3.1. Divisions of the Nervous System and Parts of the Brain Flashcards
What does CNS stand for?
Central Nervous System
What does PNS stand for?
Peripheral Nervous System
What does the CNS consist of?
The brain and spinal cord.
What does the PNS consist of?
Peripheral nerves.
What is the function of the brain?
Processes information.
What is the function of the spinal cord?
Connects the brain to the PNS.
What is the function of the peripheral nerves?
Carries information to and from the body.
What can the PNS be split into?
The somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
What does the somatic nervous system control?
Voluntary actions.
What does the autonomic nervous system control?
Involuntary actions.
What is the autonomic nervous system comprised of?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves.
What do sympathetic nerves do?
Increase heart and breathing rate and decreases digestive processes.
What do parasympathetic nerves do?
Decrease heart and breathing rates and increase digestive processes.
What does the cerebral cortex do?
Receives sensory information, co-ordinates voluntary movements, makes decisions, anything involved in intelligence like imagination, abstract thought, understanding, communication etc.
What does the limbic system do?
Supports functions like long-term memory, emotion, behaviour and motivation.
