Organisation of the Nervous System and the Brain Flashcards
What are the two systems that the mammalian nervous system is organised into?
Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
What does the CNS consist of? (3)
- Brain
- Spinal cord
- Relay neurons
What does the PNS consist of? (3)
- All the neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
- Sensory neurons
- Motor neurons
What is the PNS functionally organised into?
- Somatic nervous system
- Autonomic nervous system
What is the function of the somatic nervous system? (4)
- Conscious control
- Input from sense organs
- Output from skeletal muscles
- Neurotransmitter - Acetylcholine
What is the function f the autonomic nervous system? (3)
- Subconscious control
- Input from internal receptors
- Output to smooth muscles and glands
How is the autonomic nervous system organised?
- Sympathetic motor system
- Parasympathetic motor system
What is the function of the sympathetic motor system and what neurotransmitter is used?
- Fight or flight response
- Uses noradrenaline
What is the function of the parasympathetic motor system and what neurotransmitter does it use?
- Relaxing responses
- Uses acetylcholine
How is the brain protected? (2)
- The skull
- Meninges (protective membranes)
What is the function of the cerebrum? (5)
- Controls voluntary actions
- Memory
- Learning
- Personality
- Conscious thought
What is the function of the cerebellum? (4)
- Controls unconscious functions
- Posture
- Balance
- Non-voluntary movement
What is the function of the medulla oblongata? (3)
- Used in autonomic nervous system
- Controls heart rate
- Controls breathing rate
What is the function of the hypothalamus? (2)
- Temperature balance
- Water balance
What is the function of the pituitary gland? (2)
- Stores and releases hormones that regulate many body functions
- E.g. ACTH, FSH, Oxytocin
