L1 - The Nervous System

Question 1

What does the CNS consist of?

Answer 1

The Brain & Spinal Cord

Question 2

What is the function of the CNS?

Answer 2

• Controlling behaviour and regulation of the body’s physiological processes
• The brain must be able to receive info from the sensory receptors, and send msgs to muscles/glands

Question 3

What are the areas the brain is divided into and what do they do?

Answer 3

Cerebrum

• Largest part
• 4 Lobes
• Split down the middle into hemispheres

Cerebellum
- Responsible for motor skills, balance & coordination of muscles for precision

Brain Stem
- Regulates breathing & heart rate

Diencephalon

• Contains Thalamus (consciousness/sleep/alertness)
• Contains Hypothalamus (body temp/stress response/hunger/thirst)

Question 4

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 4

• Relay info between Brain and body
• So Brain can monitor and regulate bodily processes (digestion/breathing)
• Connected to diff parts of the body through spinal nerves connecting to muscles/glands
• Damage results to nerves below it being cut and no functionality

Question 5

What does the PNS consist of and what is its functionality?

Answer 5

• Consists of Nervous system (everything but the brain/spinal cord)
• Transmits messages via neurons to/from the CNS
• Has two divisions: Somatic Nervous System & Autonomic Nervous System

Question 6

What is the Somatic Nervous System?

Answer 6

• Controls voluntary movement, is under conscious control
• Connects senses w/ CNS
• Has sensory and motor pathways
• Controls skeletal muscles
• Controlled by MOTOR CORTEX

Question 7

What is The Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 7

• Involuntary
• Only motor pathways
• Controls smooth muscles + internal organs/glands of body
• Controlled by BRAIN STEM

Question 8

What makes the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 8

Sympathetic Nervous System

• Activated when stressed
• Heart rate & breathing increase
• Digestion stops & Salivation reduces
• Pupils dilate & flow of blood is diverted from the surface of the skin

Parasympathetic Nervous System

• when body is relaxing & conserving energy
• Heart rate & breathing decrease
• Digestion starts & salivation increases
• Pupils constrict