Endocrine & Nervous Systems Flashcards
What are the 3 main functions of the nervous system?
Sensory input – monitoring events and changes inside and outside the body
Interpretation – analysing the data
Motor output – response to the incoming data
What are the 2 branches of the nervous system?
The central nervous system (CNS)
The peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What makes up the CNS?
Brain & Spinal cord
What is the role of an Afferent Nerve?
Sends incoming information about change to CNS
What is the role of an Efferent Nerve?
Sends outgoing information about a response
What two branches is the PNS split into?
Somatic Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System
What is the role of the Somatic Nervous System?
This branch of the PNS is concerned with changes in the external environment. It senses movement, touch, pain, skin temperature etc. It is under our conscious control.
What is the role of the Autonomic Nervous System?
This branch of the PNS is concerned with changes in the internal environment. It senses hormonal status, functioning of internal organs, controls cardiac and smooth (involuntary) muscles and the endocrine glands that secrete hormones. The autonomic nervous system is not under our conscious control.
What is the role of Sympathetic Nerves in the efferent nerves of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic nerves are responsible for increasing activity and play a vital role in the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism. They work by releasing a chemical known as a neurotransmitter from the nerve ending to bring about an associated response. For example, during times of stress, such as exercise, the neurotransmitters adrenaline and noradrenaline (also known as epinephrine and norepinephrine) are released
What changes do the Sympathetic Nerves in the efferent nerves of the autonomic nervous system bring about?
Increased heart rate
Increased breathing rate
More forceful contraction of the heart leading to increased stroke volume
Vasoconstriction of all arteries and arterioles in the body, which increases blood pressure
What is the role of Parasympathetic Nerves in the efferent nerves of the autonomic nervous system?
Parasympathetic nerves are stimulated to counteract the vasoconstriction of arteries at the working muscles. They are initiated with the increase in carbon dioxide which is a by-product of the increased oxygen utilisation at the active muscles. This increase causes the release of a neurotransmitter - acetylcholine, which has the opposite effect of adrenaline and noradrenaline. The process blocks the vasoconstriction response and actually dilates the arteries at the local working muscles allowing for more oxygen utilisation.
What is the role of Chemoreceptors?
Monitor the levels of many chemicals in the body
What is the role of Proprioceptors?
Detect excessive tension or contraction
What is the role of Baroreceptors?
Monitor BP
What is the role of Thermoreceptors?
Detect temperature changes
What 3 main parts make up a Neuron?
Axon
Cell Body
Dendrites
What is the role of the Dendrites?
To sense the stimulus
What covers the Axon?
Lipid/Protein compound called the Myelin Sheath
What is the role of the Nodes of Ranvier between the myelin sheath?
Regulate intake and removal of nutrients and west
What is at the end of an Axon which interfaces between another neutron or a muscle?
Axon Terminal
What is the name of the gap between nerves that the signal passes over?
Synapse
What is the is the role of the Muscle Spindles proprioceptor?
Initiate stretch reflex by providing information on how fast a muscle is stretching
What is the role of the Golgi Tendon Organs proprioceptor?
Provides feedback on the tension applied to muscle tendons. Force the antagonist muscle to contract and relaxes the contracting muscle
What is the role of the Joint Receptor proprioceptor
Provide feedback on the angle of the joint
What are 3 methods to progress motor skills?
Slowing the speed of a movement to learn the correct co-ordination technique and pattern, then gradually speeding the movement up to the correct level and improving on this
A technique called whole-part-whole which incorporates breaking down a complex movement pattern into parts and perfecting each one before combining the whole movement together again
Peer work can help improve motor skill performance by teaching each other a technique; this can in turn improve the teacher’s ability
What are the two main groups Hormones can be split into?
Peptide
Steroid
What are Peptide Hormones made of?
Chains of Amino Acids
How fast to Peptide Hormones generally act?
Quickly to cause metabolic change in the cells the affect
What are Steroid Hormones synthesised from?
Cholesterol
How fast do Steroid Hormones generally act?
Slowly, by entering target cell and reacting with the DNA
Open for table of Hormones…
Name of hormone Location and Function Gland which produces hormone
Insulin : Lowers blood glucose by facilitating use and storage
Glucagon: Raises blood glucose by facilitating the release of liver glycogen from storage
Found in the abdominal cavity, close to the stomach
Regulation of blood glucose levels by the action of two hormones
Pancreas
Adrenaline (catecholamine) also known as epinephrine
Noradrenaline (catecholamine) also known as norepinephrine
Found at the top of the kidneys
Facilitates sympathetic nervous activity - fight or flight response. The mobilisation of fat from adipose tissue, stimulation of breakdown of glycogen to glucose, increases the heart and breathing rate by releasing two hormones
Adrenals
Testosterone (an androgen or male sex hormone)
Found in the pelvic region
Promotes masculinity, increases muscle size, decreases body fat, increases red blood cell count
Testes
Oestrogen
Progesterone (female sex hormones)
Found in the pelvic region
Promotes feminisation, development and roundness of breasts, decrease in hair growth on body, increase of fat by the production of two hormones
Ovaries
Growth hormone
Found at the base of the brain
Increases fat metabolism, increases glycogen synthesis, increases blood glucose levels, promotes growth in children and young adults, promotes muscle mass
Hypothalamus and Pituitary
Thyroxine
Found in the neck
Increases fat metabolism, increases glycogen synthesis, increases blood glucose levels, promotes growth in children and young adults, promotes muscle mass
Thyroid
Corticosteroids
Found at the top of the kidneys
Regulation of stress response, immune responses, control of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism
Adrenals
Parathyroid
Found at the neck (behind the thyroid)
Control of calcium in the blood to maintain muscle contraction, blood clotting and nerve impulse transmission
Parathyroid gland
What are Catecholamines?
Part of the sympathetic nervous system and are the ‘fight or flight’ hormones released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. They act on the nervous system by elevating heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, muscle strength and mental alertness. They also increase the blood to major organs such as the kidneys, heart and brain.
What are the most abundant Catecholamines in the human body?
Epinephrine (Adrenaline)
Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline)
What is the normal zone for blood sugar levels?
90mg/100ml
What is Hyperglycaemia?
Blood sugar levels too high
What is Hypoglycaemia?
Blood sugar levels too low
What does Insulin cause?
Causes almost every cell to take on Carbohydrates
What happens when all muscle cells are saturated with glycogen?
Excess glucose is stored and converted to fat
What is the role of Glucagon?
Can create glucose from fats and proteins via glyconeogenisis
What is the problem with too much use of Glucagon?
The protein needed to convert glucose often comes from Skeletal Muscles
