The nervous system and brain

Question 1

What are the 2 main parts of the nervous system and what do they consist of?

Answer 1

Central nervous system = spinal cord and brain

Peripheral nervous system = sensory nervous system and motor nervous system

Question 2

What is the CNS?

Answer 2

serves as the primary command centre for the body

Question 3

What is the PNS?

Answer 3

consists of all the nerves that connect to the CNS and the rest of the body (facilitates bi-directional communication)

Question 4

What does the sensory nervous system do?

Answer 4

consists of sensory neurons that carry nerve impulses from the receptors to the CNS

Question 5

What does the motor nervous system do?

Answer 5

consists of motor neuros that carry impulses from the CNS to effectors like muscles and glands

Question 6

What are the 2 divisions of the nervous system and how are the cotrolled?

Answer 6

somatic nervous system = controlled consciously for voluntary muscle movements

autonomic nervous system = controlled subconsciously for involuntary activities such as heart beat and digestion

Question 7

What are the 2 divisions of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 7

sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 8

What is the sympathetic nervous systems function, effect on activity levels and neurotransmitter used?

Answer 8

function = activates fight or flight response

effect = increased

neurotransmitters = adrenaline and noradrenaline

Question 9

What is the parasympathetic nervous systems function, effect on activity levels and neurotransmitter used?

Answer 9

function = activates rest and digest response

effect = decreased

neurotransmitters = acetylcholine

Question 10

What does the brain do and what does it enable?

Answer 10

receives and processes sensory info from receptor cells and hormonal systems about changes in the internal and external environment to produce a coordinated response

enables cognition and emotion and controls movement and physiological functions

Question 11

What are the 5 key structures of the brain?

Answer 11

• hypothalamus
• cerebrum
• pituitary gland
• medulla oblongata
• cerebellum

Question 12

Where is the hypothalamus located?

Answer 12

hypothalamus = just below middle part of the brain

Question 13

What are the functions of the hypothalamus?

Answer 13

homeostasis = helps regulate body temp by sensing changes and initiating appropriate responses (e.g sweating)

water balance = monitors and helps regulate composition of blood plasma like conc of water and glucose in the blood

hormonal regulation = regulates hormone secretion from the pituitary gland

Question 14

Where is the cerebrum located?

Answer 14

largest part of the brain consisting of two halves (let and right hemisphere)

Question 15

What is the function of the cerebrum?

Answer 15

• process sensory input so is crucial for vision and hearing
• involved in learning, memory and higher level thinking

Question 16

Where is the pituitary gland located?

Answer 16

found just below the hypothalamus

Question 17

What is the function of the pituitary gland?

Answer 17

• produces, stores and secretes hormones when triggered by the hypothalamus
• hormones it secretes promotes other glands like adrenal glands to secrete their hormones

Question 18

What are the 2 main sections of the pituitary gland, what do they do and give an example?

Answer 18

anterior pituitary gland = produces hormones e.g FSH involved in reproduction + growth hormones

posterior pituitary gland = stores and releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus e.g ADH involved in urine production

Question 19

Where is the medulla oblongata located?

Answer 19

at the base of the brain connecting it with the spinal cord

Question 20

What is the function of the medulla oblongata?

Answer 20

• involuntarily regulates BR, HR and blood pressure
• controls other autonomic nervous system functions like swallowing and coughing

Question 21

Where is the cerebellum locates?

Answer 21

underneath the cerebrum

Question 22

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 22

• important for coordinating and fine tuning skeletal muscle contractions
• essential for maintaining unconscious functions (e.g posture, balance, involuntary muscular movement)