the nervous system and the endocrine system

Question 1

what is the nervous system?

Answer 1

a specialised network of cells in the body

Question 2

what type of communication is the nervous system?

Answer 2

our primary internal communication system

Question 3

what is the nervous system based on?

Answer 3

electrical and chemical signals

Question 4

what is the endocrine system based on?

Answer 4

hormones

Question 5

what are the nervous systems two main functions?

Answer 5

1. collect, process and respond to info in the environment
2. co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body

Question 6

what are the two sub-systems that the nervous system is divided into?

Answer 6

1. central nervous system
2. peripheral nervous system

Question 7

what is the CNS made up of?

Answer 7

the brain and spinal chord

Question 8

what is the brain the centre of?

Answer 8

all conscious awareness

Question 9

what is the brains outer layer?

Answer 9

the cerebral cortex

Question 10

how thick is the brains outer layer?

Answer 10

3mm thick

Question 11

what does the outer layer of the brain cover? where is this found?

Answer 11

the brain this is only found in mammals

Question 12

what does the brain distinguish?

Answer 12

our higher mental functions from those of other animals

Question 13

what is the brain divided into?

Answer 13

two hemispheres

Question 14

what is the spinal chord?

Answer 14

an extension of the brain

Question 15

what does the spinal chord do?

Answer 15

passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS

Question 16

what is the spinal chord responsible for?

Answer 16

reflex actions

Question 17

How does the PNS transmit messages?

Answer 17

via millions of neurons to and from the central nervous system

Question 18

what is the PNS further subdivided into?

Answer 18

1. Autonomic nervous system
2. somatic nervous system

Question 19

what does the automimic nervous system do?

Answer 19

governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses

Question 20

what does the somatic nervous system do?

Answer 20

governs muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors

Question 21

what does the endocrine system work alongside?

Answer 21

the nervous system

Question 22

what does the endocrine system control?

Answer 22

vital functions in the body

Question 23

compared to the nervous system how does the endocrine system work?

Answer 23

slower but has very widespread and powerful effects

Question 24

where are hormones secreted?

Answer 24

into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the body that has a receptor for that particular hormone

Question 25

how do most hormones effect cells?

Answer 25

in more than one body organ leading to many diverse and powerful responses

Question 26

what are the main glands in the endocrine system?

Answer 26

hypothalamus - brain
pituitary - brain
thyroid
parathyroid
adrenals
pancreas
ovaries - female
testes - male

Question 27

what is the key endocrine gland?

Answer 27

pituitary gland in the brain

Question 28

why is the pituitary gland called the master gland?

Answer 28

it controls and releases hormones from all other endocrine glands in the body

Question 29

how do the endocrine and ANS often work?

Answer 29

in parallel

Question 30

what happens when a stressor is percieved?

Answer 30

the hypothalamus activates the pituitary gland which triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of the ANS

Question 31

when a stressor is perceived what happens to the ANS?

Answer 31

it changes from its normal resting state (parasympathetic) to the physiologically aroused sympathetic state

Question 32

where is adrenaline released from?

Answer 32

the adrenal medulla

Question 33

what does adrenaline trigger?

Answer 33

physiological changes in the body which creates physiological arousal necessary for the fight or flight response

Question 34

what type of response is the release of adrenaline?

Answer 34

acute response and an automatic reaction in the body

Question 35

what happens once the threat has passed?

Answer 35

the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to its resting state

Question 36

how does the parasympathetic branch of the ANS work?

Answer 36

in opposition to the sympathetic nervous system - actions are antagonistic to the sympathetic nervous system