Nervous System Flashcards
What is the nervous system divided into
CNS and PNS
What is the CNS composed of
Brain and spinal cord
What is the PNS composed of
Sensory and motor neurons
what do sensory neurons carry and where
impulses from the receptors to the cns
what do motor neurons carry and where
impulses from cns to the muscles
What can the peripheral nervous system be divided into
Somatic and Autonomic
What does the somatic nervous system control
Voluntary movement of skeletal muscles. Deals with functions under conscious control.
What does the autonomic system control
Involuntary body functions
What can the autonomic nervous system be divided into
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
Antagonistic systems
Affect the same structure but have opposite effects
Describe the parasympathetic system
Active during rest and digest periods where the body conserves resources and stores energy. Reduces heart rate and breathing rate. Increases intestinal secretions and peristalsis.
Describe the sympathetic system
Active during fight or flight periods where the body is ready for action. Increases heart rate and breathing rate. Reduces intestinal secretions and peristalsis.
Three types of neural pathway
Converging, Diverging, Reverberating
Describe a converging neural pathway and give an example
Impulses from several neurons travel into one. Converging neurons from rods in the retina increase sensitivity to low levels of illumination
Describe a diverging pathway and give an example.
Impulses from one neuron travel to several neurons and so affect more than one destination at the same time. The divergence of motor neurons allows fine motor control of fingers.
