The nervous system

Question 1

Describe the neuromotor system organisation

Answer 1

Central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral system consists of nerves that transmit information to and from the CNS
Autonomic nervous system- conducts impulses from the CNS to cardiac muscle, smooth muscle and glands
Somatic nervous system- voluntary, conducts impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscles

Question 2

What is the difference between afferent and efferent nerves?

Answer 2

Afferent- signals to the brain

Efferent- exit the brain

Question 3

What are mechanoreceptors?

Answer 3

Respond to mechanical forces such as pressure, touch, stretch. Two specialised mechanoreceptor reflexes are muscle spindles and golgi tendon organs that protect muscle

Question 4

What do the muscle spindles do?

Answer 4

Detects stretch, sensory nerve fires and causes an effector response. Muscle contracts to prevent stretching further

Question 5

Define action potential

Answer 5

A rapid and substantial change in the electrical charge of a neurone that travels the full length of the neuron and passes into the structure the neuron is attached to