4.2.2 THE DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Question 1

the nervous system is divided into two parts
what are these?

Answer 1

• The Central Nervous System (CNS)
• The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Question 2

what is the CNS made up of?

Answer 2

• brain
• spinal cord

Question 3

what is the function of the brain?

Answer 3

central to maintaining life:

• language (production and understanding)
• co-ordinating movement
• coding sensory data from sensory organs
• problem-solving and planning
• basic functions like regulating body temp, heart rate and breathing

Question 4

what is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 4

ensures signals from the brain are transmitted to the rest of the body via the PNS

• also involved in reflex actions
  like how to respond when we’re surprised or startled

Question 5

what does the PNS do?

Answer 5

transmits messages throughout the whole body from the brain and also relays messages back to the brain

Question 6

the PNS is divided into two sections
what are these?

Answer 6

• the somatic system
• the autonomic system

Question 7

what does the somatic system do?

Answer 7

• transmits and receives messages from the senses and to and from CNS and outside world
• 1) sensory receptors
  -> carry info to spinal cord and brain
• 2) motor pathways
  -> allow brain to control movement
• allows us to carry sensory info to brain and produce muscle response
• controls voluntary movement

Question 8

what does the autonomic nervous system do?
it’s divided into two further sections?

Answer 8

• transmits and receives information from the organs to sustain life
• plays an important part of homeostasis
• carries out actions without your conscious awareness

-> the sympathetic system
-> the parasympathetic system

Question 9

what does the sympathetic system do?

Answer 9

• involved in fight and flight response
  -> in a scary situation, the sympathetic nervous system prepares you to stay and attack (fight) or run away (flight)
• increases activity

Question 10

what does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 10

• maintains normal bodily activity (homeostasis)
  -> rest / digest
• acts as a brake and reduces the activities of the body that have been increased by the sympathetic nervous system
• helps to converse the body’s activity levels and energy by decreasing activity or maintaining it