Summary
The neural system is crucial for the coordination and integration of various body functions, ensuring the maintenance of homeostasis. Central to this is the understanding of neurons as the fundamental units of the neural system. Neurons are specialized cells that can detect, receive, and transmit impulses. Key aspects covered include the resting potential, which refers to the electrical potential difference across a resting neuron's membrane, and action potentials, which are the transient changes in membrane potential that propagate along the axon.
The section highlights the significance of synapses in neural communication, defining them as junctions between neurons where impulses are transmitted through neurotransmitters. Additionally, the human neural system is divided into the central neural system (CNS) and the peripheral neural system (PNS), with the CNS responsible for processing and controlling information via the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS connects these central processes to the body’s limbs and organs.