Nervous system Flashcards
What is the somatic nervous system for?
Conscious control, breathing, motor, etc
What is the autonomic nervous system for?
Regulates involuntary physiological processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion and sexual arousal
What is the autonomic system divided into?
Sympathetic (fight or flight)
Parasympathetic (return to normal baseline/rest and digest)
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?
Constricts pupil
Stimulates salivation
Slows heart rate
Constricts bronchi
Stimulates digestion
Causes bladder to contract
What does the sympathetic nervous system do?
Dilates pupil
Inhibits salivation
Increases heart rate
Dilates bronchi
Inhibits digestion
Inhibits contraction of bladder
What is the enteric nervous system?
Branch of the ANS which operates completely separately to sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
Controls gut and gut functions
Communicates through neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and acetylcholine - control blood flow into the stomach and bowels
What do the nerves at C1-C3 control?
Neck muscles
What do the nerves at C4 control?
Diaphragm
What do the nerves at C5 control?
Deltoid (shoulder)
What do the nerves at C6 control?
Wrist
What do the nerves at C7 control?
Triceps
What do the nerves at C7-C8 control?
Fingers
What do the nerves at T1 control?
Hand
What do the nerves at T2-T12 control?
Intercostals (trunk)
What do the nerves at T7-L1 control?
Abdominals
What do the nerves at T11-L2 control?
Ejaculation
What do the nerves at L2 control?
Hips
What do the nerves at L3 control?
Quadriceps
What do the nerves at L4-L5 control?
Hamstrings - Knee
What do the nerves at L4-S1 control?
Foot
What do the nerves at S2 control?
Penile erection
What do the nerves at S2-S3 control?
Bowel and bladder
How are dermatomes (map and location on skin) useful?
They are a good way of recognising/diagnosing if there is any damage to the spinal cord or nerve transmission
Each spinal nerve corresponds to a specific level and sensation is mapped to that level
If a patient has a sensation only above a certain area, we know what nerves are affected
What nerves does the cervical spine hold?
All the nerves that control the respiratory system and all movement
What nerves does the Thoracic spine hold?
Control of core muscles and arms as well as lower limbs
Respiratory control above T4