5.1.5 Organisation Of The Nervous System

Question 1

What are the two systems that the mammalian nervous system is organised into?

Answer 1

Central Nervous System (CNS) - consists of brain and spinal chord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) - consists of all the neurones that connect the CNS to the rest of the body. These are the sensory neurones which carry nerve impulses from the receptors to the CNS and the motor neurones which carry nerve impulses away from the CNS to the effectors

Question 2

How is the nervous system split to control behaviour

Answer 2

Somatic nervous system - this is under conscious control and it is used when you voluntarily decide to do someone I.e. using a muscle in your arm to move it. The somatic nervous system carries impulses to the body’s muscles.

Autonomic nervous system - this system works constantly and is under subconscious control and is used when the body does someone automatically without you deciding to do it - involuntary. I.e. heart beating or digestion. This system carries nerve impulses to glands, smooth muscle and cardiac muscle

Question 3

How is the autonomic system further divided

Answer 3

Into the sympathetic and parasympathetic

Sympathetic - this is activated when need to increase heart rate and overall activity of the body

Parasympathetic - is used when we are resting and the activity of the body is decreasing. I.e. after exercise