Biopsychology: Nervous/Endocrine System Flashcards
what’s the nervous system?
a specialised network of cells in the body and is our primary internal communication system. it’s main functions: to collect, process and respond to environmental information. to co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body. it’s divided into central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.
what’s the central nervous system?
it’s made up of brain and spinal cord. the brain is the centre of conscious awareness. its outer layer, cerebral cortex, is highly developed and distinguishes our higher mental functions from animals. the brain is divided into 2 hemispheres.
what’s the peripheral nervous system?
it transmits messages via millions of neurons to and from the central nervous system. it’s divided into autonomic nervous system (governs vital functions like breathing and heart rate) and somatic nervous system (controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors.
what’s the endocrine system?
one of the body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream. these hormones are carried towards target organs.
what are glands?
an organ in the body that synthesises substances such as hormones.
what are hormones?
chemical substancs that circulate in the bloodstream and only affects target organs. they are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly.
what’s an example of a hormone?
the thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine, which affects cells in the heart and cells that increase metabolic rate and therefore affects growth rate.
what’s the main gland?
the pituitary gland, located in the brain. it’s often called the master gland as it controls the release of homones.
what’s the fight or flight response?
in stressful situations. when a stressor is perceived, the hypothalamus triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, which changes its normal resting state to the physiologically aroused state. adrenaline is then released into the bloodstream, which triggers physiological changes to the body. once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to resting state.
