nervous system Flashcards
What is the main function of the nervous system?
The nervous system coordinates the body’s responses to internal and external stimuli, enabling quick reactions and maintaining homeostasis.
What are the two main parts of the nervous system?
The central nervous system (CNS), consisting of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes all other nerves in the body.
What is a neuron?
A neuron is a nerve cell that transmits electrical and chemical signals throughout the nervous system.
Describe the role of sensory neurons.
Sensory neurons transmit information from sensory receptors to the CNS, allowing the body to respond to changes in the environment.
What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary body functions, such as heartbeat and digestion, by regulating smooth muscle and gland activity.
The Peripheral Nervous System
The peripheral (outer) nervous system (PNS) carries messages between the central nervous system (CNS) and the rest of the body (limbs and organs).
The Central Nervous System
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord.
It processes signals and conducts information back to muscles and glands of the body.
The Nervous System
The nervous system is a system that controls all of the activities of the body.
It is a network of specialised cells (neurons) that communicate information about an organism’s surroundings and its body.
The Somatic Nervous System (PNS)
The system is responsible for nearly all voluntary muscle movements, as well as for processing sensory information
