Basic Levels of Organisation Flashcards
What 2 things does the nervous system do
- Coordinates body functions
- Detects changes to internal and external environment and drives appropriate responses in muscles/organs/glands
What 2 things make up the central nervous system (CNS)
- Brain and Spinal cord
What makes up the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
all nerves that do not make up the brain and spinal cord
what can the PNS be split up into
- Somatic nervous system
- Autonomic nervous system
What are 2 features of the somatic nervous system
- voluntary control of peripheral motor system
- innervates and commands skeletal muscle fibres
What are 3 features of the autonomic nervous system
- controls involuntary processes
- maintains homeostasis of internal environment
- Regulates internal (visceral) organs, smooth muscle and secretory glands
What is the PNS subject to control from?
subject to control from the Central Nervous system
What 2 things can the autonomic nervous system be subdivided into
- Sympathetic
- Parasympathetic
What is the relationship between sympathetic and parasympathetic system
They exert opposing effects on organs/muscles/glands
What does sympathetic system increase, what does it decrease and what is the system sometimes called
- increases blood pressure
- decreases digestive function
- sometimes called Fight or Flight
what does the parasympathetic system increase, what does it decrease and what is it sometimes called
- increases digestive function
- decreases blood pressure
- sometimes called rest and digest
what organs are examples where sympathetic and parasympathetic systems don’t necessarily have opposing effects?
Sex organs are examples where sympathetic and parasympathetic systems don’t necessarily have opposing effects
