The Nervous System Flashcards
What is the nervous system
Aliased network of cells in the human body and is our primary internal communication system
What is the nervous system based on
Chemical and electrical signals
What are the 2 main functions of the nervous systems
.collect, process and respond to information in the environment
.co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
What are the 2 subsystems of the nervous system
.central nervous system
.peripheral nervous system
What are the two parts of the CNS
Brian and Spinal cord
What are the 2 subdivisions of the PNS
.Autonomic nervous system
.Somatic nervous system
What are the 2 subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system
.Sympathetic nervous system
.Parasympathetic nervous system
How does the brain receive information and where is it sent to
from sensory receptors and sends messages to
muscles and glands
What type of awareness is the brain involved in
conscious awareness and involved in all psychological processes
How many hemispheres does our brain have
2
How many brain regions do we have
4
What is the role of the brain stem
Controls involuntary and automatic processes such as breathing blinking
What is the role of the cerebral cortex
It’s the brains outer layer that distinguishes our higher mental functions from those animals
What is the role of the signal cord
Transfers messages to and from the brain and around the body and is responsible for simple reflexes
What are the 4 brain regions
Occipital, temporal, parietal and frontal
What is the role of the PNS
To relay nerve impulses/messages from the CNS
around the body and back to the CNS
What are the two divisions of the PNS
Somatic NS and Autonomic NS
What is the role of the somatic NS
it relays sensory neurons to the CNS and motor neurons away from the CNS and is responsible for basic reflexes
What is the function of autonomic NS
Controls involuntarily actions that work efficiently when they aren’t thought about
What are the two divisions of the autonomic NS used to deal with
Fight or flight situations
What is meant by fight or flight
Our response to deal with threatening situations
Which of the two Autonomic NS divisions is primarily involved with fight or flight responses
Sympathetic
What does the sympathetic NS do during threatening situations
Releases neurons/impulses from the SNS to every organ and glad in the body which leads to increased BPM, blood pressure and breathing rates.
What happens to digestion, salivation and urination in the sympathetic NS during a threatening situation
They slow down
What is the role of the parasympathetic NS
It works alongside the SNS to relax the body once the threatening situation has passed
What is it called when the parasympathetic NS causes the body to slow down
Rest and digest
What does the parasympathetic NS do to BPM and blood pressure and breathing
Slows them down