Unit 3-Divisions Of The Nervous System And Neural Pathways

Question 1

What are the two main nervous systems in the body?

Answer 1

The central nervous system (CNS)and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Question 2

What makes up the central nervous system?

Answer 2

The brain and the spinal cord

Question 3

What makes up the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 3

The somatic and autonomic nervous system.

Question 4

What makes up the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 4

The sympathetic and parasympathetic system.

Question 5

What does the somatic nervous system contain?

Answer 5

Sensory and motor neurons.

Question 6

What do sensory neurons do?

Answer 6

Sensory neurons take impulses from sense organs to the CNS.

Question 7

What do motor neurons do?

Answer 7

Take impulses from the CNS to muscles and glands

Question 8

What is the pathway of the somatic nerve?

Answer 8

Receptors (e.g. sense organs) ➡️ Sensory neurons ➡️ CNS ➡️ Motor neurons ➡️ effectors (e.g. muscles and glands).

Question 9

Is the somatic nervous system voluntary or involuntary?

Answer 9

Voluntary meaning under the conscious control of the brain.

Question 10

How do the parasympathetic and the sympathetic systems work with each other?

Answer 10

They work antagonistically which means that they affect many of the same structures but have the opposite effects on them.

Question 11

What does the sympathetic system do generally?

Answer 11

It prepares the body for action (fight or flight).

Question 12

What does the parasympathetic system do in general?

Answer 12

It rests and relaxes the body for rest and digest.

Question 13

Is the autonomic nervous system voluntary or involuntary?

Answer 13

Involuntary meaning done without will or conscious control.

Question 14

What is the antagonistic action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems on the effect of heart rate (and cardiac output)?

Answer 14

Sympathetic increases cardiac output. Parasympathetic decreases cardiac output.

Question 15

What is the antagonistic action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems on the effect of breathing rate (and intake of air)?

Answer 15

Sympathetic increases intake of air. Parasympathetic decreases intake of air.

Question 16

What is the antagonistic action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems on the effect of peristalsis?

Answer 16

Sympathetic decreases the rate of peristalsis.

Parasympathetic increases the rate of peristalsis.

Question 17

What is the antagonistic action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems on the effect of the production of intestinal secretions?

Answer 17

Sympathetic decreases production of intestinal secretions.

Parasympathetic increases production of intestinal secretions.

Question 18

What are neurons?

Answer 18

The cells of the nervous system.

Question 19

What does converge mean?

Answer 19

To come together and meet at a common point.

Question 20

Where do converging pathways occur?

Answer 20

Converging pathways occur where impulses from several neurons travel to one neuron.

Question 21

What do converging neural pathways do?

Answer 21

Converging neural pathways increase the sensitivity to excitatory or inhibitory signals.

Question 22

What is an example of a converging neural pathway?

Answer 22

An example is where the neurons from rods in the retina/eye converge - this increases sensitivity to low levels of light.

Question 23

What does ‘fight or flight’ mean?

Answer 23

Preparation of the body to produce more energy.

Question 24

What is the arrangement of neurons in a converging neural pathway?

Answer 24

Several neurons to one.

Question 25

What does to diverge mean?

Answer 25

To branch out from a common point.

Question 26

What happens in a diverging neural pathway?

Answer 26

Impulses from one neuron travel to several neurons, therefore affecting more than one destination at the same time.

Question 27

What is an example of a diverging pathway?

Answer 27

The fine motor control in the fingers.

Question 28

What does reverberation mean?

Answer 28

Reverberation means a sound that occurs repeatedly, as in an echo.

Question 29

What happens in reverberating pathway and what does this allow to happen?

Answer 29

Neurons later in the pathway link with branching neurons, sending the impulse back through the pathway. This allows repeated simulation of the pathway.

Question 30

What are reverberating pathways used in?

Answer 30

Repetitive activities such as breathing.

Question 31

What are the 3 different parts of the brain?

Answer 31

The cerebral cortex, the limbic core and the central core.