The nervous system Flashcards
biopsychology
What is the nervous system
Our internal communication system based on electrical and chemical signals
Also manages organs and cells
What are the two parts of the nervous system
The central nervous system
The peripheral nervous system
What is the central nervous system (CNS)
Responsible for processing information
Split into two hemispheres which messages are sent across to each
The spinal cord is responsible for sending information from the brain to the rest of the body
What is the CNS made up of?
The brain
The spinal cord
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Transmits messages via neuron’s to and from the CNS
Can be divided into two further subsystems
What is the PNS made up of?
Nerves outside of the CNS
What two subsystems can the PNS be split into?
The Somatic nervous system
The Autonomic nervous system
What does the Somatic nervous system (SNS) do?
Controls muscle movement and receives information from the sensory receptors
Connects the nervous system to the senses
What does the autonomic nervous system (ANS) do?
Controls functions such as digestion, breathing and heart rate
There are two branches to this system
What are the two branches of the ANS?
The sympathetic branch
The parasympathetic branch
What does the sympathetic branch do?
Mainly involved in the ‘fight or flight’ response
What does the parasympathetic branch do?
Slows all functions down to take us out of ‘fight or flight’ and into ‘rest and digest’
What are the differences between the SNS and the ANS?
Neutral pathways it’s connected to - sensory and motor (SNS) -just motor (ANS)
What it controls- skeletal muscles and movement (SNS) -internal organs and glands (ANS)
Where it’s controlled- motor cortex (SNS) -in the brain stem (ANS)
