Biopsychology : The nervous system and the endocrine system Flashcards
What is the nervous system?
consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. Comunicates using electrical signals
What is the central nervous system?
(CNS) Consists of the brain and the spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
Sends information to the CNS from the outside world and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body
What is the Somatic nervous system (SNS)?
transmitts information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS. It also recieves information from the CNS that directs muscles to act
What is the Autonomic nervous system (ANS)?
transmits information to and from internal bodily organs. It is autonomic as the system operates involuntarily. It has two main divisions the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
What is the nervous system?
A specialised netwrok of cells in the human body and is our primary communication system
What is the nervous system based on?
Electrical and chemical signals
What is the endocrine system based on?
Hormones
What are the nervous systems two main functions?
To collect, process and respond to information in the environment.
To coordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body.
What two sub-systems is the nervous system devided into?
Central nervous system (CNS)
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What is the CNS made up of?
Brain
Spinal cord
The brain is the centre of what?
conscious awareness
What is the outer layer of the brain called?
Cerebal cortex
3 facts about the cerebal cortex?
only 3mm thick
covers the brain like an orange peel
is only found in mammals
How is the human brain different from an animal brain?
Highly developed in humans and is what distinguishes our higher mental functions.
Only a few living creatures - sponges, sea quirts, jellyfish - do not have a brain
The brain is devided into how many hemispheres?
2
The spinal cord is an extention of what?
the brain
What is the function of the spinal cord?
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
What is the function of the PNS?
Transmits messages, via millions of neurons (nerve cells), to and from the CNS
What is the PNS sub-divided into?
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Somatic nervous system (SNS)
What is the functon of the ANS?
governs vital functions in the body such as, breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses
What is the function of the SNS?
governs muscle movement and receives information information from sensory receptors
What works along side the nervous system?
the endocrine system
What is the function of the endocrine system?
Controls vital functions in the body.
Acts more slowly than the nervous system but has very widespread and powerful effects
Where is the endrocrine system placed around the body?
various glands such as the thyroid gland, produce hormones
In the endocrine system where are the hormones secreted into and what happens?
The blood stream and effect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone.
Most hormones affect what leading to what? (and use example)
Affect cells in more than one body organ, leading to more diverse and powerful responces eg the thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine this hormone effects cells in the heart (increases heart rate). It also effects cells throughout the bpdy increasing metabolic rates (the chemical process taking place in the cells)
What is the key endocrine gland, where is it located and what does it control?
Pituritary gland, located in the brain and it controls the release of hormones from all the other endorcine glands in the body.
Often the endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system work in what with one another?
parallel
One example of when the endocrine and ANS system work together?
During a stressful event
What happens when a stressor is recieved when the endocrine and ANS is working together?
Part of the brain called the hypothalamus activates the pituitary gland and this activity in the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system
The ANS changes from its normal resting state (the parasympathetic state) to the physiologically aroused sympathetic state.
What is adrenaline?
A stress hormone released form the adrenal medulla (a part of the adrenal gland lying near your kidneys) into the bloodstream.
Adrenaline triggers physiological changes in the body (eg inc heart rate) which creates the the physiological arousal necessary for the fight or flight responce.
What is immediate and automatic?
All of this happens in an instant as soon as the threat is detected (eg your heart starts beating faster almost as soon as you experience a fright). This is an accuate responce and an automatic reaction in the body.
What changes in the sympathetic state?
Increases heart rate
Increases breathing rate
Dilates pupils
Inhibits digestion
Inhibits saliva production
Contracts rectum
What changes in the parasympathetic state?
Decreases heart rate
decreases breathing rate
constrics pupils
stimulates digestion
stimulates saliva production
relaxes rectum
What does parasympathetic action mean?
When the threat has passed the parasympathetic nervous system returns to its resting state.
The parasmpathetic 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 reduces the activities of the bodythat were increased by the actions of the sympathetic branch
