Nervous System & Endocrine System

Question 1

What is the Central Nervous system made up of?

Answer 1

Spinal chord & Brain

Question 2

What does the peripheral nervous system do?

Answer 2

Relays messages from the environment to the CNS, via sensory neurones, and from the CNS to effectors, via motor neurones

Question 3

What is the peripheral nervous system made up of?

Answer 3

Somatic nervous system & autonomic nervous system

Question 4

What does the somatic nervous system do?

Answer 4

receives information from sensory receptors belonging to each of the 5 senses, and results in effectors being stimulated by the CNS, via motor neurones

Question 5

What is the autonomic nervous system made up of?

Answer 5

Sympathetic & parasympathetic nervous systems

Question 6

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 6

Rest & digest. Decreases heart rate, breathing rate, causes vasodilation & pupil constriction

Question 7

What does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Answer 7

Fight or flight. Increases heart rate, breathing rate, causes vasoconstriction & pupil dilation

Question 8

What does the endocrine system do?

Answer 8

Main chemical messenger system in the body. Hormones are secreted into the blood stream from glands and then are transported towards target cells in the blood, with complementary receptors.

Question 9

What does the pituitary gland do?

Answer 9

Controls the released of hormones

Question 10

What does the thyroid gland do?

Answer 10

Releases thyroxine, which increases heart rate & rate of growth

Question 11

What does the adrenal gland do?

Answer 11

Releases adrenaline. Creates physiological arousal preceding the fight or flight response

Question 12

What is the process of fight or flight?

Answer 12

1. The body senses becomes aware of a stressor in the environment
2. Through sensory receptors and sensory neurones in the PNS, this information is sent to the hypothalamus, which coordinates a response and triggers increased levels of activity in the sympathetic nervous system
3. Adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla and is transported to target effectors, via the blood through action of the endocrine system
4. Rectum contracts, saliva production is inhibited and breathing rate is increased.
5. Once the stressor is no longer a threat, the hypothalamus triggers more activity in the parasympathetic nervous system