Divisions of the nervous system and neural pathways

Question 1

What does the central nervous system consist of?

Answer 1

The brain and spinal cord

Question 2

What does the peripheral nervous system consist of?

Answer 2

The somatic nervous system (SNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Question 3

Describe and explain what the somatic nervous system does.

Answer 3

The SNS contains sensory and motor neurons. The sensory neurone take impulses from sense organs to the CNS. Motor neurons take impulses from the CNS to the muscles and glands.

Question 4

Describe and explain what the autonomic nervous system does.

Answer 4

The ANS consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. These systems work antagonistically.
The sympathetic nervous system speeds up heart and breathing rate, whilst slowing down peristalsis and production of intestinal secretions.
The parasympathetic nervous system changes these in the opposite way, slows down the heart and breathing rate.

Question 5

What is a converging pathway?

Answer 5

A pathway where several neurons travel to one neuron. It increases the sensitivity to excitatory of inhibitory signals.

Question 6

Give an example of a converging pathway.

Answer 6

Convergance of neurons from rods in the eye

Question 7

What is a diverging pathway?

Answer 7

A pathway where one neuron travels to several neurons, this affects more than one destination at the same time.

Question 8

Give an example of a diverging pathway.

Answer 8

fine motor control of the fingers.

Question 9

What is a reverberating pathway?

Answer 9

This is where the neurons later in a pathway link with earlier neurons, which sends the impulse back through the pathway. This allows repeated stimulation of the pathway

Question 10

Give an example of a reverberating pathway?

Answer 10

The medullas control of breathing rate.