The Peripheral Nervous System Flashcards
What does the PNS consist of?
Peripheral nerves.
What is the primary role of the PNS?
Carries information from the brain and spinal cord, with the communication between sensory and motor neurons.
What is the PNS divided into?
The autonomic and somatic nervous systems.
What is the somatic nervous system responsible for?
Control of voluntary movement.
What is the autonomic nervous system responsible for?
Control of involuntary movement.
What is the function (s) of the somatic nervous system?
Carries information from the CNS to muscles, initiating movement; involved in the voluntary movement at the sole including walking and running.
What is the somatic pathway which initiates voluntary movement?
Information > basal ganglia > spinal cord > motor nerves > muscles.
What is the function (s) of the autonomic nervous system?
Controls internal organs and glands, and works alongside the Limbic System to control blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital functions.
What are the TWO divisions of the autonomic nervous system? Briefly describe their role.
The two divisions of the autonomic nervous system are the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. The sympathetic nervous system is involved in the ‘fight or flight’ response, resulting in dilated pupils and increased heart rate and respiratory rate to restore homeostasis; the parasympathetic division is responsible for resting and digesting - calming the body’s internal state.
