biopsychology- the nervous system and the endocrine system

Question 1

nervous system definition

Answer 1

consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. communicates using electrical signals

Question 2

central nervous system (CNS) definition

Answer 2

consists of the brain and the spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions

Question 3

peripheral nervous system (PNS) definition

Answer 3

sends information to the CNS from the outside world, and transmits messages from the CNS to the muscles and glands in the body

Question 4

somatic nervous system (SNS) definition

Answer 4

transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS. it also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to act

Question 5

autonomic nervous system (ANS) definition

Answer 5

transmits information to and from the internal bodily organs. it ‘autonomic’ as the system operates involuntarily. it has 2 main divisions, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

Question 6

what is the nervous system

Answer 6

specilised network of cells in the human body and is our primary internal communication system. it is based on electrical and chemical signals

Question 7

2 main functions of the nervous system

Answer 7

-collect, process and respond to information in the environment
-to co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body

Question 8

what 2 subsystems is the nervous system divided into

Answer 8

-central nervous system
-peripheral nervous system

Question 9

what is central nervous system made up of

Answer 9

brain and spinal cord

Question 10

brain

Answer 10

-center of all conscious awareness. the brains outer layer, the cerebral cortex is only 3mm thick (only found in mammals)
-the brain is highly developed in humans and is what distinguishes our mental functions from those of other animals
-divided into 2 hemispheres

Question 11

spinal cord

Answer 11

-extension of the brain. passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS. it is also responsible for reflex actions such as pulling your hand away from a hot plate

Question 12

what is the peripheral nervous system subdivided into

Answer 12

-autonomic nervous system
-somatic nervous sytem

Question 13

peripheral nervous system

Answer 13

transmits messages, via millions of neurons, to and from the central nervous system

Question 14

autonomic nervous system (PNS)

Answer 14

governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses

Question 15

somatic nervous system

Answer 15

governs muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors

Question 16

is nervous system or endocrine system faster

Answer 16

nervous system

Question 17

nervous system average response time

Answer 17

0.25secs but may be as fast as 100milliseconds

Question 18

endocrine average response time

Answer 18

2/3secs

Question 19

why is endocrines response longer

Answer 19

as hormones travel through the bloodstream

Question 20

does response last longer for endocrine or nervous system

Answer 20

endocrine

Question 21

what do the endocrine and nervous systems work together to do

Answer 21

control vital functions in the body

Question 22

endocrine system speed and effects

Answer 22

acts more slowly than the nervous system by has widespread and powerful effects

Question 23

how does endocrine system work

Answer 23

various glands in the body (such as thyroid gland) produce hormones. hormones are then secreted into the bloodstream and effect any cell that has the receptor for that particular hormone

Question 24

effect of hormones

Answer 24

most hormones effect cells in more than one body organ, leading to many diverse and powerful responses. for example, thyroxine affects cells in heart as increases heart rate, it also affects cells throughout the body increasing metabolic rates which affects growth rates

Question 25

main glands in endocrine system

Answer 25

-pituitary gland in the brain, known as the master gland as it controls the release of hormones from all other endocrine glands in the body
-hypothalamus
-thyroid
-parathyroid
-adrenals
-pancreas
-ovaries (female)
-testes (male)

Question 26

endocrine system definition

Answer 26

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 in the body. communicates via chemicals

Question 27

gland definition

Answer 27

an organ in the body that synthesises substances such as hormones

Question 28

hormones definition

Answer 28

chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs. they are produces in large quantities but disappear quickly. the effects are very powerful

Question 29

fight or flight response definition

Answer 29

the way an animal responds when stressed. the body becomes physiologically aroused in readiness to fight an aggressor or, in some cases, flee

Question 30

adrenaline definition

Answer 30

a hormone produces by the adrenal glands which is part of the human body’s immediate stress response system-stimulating heart rate, contracting blood vessels and dilating air passages

Question 31

when is body in parasympathetic state

Answer 31

normal resting state

Question 32

when is body in sympathetic state

Answer 32

when physiologically aroused

Question 33

how do endocrine and autonomic nervous system (ANS) work together

Answer 33

in parallel with one another, for instance during a stressful event

Question 34

what happens when a stressors is perceived

Answer 34

-hypothalamus (in the brain) activates pituitary gland which trigger activity in the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system
-the ANS changes from its normal resting state (parasympathetic state) to physiologically aroused (sympathetic state)

Question 35

adrenaline

Answer 35

the stress hormone adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla (part of adrenal gland near kidneys) into the bloodstream. it triggers physiological changes in the body (such as increased heart rate) which creates physiological arousal needed for fight or flight

Question 36

immediate and automatic

Answer 36

all this happens as soon as the threat is detected. this is an acute response and an automatic reaction in the body. there are physiological changes associated with this sympathetic response. these changes explain why stress, panic or excitement are often experienced as a sick feeling

Question 37

parasympathetic action

Answer 37

once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to its resting state. the parasympathetic branch of the ANS works in opposition to the sympathetic nervous system- its actions are antagonistic to the sympathetic system, the parasympathetic system acts as a ‘brake’ and reduced the activated of the body that were increased by the action of the sympathetic branch. this is sometimes referred to as the rest and digest response

Question 38

biological changes associated with the sympathetic state

Answer 38

-increased heart rate
-increased breathing rate
-dilates pupils
-inhibits digestion
-inhibits saliva production
-contracts rectum

Question 39

biological changes associated with the parasympathetic state

Answer 39

-decreases heart rate
-decreases breathing rate
-constricts pupils
-stimulates digestion
-stimulates saliva production
-relaxes rectum