UNIT 3. DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Question 1

What are the functions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

The nervous system of the human body is responsible for functions such as, analysing sensory information from the body and its external environment and making decisions regarding appropriate responses and behaviours.

Question 2

What is the nervous system divided into?

Answer 2

The nervous system is divided into two parts, the central nervous system (cns) and the peripheral nervous system (pns).

Question 3

What are the structures of the cns?

Answer 3

Brain and spinal cord.

Question 4

What are the structures of pns?

Answer 4

Neurons throughout the rest of the body, comprised of sensory and motor neuron pathways.

Question 5

What is the function of the cns?

Answer 5

To process information and impulses which are transmitted along motor neurons to effectors (muscle glands), which bring about a response (muscle contraction).

Question 6

What is the functions of the pns?

Answer 6

To pass information via electrical impulses to the cns, when a stimulus is detected by receptors in external (eyes) or internal (thermorecepters in hypothalamus) sensory organs, an impulse is carried along the sensory neurons to the cns.

Question 7

Which parts can the pns be divided into?

Answer 7

The somatic and autonomic nervous systems, (sns) + (ans).

Question 8

Which parts do the somatic ns control?

Answer 8

The somatic ns controls the skeletal muscles through the action of sensory and motor neurons.

Question 9

Which actions are the somatic ns involved in?

Answer 9

The somatic ns is involved in mostly voluntary actions such as walking and speaking. However, is also involved in involuntary reflex actions.

Question 10

What is the autonomic ns responsible for?

Answer 10

The autonomic ns is responsible for regulating internal structures such as the heart.

Question 11

How does the regulation occur in the ans?

Answer 11

Such regulation of internal structures (heart) is through automatic involuntary actions which involve sensory and motor neurons.

Question 12

What is the ans involved in?

Answer 12

Homeostatic control.

Question 13

What is homeostatic control?

Answer 13

Regulation of body temperature or osmoregulation.

Question 14

Describe the structures of the ans.

Answer 14

The ans is made up of nerves which arise in the brain and emerge from the spinal cord at numerous points to reach the organs that they stimulate.

Question 15

What is the autonomic nervous system made up of?

Answer 15

Sympatheic and parasympathetic systems.

Question 16

What is the sympathetic system?

Answer 16

The ss is in control when the body is active or excited as it raises the bodies activity levels, it is involved in the ‘fight of flight’ response.

Question 17

Describe the funcions of the sympathetic system.

Answer 17

The ss acts on the heart to raise heart rates, increases breathing rate and increases blood flow to muscles.

Question 18

What is the parasympathetic system?

Answer 18

The ps is responsible for times of rest, it is involves in the ‘rest and digest’ response as it slows functions and conserves resources.

Question 19

Describe the functions of the parasympathetic system.

Answer 19

The ps acts on the heart to slow the heart rate, slow the breathing rate and decrease the blood flow to muscles.

Question 20

Describe the relationship between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

Answer 20

The ss and ps are said to have an ‘antagonnistic’ relationship as they both work on the same structures yet work in opposition to one another.