Showing posts with label Nervous System. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nervous System. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Axon Terminal


We just learned about the Node of Ranvier.

Another part of the neuron is the Axon Terminal.

The Axon Terminal is the branch that goes out after the end of the long Axon, and it uses electricity and chemicals in the body to talk to other neurons.


(from: wikipedia - axon terminal)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Nervous System

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Node of Ranvier


We just learned about the Schwann Cell.

Another part of the neuron is the Node of Ranvier.

We know that the myelin sheaths are covering the axons.
There are gaps in the myelin sheaths, and those gaps are called the nodes of ranvier.

These gaps helps the neuron send its information faster along the axon.


(from: wikipedia - node of ranvier)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Heart Wall - Pericardium

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Schwann Cell


We just learned about the Myelin Sheath on a neuron.

Another part of the neuron is the Schwann Cell.

These are cells that help surround neurons to protect them and keep them in place.


(from: wikipedia - schwann cell)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Heart Wall - Epicardium

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Myelin Sheath


We just learned about the Axon.

Another part of the neuron in the nervous system is the Myelin Sheath.

This is a fatty covering over the axon, so it can protect the messages getting sent over from the soma.
It's kind of like the rubber covering on an electrical cord, keeping all the electricity in and protecting it from escaping.


(from: wikipedia - myelin)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Myocardium

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Axon


We just learned about the Dendrite.

Another part of the neuron is the Axon.

The axon takes messages from the main body of the neuron and sends them off to other neurons.
It's like the long highway that the messages go on to leave the neuron.


(from: wikipedia - axon)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Heart Wall - Endocardium

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Dendrite


We just learned about the Nucleus.

Another part of the neuron in the nervous system is the Dendrite.

The dendrites are the part of the neuron that reach out like tree branches or fingers.
When the neuron wants to send a message to another neuron, it sends it out over the dendrites, and the other neuron touches dendrites and gets the message.


(from: wikipedia - dendrite)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pulmonary Valve

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Nucleus


We just learned about the Soma.

Another part of the neuron is the Nucleus.

The nucleus is in the middle of the Soma, and is the part of the neuron that is in control.
It is like the brain that tells the rest of the neuron what to do.


(from: wikipedia - soma (biology))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Aortic Valve

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Soma


We just learned about the Neuron in the nervous system that sends messages in the body.

One part of the neuron is called the Soma.

The soma is the big part of one end of the neuron that has smaller parts inside of it.
It comes from the Greek word meaning "body", so the soma is the main body of the neuron.


(from: wikipedia - soma (biology))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Mitral Valve

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Neuron


We just learned about the Enteric Nervous System.

All of the parts of the nervous system are made up of smaller things called neurons.

Neurons are like tiny little computers in the body that send and receive messages to other neurons all over the body.


(from: wikipedia - neuron)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Tricuspid Valve

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Enteric Nervous System


We just learned about the Parasympathetic Nervous System.

Another part of the Autonomic Nervous System in the Peripheral Nervous System is the Enteric Nervous System.

This part of the nervous system is mostly in control of the body's digestion.


(from: wikipedia - enteric nervous system)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Heart Valves

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Parasympathetic Nervous System


We just learned about the Sympathetic Nervous System.

Another part of the Autonomic Nervous System is the Parasympathetic Nervous System, sometimes just called the PSNS.

Remember the Sympathetic Nervous System gives us the "fight or flight" feelings.

The PSNS gives us what we call the "rest-and-digest" feelings.
These are more for when you are sitting at rest, eating or just relaxing.


(from: wikipedia - parasympathetic nervous system)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Heart - Blood Flow

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Sympathetic Nervous System


We just learned about the Autonomic Nervous System, which is part of the Peripheral Nervous System.

One part of the Autonomic Nervous System is the Sympathetic Nervous System.

This part of our nervous system gives us what we call the fight-or-flight feelings.
That means when something happens that scares you or hurts you, this helps make your decision for whether you run away or whether you fight back.


(from: wikipedia - sympathetic nervous system)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pulmonary Artery

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Autonomic nervous system


We just learned about Brachial Plexus

Remember we learned that the Nervous System is split up into two parts, the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
And that part of the Peripheral Nervous System is the Somatic Nervous System.

Another part of the Peripheral Nervous System is the Autonomic Nervous System.

This part of your nervous system controls your internal organs, like your heart, stomach or liver.


(from: wikipedia - autonomic nervous system)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Right Ventricle

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Brachial Plexus


We just learned about the Coccygeal Plexus.

Another part of the nervous system is the Brachial Plexus.

These are the nerves coming from the lower cervical nerves (C5, C6, C7, C8), and the first thoracic nerve (T1).

It controls feeling and movement in the chest, shoulder, arm and hand.


(from: wikipedia - brachial plexus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Right Atrium

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Coccygeal plexus


We just learned about the Sacral Plexus.

The next nerve at the bottom of your spinal column is the Coccygeal Plexus.

This nerve helps tell your body when it is time to go to the bathroom.


(from: wikipedia - coccygeal plexus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jugulary Vein

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Sacral Plexus


We just learned about the Lumbar Plexus.

Further down the spinal cord is the Sacral Plexus.

These nerves help control the back thigh, lower leg, foot and pelvis.


(from: wikipedia - sacral plexus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Digital Veins

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Lumbar Plexus


We just learned about the Subcostal Nerve.

Another group of nerves is called the Lumbar Plexus.

These are connected to your spinal cord in your lower back, and they help control and get messages from your stomach, back, thighs and upper legs.

(from: wikipedia - lumbar plexus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Superficial Palmar Venous Arch

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Subcostal Nerve


We just learned about the Intercostal Nerves which comes from the Thoracic nerves T1-T11.

The last of the Thoracic nerves T12 is tied to the Subcostal Nerve.

This nerve helps control your stomach muscles, and gives feeling to the skin on the sides of your body.


(from: wikipedia - subcostal nerve)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dorsal Venous Network of the Hand

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Intercostal Nerves


We just learned about the Cervical Plexus.

We know that there are 12 thoracic nerves in the spinal cord, T1 - T12.
The first 11 of those, T1 - T11 are called the Intercostal Nerves.

These nerves control your arms, your muscles around your chest and stomach, and the feeling in your skin.


(from: wikipedia - intercostal nerves)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Radial and Ulnar Veins

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Cervical Plexus


We just learned about the Somatic Nervous System.

We know about the 8 cervical nerves in the spinal cord at the neck.

The first 4 of those, C1 - C4 have nerves that come out to be what is called the Cervical Plexus.

These nerves control the feelings and moving of the back of the head and the neck muscles.


(from: wikipedia - cervical plexus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Median Cubital Vein