Biopsych - nervous system Flashcards
What are the 2 parts of the nervous system
Central nervous system (CNS) - brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS) - all other cells
What are the 2 branches of the PNS
Somatic/autonomic nervous system
What are the 2 branches of the ANS
Sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system
What are the 2 main functions of the CNS
Control behaviour and regulate body’s physiological processes
What is the role of the brain as part of the CNS
Receive info from sensory receptors and send messages to muscle glands in body
What is the role of the spinal cord as part of the CNS
Transfer messages between body and brain, responsible for simple reflex actions
What is the arc reflex
Reflex of the body to a potentially dangerous stimulus, has 5 steps
What is the order the arc reflex acts in (5 steps)
Sensor, sensory neuron, control centre (CNS), motor neuron, muscle
What is the main role of the PNS
Relay info via nerve impulses from body back to CNS
What is the main function of the SNS
Maintain communication between CNS and outside world. Consists of sensory receptors (carry info to CNS), and motor pathways (allow brain to control movement)
What is the main function of the ANS
Maintaining homeostasis, and automatic actions are split into para/sympathetic branches
What is the main function of the Sympathetic NS
Involved in responses that prepare the body for fight or flight, e.g increase HR and BP, decrease digestion
What is the main function of the Parasympathetic NS
Aims to return the body to a balanced state after emergency, e.g decrease HR and BP, increase digestion
