Peripheral Nerbouse System Flashcards
Peripheral Nervous system
The peripheral nervous system is made of every neuron in the body outside of the central nervous system (CNS) It is further divided into two branches: the somatic nervous system and the automatic nervous system .
The peripheral nervous system functions to bring information from the rest of the body to the (CNS) and to bring information about how to respond from the (CNS) to the rest of the body
Somatic Nervous system
The somatic branch of the peripheral nervous system is responsible for all voluntary movements and actions. The somatic NS operates by:
- sending sensory neural messages about the body and it’s environment, such as sent it stimuli Eg texture to the CNS
- Sending motor neural messages from the CNS to the skeletal muscles in order to initiate a voluntary response
Autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for initiating the response of the body’s visceral muscles organs and glands, such as the heart, stomach and liver. It also sends feedback to the brain about their activity.
The organs, muscles and glands involved in the ANS are mostly self regulating in that they don’t require conscious mental control to operate.
The ANS is divided into two branches: the sympathetic NS (which prepares the body for a perceived threat) and the parasympathetic NS ( maintains homeostasis)
Sympathetic Nervous System
The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for activating the body’s visceral muscles and glands to prepare for a perceived threat, changes that occur such as increased heart rate, dilated pupils; Andrenalline and stress hormones are released into the body
“S FOR STRESS”
Parasympathetic nervous system
The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for maintaining optimal levels of functioning of the visceral muscles. It also returns the body to a state of homeostasis after the heightened state of arousal of a sympathetic response such as heart rate returning to resting levels .
Skeletal muscles
Visceral muscles/organs/glands
Skeletal muscles- muscles connected to the skeleton and that are involved in conscious ^voluntary movement
Visceral muscles/organs/glands- the body’s non-skeletal muscles, organs and glands that are largely self regulating and don’t require conscious control
Motor neurons
Sensory neurons
Motor neurons AKA efferent neurons
are neurons that transmit messages from the brain (motor neural messages) to the skeletal muscles, giving instructions on how to move.
Sensory neurons AKA afferent neurons
are neurons that transmit information (sensory neural messages) about the body’s sensations (including touch, smell, sight etc) to the brain so that it can co-ordinate a response
