3.1- divisions of the nervous system and neural pathways

Question 1

what 2 things is the nervous system divided into?

Answer 1

central nervous system

peripheral nervous system

Question 2

what 2 things make up the CNS?

Answer 2

brain

spinal cord

Question 3

what 2 things make up the PNS?

Answer 3

somatic nervous system

autonomic nervous system

Question 4

function of the brain

Answer 4

processing of information

Question 5

function of the spinal cord

Answer 5

connects brain with peripheral nervous system

Question 6

what 2 things does the SNS contain?

Answer 6

sensory neurons

motor neurons

Question 7

2 functions of the SNS

Answer 7

brings about certain involuntary reflex actions

controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles

(e.g limb withdrawal)

Question 8

what are sensory neurons and what is their function?

Answer 8

nerve cells which carry nervous impulses from sense organs to the CNS

Question 9

what are motor neurons and what is their function?

Answer 9

nerve cells which carry nervous impulses from the CNS to muscles and glands

Question 10

function of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 10

controls the involuntary unconscious actions that bring about a steady internal state within the body

Question 11

3 involuntary unconscious actions the ANS controls

Answer 11

control of heart rate

breathing rate

release of intestinal secretions

Question 12

2 things the ANS consists of

Answer 12

sympathetic and parasympathetic systems

Question 13

what are the two systems of the ANS described as being?

Answer 13

antagonistic

Question 14

what does antagonistic mean?

Answer 14

they affect many of the same structures but exert opposite effects on them

Question 15

what do sympathetic fibres act as?

Answer 15

accelerators

Question 16

function of sympathetic fibres

Answer 16

if the sympathetic fibres gain the upper hand the body is prepared for action by processes that ensure an increased supply of oxygen to the muscles

Question 17

what do parasympathetic fibres act as?

Answer 17

breaks on activity

Question 18

function of parasympathetic fibres

Answer 18

if they gain the upper hand the body is able to rest and perform activities such as the breakdown of food

Question 19

sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres effect on heart rate

Answer 19

sympathetic- increase rate

parasympathetic- decrease rate

Question 20

sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres effect on breathing rate

Answer 20

sympathetic- increase rate and depth

parasympathetic- decrease rate and depth

Question 21

sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres effect on peristalsis

Answer 21

sympathetic- decrease rate

parasympathetic- increase rate

Question 22

sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres effect on release of intestinal secretions

Answer 22

sympathetic- decrease rate

parasympathetic- increase rate

Question 23

what happens in a convergent neural pathway?

Answer 23

impulses from several neurons travel to one neuron

Question 24

what is the effect of a convergent neural pathway?

Answer 24

convergent neural pathway increases the sensitivity to excitatory or inhibitory signals

Question 25

example of a **convergent neural pathway**

Answer 25

convergence of neurons from rods in the retina so increasing sensitivity to low levels of illumination through summation

Question 26

what happens in a **diverging neural pathway**?

Answer 26

impulses from one neuron travel to several neurons

Question 27

what is the **effect** of a diverging neural pathway?

Answer 27

affects more than one destination at the same time

Question 28

example of a **diverging neural pathway**

Answer 28

divergence of motor neurons allowing for fine motor control of the fingers

Question 29

what happens in a **reverberating pathway**?

Answer 29

neurons later in the pathway link with earlier neurons

Question 30

what is the **effect** of a reverberating pathway?

Answer 30

sends the impulse back through the pathway allowing for repeated stimulation of the pathway

Question 31

what do reverberating pathways **give out**?

Answer 31

gives out signals until process is brought to a halt when no longer required

Question 32

what are reverberating pathways **involved in**?

Answer 32

breathing