Major Structures and Functions of the Nervous System

Question 1

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

Central nervous system

peripheral nervous system

Question 2

Define Nervous System

Answer 2

a network of neurons and even more ganglia

Question 3

What do the CNS and PNS consist of?

Answer 3

CNS - brain and spinal cord

PNS - nerves, ganglia, enteric plexuses, sensory receptors

Question 4

What is the function of the CNS and PNS?

Answer 4

CNS - processes incoming sensory info; source of thoughts and emotions and memories; most signals that stimulate muscle contractions and gland secretions originate here

PNS -

Question 5

What are the types of nerves and where do they originate?

Answer 5

Of the PNS:

12 cranial nerves that originate in brain

31 spinal nerves that originate in the spinal cord from the posterior and anterior roots

Question 6

The PNS is divided into what two systems? What do they consist of? What do they stimualte?

Which ones are voluntary? Involuntary?

Answer 6

somatic nervous system- somatic sensory (afferent) neruons and somatic motor (efferent) neurons. Stimulate skeletal muscle only

autonomic nervous system - visceral sensory (afferent) neurons and visceral motor (efferent) neurons. Simulate smooth and cardiac muscle, glands

SNS is voluntary whereas ANS is involuntary and spontaneous

Question 7

T/F

The somatic nervous system is spontaneous and self-governing

Answer 7

False - the ANS is

Question 8

What nervous system functions as the “brain of the gut?” What does it consist of?

Answer 8

Enteric nervous systen (ENS)

Consists of sensory neurons and enteric motor neurons

Question 9

What are the two divisions of the ANS and what are their main functions?

Answer 9

Sympathetic or thoracoumbar division - “fight or flight”

Parasympathetic division - “rest and digest”