Somatic and Autonomic Nervous Systems

Question 1

What is the somatic nervous system responsible for?

Answer 1

Sending sensory information from sensory receptors to the CNS
Coordinates the voluntary movement of skeletal muscles, by carrying motor info from CNS.

Question 2

Describe how sensory info reaches the brain.

Answer 2

Sensory neural pathways (afferent pathways) are comprised of sensory neurons. Sensations from external and internal environment are detected by sensory receptors, which send message to the sensory areas of the brain.

Question 3

Describe how motor info reaches muscles (organs and glands)

Answer 3

Primary motor cortex effects a motor response; efferent pathways containing motor neurons will send this information to skeletal muscles in the PNS (causing them to contract or relax)

Question 4

Define: sensory receptors

Answer 4

Part of the neuron at the start of an afferent tract that detects and responds to a specific type of stimuli (all over body, generally only one type)

Question 5

Define: sensory neuron

Answer 5

Specialised nerve cells that carry sensory messages from sensory receptors to the CNS.

Question 6

Define: motor neuron

Answer 6

Motor neuron: specialised nerve cells that carry messages to muscles, organs and glands.

Question 7

Briefly describe how neural messages are sent between neurons.

Answer 7

Due to neurotransmitters
Action potential received by cell’s receptor site; ion channels open and allow it to pass through axon to axon terminals; energy causes synaptic vesicles to open and neurotransmitters are released across the synaptic gap and the cycle continues

Question 8

What is the purpose of the autonomic nervous system? (3 parts)

Answer 8

Operates outside of conscious control and connects CNS to the body’s visceral muscles, organs and glands to provide feeback to the brain about their activities

Question 9

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating the activity of VMs, Os and Gs - what does this mean?

Answer 9

Increases or decreases the activities of VMs, Os and Gs to meet demands placed on body.

Question 10

Does the autonomic nervous system function automatically and without conscious control?

Answer 10

Usually, but some autonomic responses can be controlled by biofeedback.