6.1 The nervous system Flashcards
What 2 sections is the nervous system divided into?
Central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
What 2 sections is the central nervous system divided into?
Brain and spinal cord
What is the function of the central nervous system?
controls behaviour and regulates physiological processes
what 2 sections is the peripheral nervous system divided into?
somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system
what 2 sections is the autonomic nervous system divided into?
sympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic nervous system
define spinal cord
a bundle of nerve fibres enclosed within the spinal column and which connects nearly all parts of the body with the brain
define the brain in terms of the nervous system
the part of the CNS that is responsible for coordinating sensation, intellectual and nervous activity.
what is the function of the somatic nervous system?
the part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for carrying sensors and motor information to and from the central nervous system
what is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
governs the brains involuntary activities (e.g stress and heartbeat) and is self-regulating. It is divided into the sympathetic branch (fight or flight) and the parasympathetic branch (rest and digest)
Describe some of the effects of SNS activation on the body.
Increased pupil size lets in more light for better vision
Increased heart rate allows for greater blood flow to skeletal muscles
Glycogen stored in the liver is converted to glucose for energy
Bronchial tubes in lungs dilate for greater oxygen intake
Sweat glands stimulated to produce more sweat.
Adrenal medulla stimulated to release adrenaline
