The Nervous System

Question 1

What are the two parts of the nervous system?

Answer 1

• the central nervous system
• the peripheral nervous system

Question 2

What’s the CNS made up of?

Answer 2

• the brain
• the spinal cord

Question 3

What’s the role of the brain in the CNS?

Answer 3

It analyses and stores information and directs the actions of the body.

Question 4

What’s the role Spinal cord in the CNS?

Answer 4

Relays information to and from the brain. Also responsible for reflex actions.

Question 5

What’s the role of the CNS?

Answer 5

Controls the body’s nervous system.

Question 6

What’s the role of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 6

Consists of all other neurons/nerve cells across the body.

Question 7

What’s the two components of the PNS?

Answer 7

• somatic nervous system
• autonomic nervous system

Question 8

What’s the role of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 8

Enables us to respond to sensory information and to perform voluntary movements and actions.

Question 9

What’s the role of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 9

Regulates involuntary functions such as breathing, dilation/constriction of blood vessels and increases + decreases heart rate.
This is divided into 2 further divisions.

Question 10

What are the 2 divisions of the ANS?

Answer 10

• the sympathetic branch
• the parasympathetic branch

Question 11

What’s the role of the sympathetic branch?

Answer 11

Body’s quick response mobilising system, it gets the body ready for action - our ‘flight or fight’ response.

Question 12

What’s the role of the parasympathetic branch?

Answer 12

Body’s more slowly activated dampening system. Returns the body to a calmer state after a period of activation - called ‘rest and digest’.