nervous system Flashcards
nervous system functioning
Nervous system is a highly organised network of cells that enables the brain to receive information from inside and outside the body and coordinate a response
Everything you sense, feel, think and do is controlled by your nervous system in some way
Eg. Remembering, thinking, speaking and moving
the three main functions of NS
Receive information
Process information
Coordinate a response to information.
Receive: Sensory stimuli from the external world (environment).
RPC
example:
Process: Brain – ‘It is really hot outside today, I regret wearing a jumper on my walk to the train station! I am going to take my jumper off.”
Respond: Person takes jumper off – is no longer hot!
Central Nervous System
Brain
Spinal cord
Main function is to process information received through the sensory systems and other parts of the body and to activate appropriate actions.
Its is located in the middle of the body.
Regulates bodily functions to keep us alive.
Brain –
a network of cells that processes information received from nerves.
Spinal Cord -
is the long, thin bundle of nerve tissue that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back.
Central Nervous System: Two major functions of the spinal cord:
Receive sensory information from the body and send it to the brain for processing.
Receive motor information from the brain and send it to relevant parts of the body to control muscles, glands and internal organs so the appropriate actions can be taken.
Central Nervous System: INTERCONNECTED NUERONS
transmit information along the spinal cord to and from the brain
Peripheral Nervous System
PNS is the entire network of nerves located outside the CNS that transmits information to and from the CNS.
PNS takes information to the CNS from the sense organs, muscles and glands.
Peripheral Nervous System: TWO MAIN FUNCTIONS
Somatic nervous system – voluntary movement
Autonomic nervous system – automatic functions
Peripheral Nervous System: SOMATIC NS
Carry sensory information to the CNS and motor information from the CNS.
Sensory information is received at sensory receptor sites in the body (skin, muscles, joints and tendons) and carried along sensory neural pathways.
Motor information is carried along motor neural pathways to the muscles to control their activity
Sensory function – someone touches your hand the SNS sends that information from the skin to the brain resulting in the sensation of touch.
Motor function – this is demonstrated when ever you voluntary move a body part. For example, when you text.
Peripheral Nervous System: AUTONOMIC NS
Is a network of nerves that carries messages between the CNS and the heart, lungs and other internal organs and glands
ANS regulates, or controls, the functioning of internal organs automatically, without you having to consciously think about it. For example the ANS regulates heart rate.
ANS has two divisions:
Sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
Peripheral Nervous System: SYMPATHETIC NS
Arouses the body when we experience an extreme emotion of feel threatened. For example riding a roller coaster.
Fight - Flight – Freeze Response
Peripheral Nervous System: PARASYMPATHETIC NS
Calms or restores the body to its normal state of functioning.
Returns body to homeostasis.
Enteric Nervous System
branch of the autonomic nervous system
The ENS controls the activity of the Gastrointestinal Tract or Gut
THE STOMACH:
Processing food
Absorbing nutrients
Excreting waste.
Vagus Nerve
One of your body’s longest nerves extending from the brain stem to the colon
A key connection between the gut and the brain.
Enteric Nervous System: The Gut-Brain Axis
Emerging research suggests there is a strong connection between gut health and mental health
The gut is often referred to as a 2nd brain. “Trust your gut”
The stomach is the only organ to work independently of the brain (CNS)
Enteric Nervous System: Healthy gut
Microbiota, more specifically, the correct balance of good microbiota, maintain gut health.
Enteric Nervous System: The Microbiome
A group of living organisms found as part of your microbiota.
Research has found that organisms without a microbiome produce more stress hormone.
Research has also found that organisms with a microbiome produces less stress hormone.
