The divisions of the nervous system: central and peripheral (somatic and autonomic) Flashcards
what is the nervous system
The nervous system is a highly organised collection of neurons that conveys information around the organism and between the organism and its environment.
what is the central nervous system
The central nervous system (CNS) is the body’s master control unit. Its role is the processing of incoming information and the preparation of responses.
what is the spinal cord
Most of the information travelling to and from the brain from the peripheral nervous system does so via the spinal cord, which is also capable of basic information processing in its own right.
what is the brain
The brain is the control centre for the nervous system and many of the body’s other systems. It is capable of very complex information processing
what is the peripheral nervous system
The role of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is to transmit information from the environment to the central nervous system, and from the CNS to other parts of the body.
what is the autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates involuntary (without conscious direction) bodily processes (internal organs and glands), including heart rate, respiration, digestion and pupil contraction and is involved in homeostatic functions. ANS control centres are in the brain stem and consists of purely motor pathways.
what is the somatic nervous system
The somatic nervous system (SNS) consists of sensory nerves, which carry information from the environment to the CNS, and motor nerves, which carry instructions to and from the CNS (motor cortex) to the skeletal muscles – involved in movement (voluntary movements).
what is the sympathetic branch of the ANS
The sympathetic branch (SANS) of the ANS. It consists of a series of connections from the spinal cord to the major internal organs. It becomes more active when we are doing anything which requires the expenditure of energy. It is also involved in the ‘freeze/fight/flight response’ that occurs when an organism is threatened.
what is the parasympathetic branch of the ANS
The parasympathetic branch (PANS) of the ANS consists of a series of connections between the brain and the internal organs. It is active most of the time, controlling homeostatic functions and ensuring that we conserve energy – it essentially maintains or decreases bodily activities. It becomes less active when the SANS becomes more active
The CNS has two main functions:
The control of behaviour
The regulation of the body’s physiological processes
Comprises the spinal cord and the brain.
The Spinal Cord
Main function: relays information between the brain and the rest of the body (peripheral nervous system).
Allows the brain to monitor and regulate bodily processes such as digestion and breathing, as well as coordinate voluntary movements (via the somatic nervous system).
If it is damaged, areas of the body that are supplied by spinal nerves below the damaged point will be cut off from the brain and stop functioning.
Cerebrum
This is the largest part of the brain and makes up about 85% of the total mass of the brain.
The cerebrum is split into two halves = hemispheres
Each hemisphere is further divided into four different parts, known as lobes
The outer surface of the cerebrum is called the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for the ‘higher-order’ functions, such as thought and language.
what are the frontal lobes involved in
Frontal lobes = involved with speech, thought and learning.
what are the parietal lobes involved in
Parietal lobes = sensory information e.g. touch, temperature and pain.
what are the occipital lobes involved in
Occipital lobes = process visual information.
