Biopsychology Flashcards
What are the two parts of the human nervous system?
Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (SNS)
What structures make up the CNS?
Brain and spinal cord
What is the function of the CNS?
Origin of all complex commands and decisions – connects the nerves of the peripheral nervous system to the brain and spinal cord.
What type of action is controlled from the spinal cord?
Reflex actions
What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
Sends information from receptors (outside info) to the CNS, and transmits information from the CNS to the effectors (muscles or glands)
What are the two subsections of the peripheral nervous system?
Autonomic Nervous System and Somatic Nervous System
Which part of the nervous system is the autonomic nervous system part of?
Peripheral nervous system
Which part of the nervous system is the somatic nervous system part of?
Peripheral nervous system
What is the function of the somatic nervous system?
Carries sensory and motor information to and from the spinal cord, controls voluntary muscle movement
What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
Transmits information to and from internal bodily organs, controls automatic involuntary processes like breathing/heart rate etc.
What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
Which part of the nervous system is the sympathetic nervous system part of?
Autonomic nervous system
Which part of the nervous system is the parasympathetic nervous system part of?
Autonomic nervous system
What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?
Prepares the body to expend energy e.g. for fight or flight
What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?
State in which the body maintains body functions and conserves energy as much as possible
What takes place in the body when it is in the sympathetic state?
Digestion inhibited, saliva production inhibited, blood diverted from surface of the skin, energy release focused on heart and lungs to prepare body for action, pupils dilate
What takes place in the body when it is in the parasympathetic state?
Digestion increases, saliva production increases, heart rate decreases, pupils constrict
What is a neuron?
A nerve cell that transmits messages as an electrical signal
What are the branch-like structures that stick out from the cell body and carry impulses from neighbouring neurons towards the cell body?
Dendrites
What is the name of the fatty layer that protects the axon and speeds up electrical transmission?
Myelin Sheath
What is the axon?
The branch extending from the cell body that carries impulses away from it towards the terminal buttons.
What is the purpose of the nodes of ranvier (gaps between the myelin sheath)?
Speeds up the signal transmission
What are the three types of neuron?
Sensory, Relay, Motor
What is the role of the sensory neuron?
Carries messages from the peripheral nervous system (receptors) to the central nervous system