Section 1 Flashcards
What is the nervous system?
the body’s control and communication system. complex system with both voluntary and involuntary processes.
What are the 3 functions of the nervous system?
sensory input, integration, and motor output
What is motor output?
these serves communicate signals from the brain and spinal cord to the skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscle of the body, which causes them to contract or flex. Occurs once a sensory input has been integrated, and this is how the nervous system acts accordingly.
What is sensory input? Explain.
nervous system functions allows us to gather vital sensory info about the external and internal environment. Sensory input is detected by sensory nerves and travels through the body to communicate with cells.
What is integration? Explain why it is an important function of the nervous system.
nervous system needs to be able to put together the incoming sensory signals. Integration incorporates multiple simultaneous signals. This occurs in the brain or spinal cord.
An example is the brain is able to determine sound signals from each ear to determine the source.
What are the two main subdivisions of the nervous system?
Central nervous system (CNS)
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Describe the central nervous system.
It is made up of the brain and spinal cord. commonly referred to as the “control center” of the body.
where all signals come to and from, and where they are all integrated and where info can be stored.
Describe the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
it is composed of all the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. these include the cranial nerves, spinal nerves, the autonomic nervous system, and the special sense organs.
the system that brings the signals to and from the CNS.
What are the 2 subdivisions of the PNS?
the motor (efferent): the actual response that it illicted. where the signal comes from the CNS and is relayed to a target cell. signals can be voluntary or involuntary (without our control).
sensory (afferent): sensing things such as sight, smell, touch, pain. sends info to CNS through sensory neurons.
What are the 2 subdivisions of the CNS?
spinal cord and brain
How can the motor (efferent) of the PNS be further subdivided?
autonomic: control of involuntary responses.
somatic: control of all voluntary movement. When signal comes from CNS to skeletal muscle cells.
How can the automic of the PNS be further subdivided?
*both are involuntary, but both have different levels of activation in a given situation
*both of these take info from CNS involuntarily
*these two work together, but in opposing functions
parasympathetic: rest and adjust response, less active, slows heart rate
sympathetic: very active. known as fight or slight, rises heart rate
What is one diff between afferent and efferent neurons?
efferent are part of the motor division and carry signals away from the CNS. afferent neurons are part of the sensory division and carry signals to the CNS.
*efferent: “eff off” part of the motor and wants to get away from you
afferent: “aww” and “affection” part of sensory and wants to come close
