biopsych

Question 1

Purpose of the nervous system

Answer 1

network of nerve cells that transmits messages to different parts of the body, communicates through chemical + electrical signals

Question 2

central nervous system

Answer 2

brain & spinal cord
provides conscious awareness

Question 3

peripheral nervous system

Answer 3

relay messages (nerve impulses) from CNS to body

somatic NS: sensory receptors carry info to CNS
+ motor pathways control muscle movement

autonomic NS: involved in homeostasis + have motor pathways
–> sympathetic ns: fight or flight in dangerous situations
–> parasympathetic ns: relaxes + returns body to normal resting state

Question 4

hypothalamus

Answer 4

stimulates and controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.

Question 5

pituitary gland (master gland)

Answer 5

controls release of hormones from all other endocrine glands in the body

Question 6

thyroid gland

Answer 6

releases thyroxine - responsible for regulating metabolism

Question 7

fight or flight response

Answer 7

A person enters a stressful situation
↓
amygdala (part of limbic system) activated sending distress signal to hypothalamus
↓
hypothalamus activates SAM pathway and sympathetic nervous system
↓
SNS stimulates adrenal medulla (part of adrenal gland)
↓
adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline hormones in bloodstream
↓
adrenaline causes physiological changes to prepare body for flight or fight