Nervous Systems

Objectives

Nervous System:

• 1. Differentiate among afferent, efferent, and interneurons; CNS and PNS; somatic and autonomic motor neurons.

  2. Describe the structure of a typical neuron and indicate the function(s) of each of its parts.

  3. Explain what is meant by resting membrane potential and depolarization and understand how they are associated with transmission of a nerve impulse.

  4. Know the two kinds of gated membrane channels and how they are associated with ion movement through a cell membrane.

  5. Understand how an action potential is transmitted along a nerve and why it spreads only in one direction.

  6. Understand the importance of a chemical transmission of the nervous impulse across synapses.

  7. Identify the chemical(s) and describe the events associated with transmission of a nerve impulse across a neuromuscular junction.

  8. Know the primary divisions of the human brain and the function of each.

  9. Understand the anatomical and associative organization of the human cerebral cortex.

  10. Understand how the brain controls higher functions like learning and memory.

  11. Describe the structure of the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system.

  12. Understand how a monosynaptic reflex arc is organized and functions.

  13. Describe the two systems associated with the antagonistic control of the autonomic nervous system and identify the neurotransmitter(s) associated with each.

Spiritual Concept

Ephesians 1:20-23 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. (The Message)

• 1. Compare and contrast how the CNS and the PNS function in relation to how Christ and his Church function.

  2. Other translations state that "Christ is the head of the Church" and the Church is the body. Specifically address one aspect of brain function and how it relates to your perception of how Jesus functions in your life.