Organization of the nervous system

Question 1

Give an overview of the human nervous system

Answer 1

The brain is traditionally divided into three regions: the hindbrain, the midbrain,
and the forebrain. The reticular formation runs through both the midbrain and the hindbrain on its way up and down the brainstem. These and other parts of the brain are discussed in detail later in the chapter. The peripheral nervous
system is made up of the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary muscles and sensory receptors, and the autonomic nervous system, which controls the involuntary activities of smooth muscles, blood vessels, and glands.

Question 2

What makes up the central nervous system?

Answer 2

1. the brain and
2. spinal cord

Question 3

What is the peripheral nervous system made up of?

Answer 3

The peripheral nervous system is made up of all those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord. Nerves are bundles of neuron fibers (axons) that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system. This portion of the nervous system is just what it sounds like: the part that extends to the periphery (the outside) of the body. The peripheral nervous system can be subdivided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

Question 4

What is the somatic nervous system made up of?

Answer 4

The somatic
nervous system is made up of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and
to sensory receptors.

Question 5

What are afferent nerve fibres?

Answer 5

Afferent nerve fibers are axons that carry information inward to the central
nervous system from the periphery of the body.

Question 6

What are efferent nerve fibres?

Answer 6

Efferent nerve fibers are axons
that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of
the body.

Question 7

What is the autonomic nervous system made up of?

Answer 7

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is made up of nerves that connect to the heart, blood
vessels, smooth muscles, and glands.

Question 8

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 8

The sympathetic division is the branch of the autonomic
nervous system that mobilizes the body’s resources for
emergencies.

Question 9

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 9

the parasympathetic
division is the branch of the autonomic nervous system that generally conserves
bodily resources.