The Nervous System

Question 1

What is the Nervous System?

Answer 1

A specialist communication system made up of a network of neurones. It is based on electrical and chemical signals.

Question 2

What two sections is the nervous system divided into?

Answer 2

The Central Nervous System (CNS)
The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Question 3

Divisions of the Nervous System

Answer 3

NERVOUS SYSTEM
|———————-|
PNS CNS
|——————————| |————————-|
Somatic NS Autonomic NS Brain Spinal Chord
|—————————|
Sympathetic NS Parasympathetic NS

Question 4

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Answer 4

• Made up of the brain and the spinal chord
• the brain receives information from sensory registers
• brain sends information to muscles and glands through the spinal chord

Question 5

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Answer 5

> transits messages via millions of neurones to and from the CNS
—>Somatic Nervous System: controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory registers
—>Autonomic Nervous System: controls vital functions

Question 6

Somatic Nervous System

Answer 6

• Controls skeletal muscles and movement
• Carries commands from the motor cortex
• Involved in reflex actions
• Both sensory and motor neurones are involved

Question 7

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 7

• Controls internal organs and glands (all involuntary actions)
• Only involves motor neurones
• Control centres in brain stem
• Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nervous System

Question 8

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 8

• Generally increases bodily functions
  —> **Fight or flight response*
• Neurotransmitters are excitatory

Question 9

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 9

• Generally maintains or decreases bodily functions
  —> Rest and Digest response
• Neurotransmitters are inhibitory