The Nervous System Flashcards
What are the two nervous systems?
Central and peripheral nervous system
What makes up the central nervous system?
The brain and the spinal cord
What makes up the peripheral nervous system?
The autonomic and somatic nervous systems.
What is the role of the central nervous system?
The centre for all complex commands and decisions.
The spinal cord links the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
What is the role of the somatic nervous system?
Controls voluntary behaviour.
Nerves take messages to and from the skin, skeletal muscles and glands to carry out conscious behaviour.
What is the role of the autonomic nervous system?
Controls involuntary actions like heart beat, breathing and digestion.
Prepares the body for a perceived threat.
Returns the body to a state of homeostasis.
What makes up the the autonomic nervous system?
The sympathetic and parasympathetic branches
What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
Controls arousal and fight or flight response.
In response to a real or imagined threat the body responds accordingly.
What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
It calms back down the body and bring levels to a stable level. Homeostasis brings the body back to normal.
What are some examples of bodily functions when the sympathetic nervous system is dominant?
Pupils dilate, heart rates accelerates, saliva decreases, bladder relaxes, increase production of perspiration.
What are some examples of bodily functions when the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant?
Pupils contract, heart rates slows down, saliva increases, bladder contracts, decrease production of perspiration
What is a reflex arc?
A stimulus-response model
Explain a reflex arc?
A stimulus is detected by a receptor, which sends a sensory neuron to the spinal cord. The spinal cord makes a decision and sends a motor neuron to an effector which will initiate a response.
Why does the reflect not go to the brain?
To save time as it is a reflex and requires a quick reaction.
