CHP2: Nervous system functioning (A-C) AOS1

Question 1

Nervous system

Answer 1

A network of highly specialized cells enables the brain to receive information and is responsible for transmitting neural messages to and receiving neural messages from the body and activating an appropriate response.

Question 2

Brain

Answer 2

The body’s control and information center that is responsible for continuously initiating and processing actions, thoughts, and behavior.

Question 3

Spinal cord

Answer 3

A cable-like column of nerve fibres that extend from the base of the brain to the lower back and is encased by a series of bones called vertebrae. The spinal cord connects the brain to the rest of the body and transmits sensory information from the peripheral nervous system to the brain and transmit motor information from the brain to the peripheral nervous system.

Question 4

What are the two divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 4

The central and peripheral nervous system;

Question 5

Central nervous system

Answer 5

Process information received from the body’s internal and external environments and activate the appropriate responses.

Question 6

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 6

All the nerves outside the central nervous system, responsible for carrying information to and from the central nervous system from the body’s muscles, organs, and glands (internal) and from sensory organs (external environment).

Question 7

What are the subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 7

The autonomic and somatic nervous system;

Question 8

Somatic nervous system

Answer 8

Sending sensory neural messages about the body and its environment to the central nervous system (CNS). Sending motor neural messages from the central nervous system (CNS) to the skeletal muscles in order to initiative voluntary responses.

Question 9

Motor neurons

Answer 9

Neurons that transmit information through, motor neural messages from the central nervous system (CNS) to the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Question 10

Sensory neurons

Answer 10

Neurons that transmit information through sensory neural messages about the body’s sensation from the peripheral nervous system (PNS) to the central nervous system (CNS).

Question 11

Skeletal muscles

Answer 11

Muscles connected to the skeleton that are involved in conscious voluntary movement, meaning you control when they move and work.

Question 12

Visceral muscles

Answer 12

The body’s non-skeletal muscles, organs and glands are largely self-regulating and don’t require conscious control but are controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), e.g. heart, lung muscles and digestion.

Question 13

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 13

Responsible for connecting the central nervous system (CNS) and the body’s visceral (non-skeletal) organs, muscles and glands like the heart and liver. It controls automatic, involuntary, visceral functions.

Question 14

What are the subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 14

The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems;

Question 15

Biofeedback

Answer 15

A process by which we can control our autonomic nervous system functions. It involves knowing the biofeedback (physiological information) in order to control automatic functions.

Question 16

Fight-flight-freeze response

Answer 16

Initiated by the sympathetic nervous system and prepares the body to confront a stressful situation to optimise the chance of survival.

Question 17

Sympathetic response

Answer 17

The way the sympathetic nervous system activates the body’s visceral organs, muscles, and glands in a particular way to help energise the body to prepare to deal with incoming threats.

Question 18

Parasympathetic

Answer 18

Decreases the activity of most visceral muscles, organs and glands, and restores bodily functioning to its normal state. It counterbalances the sympathetic nervous system by returning the body to a state of calm once the cause of stress or threat is no longer present. It also maintains homeostasis in times of low stress (the body’s natural state of equilibrium).

Question 19

Sympathetic

Answer 19

Increases the activity of most visceral muscles, organs and glands in times of vigorous activity, stress or threat.

Question 20

List 3 parasympathetic responses

Answer 20

Constricted pupils, stimulation of digestion, and normalised heartbeat.

Question 21

List 3 sympathetic responses

Answer 21

Dilated pupils, increased glucose and blood flow.

Question 22

Sensory-motor circuit, reflex arc, spinal reflex

Answer 22

An unconscious, involuntary, automatic response to certain sensory stimuli that is initiated at the spinal cord, not involving the brain.

Question 23

What triggers the spinal reflex?

Answer 23

Where the response time is critical for survival (e.g. burns, cuts, venomous bites etc);

Question 24

Neuron

Answer 24

A nerve cell responsible for carrying information in the form of an action potential (neural impulse) to the appropriate part of the nervous system to interpret the message and enable a response.

Question 25

Lock-and-key process

Answer 25

Used to explain how neurotransmitters communicate neural information from neuron to neuron. The key in the analogy is the neurotransmitter with a distinct structure that must fit into a corresponding lock. The lock is the receptor site on the dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron, only opened and activating the neuron when accessed by the right key.

Question 26

Conscious response

Answer 26

A conscious response to a sensory stimulus is a reaction that involves awareness.

Question 27

Unconscious response

Answer 27

An unconscious response to a sensory stimulus is a reaction that does not involve awareness.

Question 28

Reflex

Answer 28

Reflexes are a type of response to sensory stimuli which are unlearned, unconscious, and automatic.