The nervous system controls everything from our thoughts and emotions to our movements and reflexes—but it’s made up of two major parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).| Simply Psychology
The somatic nervous system (SNS) is the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movement and processes external stimuli through two types of neurons: motor neurons (activating muscles) and sensory neurons (relaying information to the central nervous system).| Simply Psychology
Stress is a biological and psychological response experienced upon encountering a threat that we feel we do not have the resources to deal with.| Simply Psychology
Sensory neurons carry incoming information from the sensory receptors of the body toward the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), whereas motor neurons carry outgoing commands away from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands.| Simply Psychology
The myelin sheath is a lipid-rich, insulating layer that surrounds the axons of many nerve cells. Produced by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, it serves to increase the speed of nerve impulses. The sheath is segmented, with gaps called nodes of Ranvier, which play a crucial role in the rapid transmission of electrical signals along the axon.| Simply Psychology
Spinal nerves are peripheral nerves that emerge from the spinal cord and carry motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the rest of the body. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal, named according to their corresponding vertebral levels.| Simply Psychology
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and pupillary response.| Simply Psychology
Schwann cells are a special type of cell found in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). They play a key role in helping nerves work efficiently by wrapping around nerve fibers and forming a protective layer called the myelin sheath.| Simply Psychology
Glial cells, also called glial cells or neuroglia, are cell which are non-neuronal and are located within the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport.| Simply Psychology
The Central Nervous System (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord. It acts as the body's control center, processing sensory information and directing responses. The CNS coordinates both voluntary activities, like movement, and involuntary ones, such as breathing and heartbeat.| Simply Psychology
The sympathetic nervous system is a branch of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for "fight or flight" responses during stressful situations. It increases heart rate, dilates pupils, and inhibits digestion, among other functions, to mobilize the body's resources for immediate action.| Simply Psychology