✓ The Nervous System (AO1)

Question 1

What is the Human Nervous System?

Answer 1

a complex network of nerve cells that carry messages to and from the brain and the spinal cord to different parts of the body, helping the body to communicate with itself

Question 2

What is the Brain?

Answer 2

controls the nervous system + is the powerhouse of the body even though it only makes up about 2% of the body’s overall weight
this organ has many billions of neural cross-connections
the brain oversees the workings of the body, whilst its higher functions provide us with consciousness and make us who we are

Question 3

Describe the Divisions of the Nervous System?

Answer 3

Nervous system divides into Central Nervous + Peripheral Nervous System

CNS divides into Brain + Spinal Cord
PNS divides into Somatic nervous system + Autonomic nervous system

Autonomic divides into Sympathetic Nervous System + Parasympathetic Nervous System

Question 4

Function of the CNS?

Answer 4

processes, interprets, stores information
+
issues orders to muscles, glands, organs

Question 5

Function of the Spinal Cord?

Answer 5

bridge between brain + peripheral nerves

Question 6

Function of the PNS?

Answer 6

transmits information to + from the CNS

Question 7

Function of the Somatic Nervous System?

Answer 7

controls skeletal muscles

Question 8

Function of the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 8

regulates glands, blood vessels, internal organs

Question 9

Function of the Sympathetic Nervous System?

Answer 9

mobilises body for action, energy output

Question 10

Function of the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

Answer 10

conserves energy, maintains quiet state

Question 11

Describe the position of the lobes of the brain? (CNS)

Answer 11

frontal lobe = front segment of brain

parietal lobe = top,middle segment of brain

temporal lobe = bottom,middle segment of brain

occipital lobe = back segment of brain

Question 12

Location of the Motor Cortex?

Answer 12

at the back of the frontal lobe

Question 13

Function of the Motor Cortex?

Answer 13

involved in regulating movement

Question 14

Location of the Somatosensory Cortex?

Answer 14

at the front of the parietal lobe

Question 15

Function of the Somatosensory Cortex?

Answer 15

involved in processing sensory information such as touch

Question 16

Location of the Visual Cortex?

Answer 16

a part of the occipital lobe

Question 17

Function of the Visual Cortex?

Answer 17

receives + processes visual information

Question 18

Location of the Auditory Cortex?

Answer 18

at the top,front of the temporal lobe

Question 19

Function of the Auditory Cortex?

Answer 19

involved in the analysis of speech-based information (hearing)

Question 20

Location of Broca’s Area?

Answer 20

an area in the left frontal lobe (in most people)

Question 21

Function of Broca’s Area?

Answer 21

reponsible for speech production + damage results in Broca’s aphasia

Question 22

Location of Wernicke’s Area?

Answer 22

an area of the temporal lobe in the left hemisphere (in most people)

Question 23

Function of Wernicke’s Area?

Answer 23

responsible for speech comprehension (understanding) + damage results in Wernicke’s aphasia

Question 24

Describe the Somatic Nervous System?
(PNS)

Answer 24

• made up of cranial nerves (emerging from the underside of the brain) + spinal nerves (emerging from the spinal cord)
• these nerves communicate w the CNS to initiate + control movements in the body
• the system is responsible for nearly all voluntary muscle movements + reflex actions, as well as for processing sensory info

Question 25

Describe the Autonomic Nervous System?
(PNS)

Answer 25

• controls vital functions in the body, e.g breating, heart rate, digestion, stress responses
• these are all involuntary processes, meaning that they are unconscious

-the system us made up of 2 sub-branches:
- the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for homeostasis)
- the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the fight-or-flight response)

Question 26

Describe the parasympathetic in action?

Answer 26

pupil - constrict
heart - slow heartbeat
airways - constricts the bronchial tubes
liver - stimulates bile release
blood vessels - constriction
digestive system - stimulates activity
uterus - relaxation
urinary system - increase the urinary output

Question 27

Describe the sympathetic in action?

Answer 27

pupil - dilate
heart - increases heartbeat
airways - dilates the bronchial tubes
sweat gland - stimulates secretion
liver - increases the rate of glycogen to glucose
digestive system - decrease activity
adrenal glands - stimulates production of adrenaline
uterus - vaginal contraction
urinary system - relaxes bladder

Question 28

Describe the Fight-or-Flight response?

Answer 28

hypothalamus recognises threat + sends message to…
adrenal medulla which triggers the release of…
adrenaline which causes…
physiological response around body

Question 29

What are the Physical Effects of the fight-or-flight response?

Answer 29

heart rate increases
bladder relaxation
tunnel vision
shaking
dilated pupils
flushed face
dry mouth
slowed digestion
hearing loss