Biopsychology:Divisions of the nervous system

Question 1

Define the nervous system

Answer 1

a network of nerve cells and fibres which transmit impulses between parts of the body to regulate behaviour in response to the environment

Question 2

What is the central nervous system made up of and what does it do?

Answer 2

made up of the brain and spinal chord

its the origin of all complex commands and decisions

Question 3

What does the peripheral nervous system do?
What are the 2 divisions of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 3

it sends information to the CNS from the outside world and from the CNS to muscles and glands

the somatic and autonomic nervous systems

Question 4

What does the Somatic division of the PNS do?
2

Answer 4

transmits info to the CNS and receives info from the CNS to control voluntary muscle movement

connects the CNS and the senses

Question 5

What does the Autonomic division of the PNS do?
2
What can this division be divided into

Answer 5

transmits info to and from the CNS
it operates involuntarily

can be divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches

Question 6

What does the sympathetic branch do
What response is this known as?

Answer 6

it arouses the body
known as the fight or flight response

Question 7

What does the parasympathetic branch do?
What response is this known as?

Answer 7

relaxes the body
known as the rest and digest response

Question 8

What effects do the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches have on the following processes?
-the heart
-the lungs
-digestive organs
-glucose production
-pupils
-blood flow

Answer 8

sympathetic=
HR increases
BR increases so more oxygen is taken to muscles
saliva production inhibited and blood flow away from digestive organs
increase in glucose conversion
dilate to allow more light to see far away
diverted from skin to muscles

parasympathetic=
HR decreases
BR decreases
saliva production and peristalsis stimulated
decrease in glucose conversion and release of bile
pupils constrict
blood diverted to digestive system

Question 9

What is the name given to the nerve cells that make up the nervous system

Answer 9

neurons

Question 10

How do neurons communicate with each other?

Answer 10

by transmitting electrical and chemical impulses between one another

Question 11

What is the function of axons?

Answer 11

to carry messages away from the cell body

Question 12

What is the function of the cell body?

Answer 12

contains the genetic material

Question 13

What is the function of the myelin sheath?

Answer 13

to increase the speed of nerve transmission

Question 14

What is the function of dendrites?

Answer 14

they carry functional info towards the cell body and can receive info from other neurons

Question 15

What are the 3 different types of neurons?

Answer 15

sensory , relay and motor

Question 16

State what sensory neurons do , where they are found and the length of their dendrites and axons

Answer 16

-they carry info from sense organs towards the brain via the PNS
-found in eyes ears tongue and skin
-they have long dendrites and short axons

Question 17

State what relay neurons do(3) , where they are found and the length of their dendrites and axons

Answer 17

-they carry info to and from the brain
-they connect to other neurons and allow them to communicate
-involved in analysing info and deciding how to respond
-found mainly in the CNS
-short dendrites and short axons

Question 18

State what motor neurons do(2) , where they are found and the length of their dendrites and axons

Answer 18

-carry info from the brain to muscles and glands
-control muscle movement
-found in the PNS
-short dendrites and long axons

Question 19

What are muscles and glands known as?
What is the name given to the electrical impulse that is generated when a neuron is activated by a stimulus , where does this impulse travel?

Answer 19

effectors

an action potential , travels down the axon of a neuron