chapter 8 functions of nervous system Flashcards
We can consider the nervous system as a
communication system, receiving signals from and sending commands to different parts of the body.
the nervous system helps to
coordinate the body
functions to maintain homeostasis.
major functions are
Receiving sensory input, Integrating information, Controlling muscles and glands, Maintaining homeostasis, and Establishing and maintaining mental activity.
Receiving sensory input
Sensory receptors monitor numerous external and internal
stimuli.
(EXTERNAL STIMULI) We are aware of sensations from some stimuli, such as
vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, pain, body position, and temperature.
(INTERNAL STIMULI) Other stimuli, such as
blood pH, blood gases, and blood pressure, are processed at a subconscious level.
Integrating information,
The brain and spinal cord are the major organs for
processing sensory input and initiating responses.
Integrating information, The input may produce
an immediate response, be stored as memory, or be ignored.
Controlling muscles and glands. Skeletal muscles normally contract only when
stimulated by the
nervous system
Controlling muscles and glands. Thus, by controlling skeletal muscle,
the nervous system controls the major movements of the body.
The nervous system also
participates in
cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and many glands.
Maintaining homeostasis, The nervous system plays an important role in
maintaining homeostasis.
This function depends on
the nervous system’s ability to detect, interpret, and respond to changes in internal and external conditions.
In response, the nervous system
can stimulate or inhibit the activities of other systems
to help maintain a constant internal environment.
Establishing and maintaining mental activity.
the brain is the center of mental activity, including consciousness, memory, and thinking.
