nervous system (theory) Flashcards
CNS
the central nervous system
this is associated with the brain and spinal cord
PNS
the peripheral nervous system
associated with tissues innervated outside of the CNS
ex… upper and lower limbs
CNS breakdown
brain and spinal cord
PNS break down
CNS input and output
the CNS can integrate, process and coordinate sensory input and motor output
the CNS is the seat for intelligence, memory, learning and emotion
CNS sensory input
sensory input travels along the spinothalamic tract (ascending)
sensation –> up the tract –> thalamus –> post central gyrus (parietal lobe)
CNS motor output
motor output travels down the corticospinal tract (descending)
cortex –> pre central gyrus (pre frontal lobe)
pre
front
post
back
PNS function
provide sensory information to the CNS and receive motor commands from the CNS
afferent and efferent signalling
afferent
sending sensory information to the brain
efferent
carries out motor commands
“efferent escapes the CNS”
dorsal horn of the grey matter
receives sensory information from the PNS
ventral and lateral horns of the grey matter
receives motor commands from the CNS
smooth muscle
autonomic control
skeletal muscle
somatic control
PNS cranial nerves
there are 12 cranial nerves
PNS spinal nerves
there are 31 spinal nerves
8x cervical
12x thoracic
5x lumbar
5x sacral
1x coccygeal
afferent breakdown
the PNS can send sensory information from the visceral organs OR the muscles to the CNS
visceral organs = visceral
muscles = somatic
efferent breakdown
the PNS can receive motor commands from the CNS for either skeletal muscle or visceral organ movement
skeletal muscle = somatic nerves
visceral organs = autonomic nerves
visceral
afferent signaling from the PNS to the CNS about visceral organ sensation
monitors smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and other visceral organs
somatic
afferent signaling from the PNS to the CNS about muscle sensation
monitors skeletal muscles and the joints
autonomic nerves
efferent signaling from the CNS to the PNS to affect visceral organs
controls visceral organ activities
somatic nerves
efferent signaling from the CNS to the PNS to affect skeletal muscle
controls skeletal muscle contraction
autonomic nerve subdivision
sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves
the effects of either system often counter act the other
sympathetic nerves
pupil dilation, increase heart rate, relaxes bladder
parasympathetic nerves
pupil constriction, decrease heart rate, tenses bladder
neurons
consists of the soma, axons, and dendrites
these cells transfer electrical signals to target tissue for nervous system to organ tissue coordination