Structure and Organisation of Nervous System

Question 1

What is the structural organisation of the nervous system?

Answer 1

• CNS: neurones in brain and spinal cord
• PNS: all neurones connecting CNS to rest of body – neurones which carry nerve impulses from receptor to CNS; Motor neurones carrying impulses away from CNS to effector

Question 2

What is the functional organisation of the nervous system?

Answer 2

From the PNS…

Somatic Nervous System: under conscious control (used to voluntarily carry out an action)

Autonomic Nervous System: constantly working and is under subconscious control – body uses it to do something automatically - e.g. carries impulses to glands, smooth muscle, cardiac muscle

Sympathetic motor system: fight or flight responses. Neurotransmitter: noradrenaline

Parasympathetic motor system: rest and digest – ACh