The Nervous System

Question 1

The Nervous System

Answer 1

subdivided into:
* central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
* peripheral nervous system (ganglion and nerve)

Question 2

Central Nervous System

Answer 2

consists of the brain and spinal cord
* brain has an outer layer called the cerebral cortex, which consists of our higher mental functions e.g. thinking and memories
* spinal cord is responsible for reflex actions and passes messages from brain to rest of body and vice-versa
* CNS passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS

Question 3

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 3

subdivided into:
1. Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
* responsible for automatic actions such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress response
a. sympathetic nervous system- increases heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and decreases digestion during fight or flight
b. parasympathetic nervous system- decreases heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and increases digestion after fight or flight
2. Somatic nervous system (SNS)
* controls muscle movements
* receives info from sensory receptors (eyes, ears, touch and pain receptors etc)
* neurons carry sensory info to spinal cord so info is carried to brain and processed

Question 4

Homeostasis

Answer 4

the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system work together to maintain the body at optimum level of functioning