Divisions of the Nervous System Flashcards
What is the Nervous System
the nervous system is a complex system of nerve cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to different part of the body and so helps all the parts of the body communicate with each other
provides the biological basis of psychological behaviour
to sub-systems of the nervous system
Central Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
central nervous system
division of the nervous system
concerned with all life functions and psychological processes
divisions of the central nervous system
brain
spinal cord
brain
division of the central nervous system
maintains life, involved in higher functions and psychological processes
the brain is involved in psychological processes and is the centre of all conscious awareness
the brains outer layer, the cerebral cortex, is highly developed in humans and is what distinguishes our higher mental functions from those of animals
the brain is divided into two hemispheres
spinal cord
division of the central nervous system
the spinal cord is an extension of the brain
it is responsible for reflex actions (eg pulling your hand away from something hot)
it is responsible for relaying info between the brain and the rest of the body
peripheral nervous system
divisions of the central nervous system
the PNS transmits information via millions of neurons (nerve cells) to and from the central nervous system
it is the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
the function of the PNS is to relay nerve impulses from the CNS (brain/spinal cord) to the rest of the body and from the body back to the CNS
divisions of the peripheral nervous system
somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system
somatic nervous system
division of the peripheral nervous system
SNS controls voluntary actions (skeletal muscle movement)
achieved by receiving information from the senses and carrying sensory and motor information to and from the central nervous system
autonomic nervous system
ANS governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal, and stress responses
controls involuntary actions via internal organs and glands in the body
transmits information to and from internal organs to sustain life processes
ANS carries inly motor info to and from CNS
divisions of the autonomic nervous system
sympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic nervous system
sympathetic nervous system
division of the autonomic nervous system
primarily involved in responses that help us deal with emergencies (eg fight or flight)
neurons travel to virtually every organ and gland within the body, preparing the body for rapid action
eg. CNS causes body to release stored energy, pupils to dilate, hair to stand on end
generally increases bodily activities, and inhibits less important bodily processes such as digestion and urination
parasympathetic nervous system
generally maintains or decreases bodily activities
primarily involved in returning the body to a rest state once the emergency has passed (rest and digest)
eg. whereas the sympathetic branch increases heart rate, the peripheral branch slows heartbeat down
bodily processes that are inhibited by the sympathetic branch (eg digestion) are returned to normal
differences between central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
CNS main function is to control behaviour and regulate body’s physiological processes, WHEREAS, PNS function is to relay nerve impulses from CNS to the body and from the body back to the CNS
CNS made up of brain and spinal cord, WHEREAS PNS made up of all the nerves outside of the brain/spinal cord
differences between somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
SNS carries sensory and motor information to and from CNS, whereas ANS carries only motor information to and from the CNS
SNS controls voluntarily actions in the body WHEREAS ANS controls involuntary actions in the body
differences between sympathetic branch and parasympathetic branch
SB involved in responses that help us deal with emergencies (eg fight or flight) WHEREAS PB involved in returning the body to a rest state (rest/digest)
SB prepares body for action (eg releases stored energy, increases heart rate) WHEREAS PB returns body to normal once a stressor has passed (eg increased digestion, slows heart)
