Nervous System Flashcards
What is the nervous system?
A specialised network of cells in the humans body.
What are the two main functions of the nervous system?
To collect,process and respond to information in the environment.
-To co-ordinate the working of different organs/cells in the body
What are the two subsystems that the nervous system is divided into?
- Central nervous system
-Peripheral nervous system
What is the CNS made up of?
The brain and spinal cord
What is the centre of all conscious awareness?
The brain
What is the cerebral cortex?
The brain’s outer layer
What is the spinal cord responsible for?
-reflex actions( pulling your hand away from a hot plate)
-carries messages to and from brain and connects nerves to the PNS.
What does the PNS do?
Transmit messages via millions of neurons.
What is the PNS further subdivide to? -
-Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
- Somatic nervous system (SND)
What does the ANS do?
Govern vital functions in the body i.e heart rate
What does the SND do?
Controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors i.e stepping on a pin
What is the autonomic nervous system divided into?
- The sympathetic nervous system (Fight and flight)- The parasympathetic nervous system (Rest and digest)
What does the sympathetic nervous system include?
- Dilates pupils
- Inhibits flow of saliva
- Accelerates heartbeat
- Dilates bronchi
- Inhibits digestions
- relaxes rectum
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?
-Contracts pupils
- Stimulates flow of saliva
- slows heartbeat
- relaxes bronchi
- stimulates digestion
- contracts rectum
conserves energy for later
Which system makes us active?
The sympathetic nervous system
