PSYCH101 Lecture Notes - Peripheral Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System, Somatic Nervous System

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH101
• Professor: Richard Ennis

Document Summary

Neuroanatomy refers to the study of the parts and functions of neurons. Neurons are individual nerve cells, and these cells make up our entire nervous system. Dendrites root-like parts of the cell that stretch out from the cell body. Dendrites grow to make synaptic connections with other neurons. Cell body contains the nucleus and other parts of the cell needed to sustain its life. Axon wire-like structure ending in the terminal buttons that extends from the cell body. Myelin sheath a fatty covering around the axon of some neurons that speeds neural impulses. Terminal buttons the branched end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters chemicals contained in terminal buttons that enable neurons to communicate. Neurotransmitters fit into receptor sites on the dendrites of neurons (like a key fits into a lock) Synapse the space between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron.