Divisions of the Nervous system

Question 1

What are the divisions of the nervous system

Question 2

What are the four main areas of the brain?

Answer 2

• Cerebrum
• Cerebellum
• Diencephalon
• Brainstem

Question 3

Cerebrum

Answer 3

• The main outer layer of the brain.
• Split into two halves
• Divided into four main areas:
  
  • frontal lobe for thought
  • occipital lobe for vision
  • motor cortex for movement
  • auditory cortex for speech

Question 4

Cerebellum

Answer 4

motor skills and balance

Question 5

Diencephalon

Answer 5

comprises the thalamus (relay station sending nerve impulses from senses to the correct area of the brain for processing) and the hypothalamus (memory, hunger, thirst).

Question 6

Brainstem

Answer 6

regulates automatic functions e.g. breathing

Question 7

Spinal cord

Answer 7

An extension of the brain.
It acts as a relay between the brain and body.
Contains simple relay neurons which help us to perform quick, reflexive actions which don’t involved the brain, e.g. pulling your hand away from something hot.

Question 8

The Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 8

Refers to all the nerves outside of the CNS.
Its function is to relay impulses to and from the CNS and the rest of the body. There are two subdivisions: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the Somatic nervous system (SNS)

Question 9

The Somatic Nervous System

Answer 9

Control of voluntary movement and actions.
Receives information from sensory receptors.

Question 10

The Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 10

The control of involuntary actions.
It plays an important role in homeostasis, which maintains internal processes like body temperature, and blood pressure.

Question 11

Subdivisions of the ANS

Answer 11

The ANS has two components:
The Sympathetic Nervous System
- typically involved in responses that prepare the body for fight or
flight (excitatory).
The Parasympathetic Nervous System
- role is to relax the body, and return us to our ‘normal’ resting state
(inhibitory)