Nervous System

Question 1

The Nervous System

Answer 1

A specialised network of cells which act as our primary internal communication system by collecting, processing and responding to external stimuli and coordinating different organs in the body.

Question 2

What is the Nervous System divided into?

Answer 2

1) The Central Nervous System (CNS)
2) The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Question 3

What does the Central Nervous System (CNS) consist of?

Answer 3

1) Brain
2) Spinal cord

Question 4

What is the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) divided into?

Answer 4

1) Somatic Nervous System
2) Autonomic Nervous System

Question 5

What is the Autonomic Nervous System divided into?

Answer 5

1) Sympathetic Nervous System
2) Parasympathetic Nervous System

Question 6

What are the 4 main lobes of the Brain?

Answer 6

1) Frontal
2) Parietal
3) Occipital
4) Temporal

(see where they are positioned as well)

Question 7

1) Frontal

Answer 7

Responsible for higher order functions, eg, planning, abstract reasoning, logic.

Question 8

2) Parietal

Answer 8

Integrates information from the different senses.

Question 9

3) Occipital

Answer 9

Processes visual information.

Question 10

4) Temporal

Answer 10

Processes auditory information.

Question 11

Brain stem

Answer 11

Connects the brain and spinal cord and controls involuntary processes, including our heartbeat, breathing and consciousness.

Question 12

Spinal Cord

Answer 12

Transfers messages to and from the brain, and the rest of the body. Responsible for simple reflex actions that do not involve the brain.

Question 13

What is the role of the Somatic Nervous System?

Answer 13

Carry sensory information from the outside world to the brain and provide muscle responses via the motor pathway.

Question 14

What is the Somatic Nervous System made up of?

Answer 14

1) Sensory receptors - carry information to the brain and spinal cord.
2) Motor pathways - allow the brain to control movement.

Question 15

What is the role of the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 15

Important role in homeostasis, which maintains internal processes like body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.

Question 16

What is the Autonomic Nervous System made up of?

Answer 16

Only consists of motor pathways.

Question 17

What is the Autonomic Nervous System split into?

Answer 17

• The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
• The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)

Question 18

The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)

Answer 18

• Involved in responses that prepare the body for fight or flight.
• Impulses travel from the sympathetic nervous system to organs in the body to help us prepare for action when we are faced with a dangerous situation.
• Effects: increase in heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate vs decrease in digestion, salivation and the desire to urinate.

Question 19

The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)

Answer 19

• Relax the body, and return us to our ‘normal’ resting state.
• Effects: decrease in heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate vs increase in digestion, salivation and the desire to urinate.

Question 20

Similarities - CNS - Brainstem vs Spinal Cord

Answer 20

Both control involuntary processes (brain stem controls breathing and the spinal cord controls involuntary reflexes)

Question 21

Differences - CNS - Brain vs Spinal Cord

Answer 21

Brain provides conscious awareness and allows for higher-order thinking, while the spinal cord allows for simple reflex responses.

The brain consists of multiple regions responsible for different functions, whereas the spinal cord has one main function.

Question 22

Similarities - PNS - SNS (part of ANS) vs Somatic NS

Answer 22

Respond to external stimuli - sympathetic nervous system responds to external stimuli by preparing the body for fight or flight and the somatic nervous system responds to external stimuli by carrying information from sensory receptors to the spinal cord and brain.

Question 23

Differences - PNS - SNS (part of ANS) vs Somatic NS

Answer 23

Autonomic nervous system consists of two sub-components, whereas the somatic nervous stem only has one.

Autonomic nervous system controls internal organs and glands, while the somatic nervous system controls muscles and movements.

Autonomic nervous system only has motor pathways whereas somatic nervous system has sensory and motor pathways.