Nervous & Endocrine Systems

Question 1

What does the nervous system do?

Answer 1

• Helps to maintain homeostasis (balance)
• Aims to adjust the body’s processes caused by external stimuli by transmitting nerve impulses
• Responsible for our perceptions, behaviours and memories and initiates all voluntary movements.

Question 2

Break down the part of the nervous system

Answer 2

1. Central nervous system – brain and spinal cord
2. Peripheral nervous system
   • Enteric- digestion
   • Autonomic – PSNS/SNS
   • Somatic – voluntary movement

Question 3

What are the 3 basic functions of the nervous system?

Answer 3

1. Sensory Function
2. Integrative Function
3. Motor Function

Question 4

What does sensory function of the NS do?

Answer 4

Sensory receptors detect internal and external stimuli and carry the info to the brain.

Question 5

What does integrative function of the NS do?

Answer 5

Integrating the sensory info by storing it and making the appropriate response.

Question 6

What does motor function of the NS do?

Answer 6

Once integrating and decision made, an efferent signal is sent outwards to make the appropriate response.

Question 7

What are the physiological responses of the PSNS?

Answer 7

Salvation
Lacrimation (crying)
Urination
Digestion
Defacation

Question 8

What are the physiological responses of the SNS?

Answer 8

Accelerated heart rate
Increased oxygen demand – shallow breathing
Blood goes to mandatory organs such as lungs, heart, liver
Blood pressure rises
Sweating
Shuts down digestion and elimination
Opens the bows

Question 9

What is asana/breathing suitable for PSNS?

Answer 9

Forward folds, inversions, seated twists, Savasana, mediation, yoga Nidra, ujjayi, nadi Shodhana

Question 10

What is asana/breathing suitable for SNS?

Answer 10

Standing, balancing, Surya Namaskar, standing twists, bhsatrika, some inversions

Question 11

What is the function of the endocrine system?

Answer 11

Balances the mind/body connection through the release of hormones in the blood stream. It’s made up glands and nerves.

Question 12

What are the 10 glands that make up the endocrine system?

Answer 12

Hypothalmus
Pituitary 
Pineal
Thyroid
Parathyroid
Thymus
Pancreas
Adrenal
Ovaries
Testes

Question 13

What does the hypothalamus do and what hormone is associated with it?

Answer 13

Regulates body temperature and metabolism. Produces hormones but doesn’t secrete them.
Dopamine – runners high, rewards system, lance armstrong

Question 14

What asana and breathing stimulate the hypothalamus?

Answer 14

Sirsasana – head stand

Nadi Shodhana

Question 15

What does the Pituitary gland do and what hormone is associated with it?

Answer 15

Secretes hormones that have been stored in hypothalamus.

Oxytocin – love hormone, social bonding, pain reliever

Question 16

What asana and breathing stimulate the pituitary gland?

Answer 16

Balasana – Child’s pose

Brahmari

Question 17

What does the Pineal gland do and what hormone is associated with it?

Answer 17

Located at the Third eye it is responsible for producing melatonin which turns into serotonin – sleep wake cycle/seasonal functions (SADs)
Seat of the soul – connection between the intellect and the body

Question 18

What asana and breathing stimulate the pineal gland?

Answer 18

Uttanasana

Nadi Shodhana

Question 19

What does the Thyroid gland do and what is it associated with producing?

Answer 19

Controls the body’s energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body is to other hormones.
Regulates energy levels through production of T3 and T4 hormones.

Question 20

What asana and breathing stimulate the thyroid/parathyroid glands for Hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid)?

Answer 20

Ustrasana - open throat

Ujjayi

Question 21

What asana and breathing stimulate the thyroid/parathyroid glands for Hypothyroidism (under active thyroid)?

Answer 21

Shoulder stand - closed throat

Brahmari - in association with jalandara bandha

Question 22

What does the Parathyroid gland do and what is it associated with?

Answer 22

Parathyroid hormone prompts the osteoclasts to take calcium from the bones to regulate calcium levels.

Question 23

What does the Thymus gland do and what is it associated with?

Answer 23

Specialised organ of the immune system whose only function is production and education of T cells through the hormone thymosin.

Question 24

What asana and breathing stimulate the thymus gland?

Answer 24

All backbends

Bhastrika

Question 25

What does the Pancreas do and what hormone is it associated with?

Answer 25

Production of digestive enzymes to break down food

Produces insulin and glucagon to control sugar levels

Question 26

What is type I diabetes?

Answer 26

Pancreas does not produce insulin

Question 27

What is type II diabetes?

Answer 27

Body is insulin resistant – fails to use insulin properly

Question 28

What asana and breathing stimulate the pancreas?

Answer 28

Twists to left / Vajrasana

Bhramari calming to nervous system which reduces stress

Question 29

What does the adrenal gland do and what hormone is it associated with?

Answer 29

Produces sympathetic hormones for fight or flight.

Cortisol is produced when the body is in stressed which helps the body use fat and glucose to respond to stress.

Question 30

What asana and breathing soothe the adrenals?

Answer 30

Viparita Karani for adrenal fatigue

Samavritti

Question 31

What do the ovaries do and what hormones are associated with them?

Answer 31

Primary purpose to produce gametes (sexual reproduction cells).
Estrogen, progesterone, relaxin’

Question 32

What do the testes do and what hormones are associated with them?

Answer 32

They produce sperm and hormones like testosterone.

Question 33

What asana and breathing stimulate the ovaries/testes (gonads)?

Answer 33

Badha Konasana

Nadi Shodhana

Question 34

How do the nervous and endocrine systems works together?

Answer 34

NS receives and responds to stimulus by sending signal/neurotransmitters through NS to endocrine glands that responds appropriately with a responding hormone.