Somatic And Autonomic - Edrolo Flashcards
ANS
The division of the peripheral nervous system that transmits motor messages from the brain to the body’s internal organs and glands, resulting in involuntary activity of these organs and glands, and transmits messages back to the brain about the activity level of these organs and glands. This consists of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
A division of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible
for homeostasis by countering the actions of the sympathetic nervous system once a cause of stress is no longer present, returning the body to a state of calm.
Somatic Nervous System
A division of the peripheral nervous system that transmits sensory information received from sensory receptor cells inwards towards the central nervous system and motor messages from the central nervous system to the body’s voluntary skeletal muscles.
Homeostasis
The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment through automatic day to day bodily functions. Examples of aspects of the body maintained by homeostasis are body temperature, normal digestion and breathing.
• Homeostasis maintains equilibrium and keeps all functions operating during times of low stress; this is integral
• Its purpose also includes allowing resources to be saved for when needed, and restoring depleted resources
Sympathetic Nervous System
A division of the ANS that activates the internal muscles, organs and glands to prepare the body for vigorous activity, or to deal with a stressful or threatening situation. The sympathetic nervous system releases adrenalin, increases heart rate and respiration and dilates the pupils to enable better vision. To allow this to happen other physiological functions are suppressed. The sympathetic nervous system also activates the fight-flight-freeze response.
