Biopsych- nervous system and endocrine system

Question 1

Define what is meant by the human nervous system

Answer 1

The Human Nervous System is a body wide system of nerve cells, that collect information from the world
These nerve cells: process info and take action by directing this info to the organs and muscle, through the transmission of electro-chemical messages

Question 2

Name the two functions of the nervous system

Answer 2

1. A function of the NS is to collect, process and respond to information in the surrounding environment
2. Another function of the NS is to coordinate the organs and cells in the body

Question 3

There’s two parts of the CNS
what are they

Answer 3

Brain
Spinal cord

Question 4

what are the 2 roles of the CNS

Answer 4

one function of the CNS is it controls human behaviour and another is the that it regulates the body’s psychological processes

Question 5

what are the functions of the 1st section the CNS: the brain

Answer 5

-The brain’s function in the CNS provides conscious awareness and is involved in all psychological processes
-5 lobes to make up the brain
-And the brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord to control involuntary movements

Question 6

name the 5 lobes of the brain

Answer 6

visual info- Occipital lobe
auditory info- Temporal lobe
SPATIAL NAVIGATION- parietal lobe
logic and reasoning that are high order functions - frontal lobe

Question 7

What are the functions of the spinal cord

Answer 7

function of the spinal cord it to transfer messages from and to the brain and the rest of the body
as well as responsible for simple reflex actions eg. hand coming off a hot pan

Question 8

The NS is split into two the
CNS and the …………..

Answer 8

PNS
peripheral nervous system

Question 9

What is the PNS’ function

Answer 9

the PNS is all the nerves outside of the CNS
function is to relay nerve impulses from the CNS to the rest of the body and back

Question 10

what is the PNS split into
what are the functions

Answer 10

The somatic NS
- maintains the communication between CNS and world contains sensory receptors and motor pathways
- conscious muscle movement - reflexes
The autonomic NS
- unconscious vital functions eg. digestion, breathing
- homeostasis (keeping everything at equilibrium, maintenance of body)
-motor pathways
sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 11

in the autonomic NS
explain the function of the sympathetic and parasympathetic NS

Answer 11

sympathetic is the response to prepare body for fight or flight
para sympathetic is returning the body to it’s normal resting state after the emergency

Question 12

Autonomic and somatic similarities

Answer 12

both NS respond to external stimuli
-the SNS prepare the body for fight or flight and the ANS respons to stimuli by carrying info from sensory receptiors to brain/ spinal cord

Question 13

differences in Autonomic and somatic NS

Answer 13

SNS has sensory and motor pathways and controls organs and glands

but ANS only has motor pathways and controls muscles and movement

Question 14

define endocrine system

Answer 14

special group of cells within this system whose function is to secrete and produce hormones

Question 15

define hormones

Answer 15

The body chemical messengers secreted by glands
- Hormones travel through the blood stream at a slower pace than the NS, but hormones has a widespread powerful effect

Question 16

name the 9 hormones in the endocrine system

Answer 16

1- Melatonin- sleep- pineal gland
2. Cortisol- stress- Adrenal gland cortex
3. oxytocin- love ACTH- pituitary gland
4. thyroxin- metabolism - thyroid gland
5. oestrogen- mature of egg- ovaries
6. testosterone- muscle mass, puberty in males
7. adrenaline
8. noradrenaline
- stress and fight or flight repsonse - adrenal gland medulla
9. hypothalamus

Question 17

what is the role of the hypothalamus in the endocrine system

Answer 17

The hypothalamus is connected to the pituitary gland, and is responsible for controlling the release of hormones from the pituitary gland (master gland)
therefore showing that the hypothalamus is the control system that regulates the endocrine system

Question 18

what is the pituitary gland
and what does it split into

Answer 18

pituitary gland is known as the master gland because it stimulates the release from all the other glands
pituitary gland is split into front and rear lobes
1. Anterior lobe (front)- releases hormone ACTH which stimulates adrenal cortex which releases cortisol (stress)
2. posterior lobe (rear) - releases oxytocin (love) which is responsible for birth contractions, mother baby bonding

Question 19

when producing thyroxine,
which gland and what happens if it’s overactive or inactive

Answer 19

thyroid gland releases thyroxine to regulate metabolism
-if it is an overactive thyroid- they struggle to gain weight
- if it is an under active thyroid- they struggle to loose weight

Question 20

The adrenal gland is divided into 2 parts
name and state which hormone is secreted from each

Answer 20

adrenal medulla gland - releases adrenaline and noradrenaline
adrenal cortex gland- releases cortisol

Question 21

which NS works in parallel to the endocrine system
and what was the trigger which leads them to work together

Answer 21

Autonomic NS
ANS
- when a stressful event occurs and triggers F/F response

Question 22

4 stages in a flowchart of the endocrine and ANS working in parallel

Answer 22

• Stressor is perceived by hypothalamus which triggers section of ANS, the sympathetic NS- leads to physiological arousal
• adrenaline is secreted by adrenal medulla onto the bloodstream, due to stress
• Hormone targets organs needed int he F/F response
• after threat has passed the parasympathetic NS starts the rest and digest response, in order to return to resting state