Chapters Two and Three

Structure and Function of the Nervous System

The Organization of the Nervous System

Organization of the Nervous System

The central nervous system

•Brain

•Spinal Cord

The central nervous systemTwo important areas

Reward System Hypothalamus

5

The Peripheral Nervous System

– Somatic nervous system:• Controls the movement of skeletal muscles or

transmits somatosensory information to the central nervous system.

– Autonomic nervous system:• Controls the body’s vegetative functions.• “fight or flight” response

• Sympathetic division:– Controls functions that accompany arousal and expenditure of

energy.

• Parasympathetic division:– Controls functions that occur during a relaxed state.

Autonomic Nervous System

• Sympathetic

•Parasympathetic

Parts of a neuron

8

Parts of a neuron

Transporting items inside a neuron

Parts of a neuron

10

Interaction of Axons and DendritesInteraction of axons and dendritesThe Synapse

11

Neuron Communication

Presynaptic Neuron:

Postsynaptic Neuron:

Chemical SynapseNeurotransmitters Are Released in Exocytosis

Releasing the neurotransmitter into the synapse

Two Types of ReceptorsIonotropic receptors

Receptor:

Ligand:

Two Types of Receptors Metabotropic receptors

Two Types of Receptors Metabotropic receptors

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Lifespan of a neurotransmitter

1. Synthesis

2. Storage

3. Release

4. Action on the target cell

5. Deactivation

Neurotransmitter inactivation

Terminal autoreceptors

Summary of the mechanisms by which drugs can alter synaptic transmission

Major endocrine glands and their location in the body

Organization of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis

3.15 Comparison of synaptic versus endocrine communication