4.4 Explain how the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, sensory neurons, motor neurons) mediates communication among different parts of the body and mediates the body’s interactions with the environment. Identify the basic unit of the nervous system, the neuron, and explain generally how it works.
Vocabulary
Tier 3
Neuron - nerve cell
Axon - long part of the neuron for the impulse to leave the cell
Dendrites - short strands around the cell body to receive impulses
Myelin Sheath - small cells that wrap around the axon of a neuron
Motor neuron - nerves dedicated to moving muscles
Sensory neuron - nerves dedicated to interpreting the 5 senses (taste, sight, hearing, feeling, seeing)
Essential Questions
1. How is the structure of the neuron unique?
2. How does the body receive stimuli, use the information and react?
Nervous System
Contains the brain, spinal cord and all the nerves. It's responsible for
Neurons
Neurons are long and spiny. They conduct electric currents through the body.
There are Sensory neurons which pick up information for our sense and there are Motor neurons which move muscles
Dendrites receive the electric currents and they travel through the cell body to the axon where it leaves one neuron and goes to others.
The Myelin Sheath is insulation to conduct the electricity better.