3. Neurotransmitters
a. Acetylcholineb. Norepinephrine
c. Others
4. Characteristics of neurons
a. No reproductionb. Limited regeneration
c. High oxygen requirement
B. Nerve impulse
1. Resting state - cell membrane polarized2. Threshold stimulus applied
3. Cell membrane depolarization
a. Opening/closing of sodium channel4. Cell membrane repolarization
a. Opening/closing of potassium channel5. Adjacent area undergoes same process
6. Process moves along membrane like a wave
7. Resting state reestablished
a. Refractory period8. All-or-nothing principle
IV. Central Nervous System
A. Gray matter vs white matter1. Physical basis2. Gray matter constituents
3. White matter constituents
B. Brain
1. Cerebruma. Gross anatomyi. Hemispheresii. Gyri
iii. Sulci
iv. Cortex
v. Medulla
b. Functions
i. Sensory functionsii. Motor functions
iii. Integrative functions
(a). Consciousness(b). Communication
(c). Emotions
(d). Memory
2. Cerebellum
a. Gross anatomyi. Hemispheresii. Cortex
iii. Medulla
b. Functions
3. Diencephalon
a. Thalamusb. Hypothalamus
c. Pineal body
4. Brain stem
a. Componentsb. Functions
C. Spinal Cord
1. Structurea. Cortexb. Medulla
2. Spinal nerves
a. Dorsal rootb. Ventral root
D. Meninges
1. Dura mater2. Arachnoid
3. Pia mater
E. Ventricles & central canal
F. Cerebrospinal fluid
G. Blood-Brain Barrier
V. Peripheral Nervous System
A. Nerves1. Nerve fibersa. Afferent fibersb. Efferent fibers
2. Sensory nerves
3. Motor nerves
4. Mixed nerves
B. Autonomic nervous system
1. Function2. Divisions
a. Sympathetic systemi. Originii. Neurotransmitter
iii. Effects
b. Parasympathetic system
i. Originii. Neurotransmitter
iii. Effects
C. Reflex
1. Autonomic reflexes2. Somatic reflexes