The nervous system

Question 1

What are the 2 main divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

Central nervous system -CNS
Peripheral nervous system - PNS

Question 2

What is the central nervous system made up of?

Answer 2

The brain and spinal cord.

Question 3

What is the peripheral nervous system made up of?

Answer 3

The somatic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system

Question 4

What is the autonomic nervous system made up of?

Answer 4

Sympathetic nervous system and Parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 5

What does the central nervous system do?

Answer 5

Receives information from the senses and controls the bodies responses.

Question 6

What does the brain do?

Answer 6

The part of the central nervous system that is responsible for coordinating sensations, intellectual and nervous activity.

Question 7

What is the main function of the spinal cord?

Answer 7

To relate information between the brain and the rest of the body. This allows the brain to monitor and regulate bodily processes, such as digestion and breathing.

Question 8

What happens when a spinal cord is damaged?

Answer 8

If the spinal cord is damaged areas supplied by spinal nerves, below the damaged site will be cut off from the brain and will stop functioning.

Question 9

How does the spinal cord work?

Answer 9

The spinal cord is connected to different parts of the body by pairs of spinal nerves, which connects with specific muscles and glands.

For example, spinal nerves, which branch off from the thoracic region of the spinal cord carry messages to, and from the chest and parts of the abdomen.

Question 10

How many areas is the brain divided into and what are they called?

Answer 10

4
The cerebrum
The cerebellum
The diencephalon
The brain stem

Question 11

What is the cerebrum?

Answer 11

The largest part of the brain.
Further divided into 4 different lobes.
Split down the middle into 2 halves called the cerebral hemisphere. Each hemisphere is specialised for particular behaviours and the two halves communicate with each other through the corpus callosum.

Question 12

Where is the cerebellum located and what is its function?

Answer 12

Sits beneath the back of the cerebrum.
Involved in controlling a persons motor skills and balance, coordinated and muscles to allow precise movements.

Question 13

What can abnormalities or issues to the cerebellum cause?

Answer 13

Speech and motor problems
Epilepsy

Question 14

Where is the diencephalon located?

Answer 14

Lies beneath the cerebrum and on top of the brain stem.

Question 15

What two structures lie in the diencephalon?

Answer 15

The thalamus and the hypothalamus

Question 16

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 16

Acts as a relay station for nerve impulses coming from the senses for eating them to the appropriate part of the brain where they can be processed.

Question 17

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 17

Regulation of body, temperature, hunger, and thirst and also acts as the link between the endocrine system and the nervous system controlling the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.

Question 18

Where is the brainstem located and what is its function?

Answer 18

Next to the cerebellum.
Responsible for regulating the automatic functions that are essential for life including: breathing, heartbeat and swallowing.
Motor sensory neurons travel through the brain stem, allowing impulses to pass between the brain spinal cord.

Question 19

What is the somatic nervous system made up of?

Answer 19

 12 pairs of cranial nerves
(nerves that emerged directly from the underside of the brain)
31 pairs of spinal nerves (nerves that emerge from the spinal cord)
These nerves have both sensory and motor neurons .

Question 20

What is the role of sympathetic nervous system (SNS)?

Answer 20

Primarily involved in responses that help us to deal with emergencies (fight or dlight), such as increase in heart rate, and blood pressure and deleting blood vessels in the muscles.

Question 21

How does the sympathetic nervous system function?

Answer 21

Neurons from the SNS travel to virtually every organ and gland in the body, preparing the body for the rapid action necessary when individuals is under threat.
For example, for SNS causes the body to release stored energy, pupils to dilate and hairs to stand on end. It slows bodily processes that are less important in emergencies, such as digestion and urination.
LOOK AT DIAGRAM ON PAGE 149 :)

Question 22

What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)?

Answer 22

Relaxes an individual once the emergency has passed.
E.g. slows down and reduces blood pressure
sometimes referred to as the bodies, rest and digest system.