(7) THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Question 1

Draw the nervous system diagram

Answer 1

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Question 2

What are the 2 biggest components that the nervous system is split into and what are they made up of

Answer 2

• Peripheral nervous system (info from senses go into CNS)
○ Made up of:
§ Autonomic nervous system
□ Sympathetic nervous system
□ Parasympathetic nervous system
§ Somatic nervous system
• Central nervous system
○ Brain
○ Spinal cord

Question 3

What is the brain and what is its function

Answer 3

○ Brain
§ What is it?
□ Centre of awareness
□ Made up of two hemispheres
§ Function:
□ Centre of awareness

Question 4

What is the spinal cord and what is its function

Answer 4

○ Spinal cord
§ What is it?
□ An extension of the brain
§ What does it do?
□ Transfer messages to and from the PNS and the brain
□ Responsible for reflexes

Question 5

What are 4 parts of the brain and what is their function

Answer 5

The brain:
• Can be divided into 4 parts
○ Cerebrum
§ Split into 4 lobes
§ Function:
□ Personality, speech, visual, motor ability
○ Cerebellum
§ Function:
□ Controls posture and balance
○ Diencephalon
§ Split up into 2 parts:
□ Thalamus
□ Hypothalamus
§ Function:
□ Thalamus - relay station for incoming nerve impulses
□ Hypothalamus - controls temp + allows hormone release from pituitary gland
○ Brain stem
§ Function:
□ Regulates automatic functions necessary for life (heart rate & breathing

Question 6

What is the spinal cord’s function and structure

Answer 6

The spinal cord:
• Function:
○ Relay info between brain and body
§ We can perform simple functions without brain involvement
□ Eg reflexes
• Structure:
○ Spinal nerves connect different parts of body

Question 7

What is the structure and function of the autonomic nervous system (including fight or flight)

Answer 7

• Autonomic nervous system
○ Structure
§ Two main divisions
□ Sympathetic
® Function:
◊ Fight or flight response
◊ Produces adrenaline
} Increases heart rate
} Dilates airways (breathing = easier)
} Increases muscular strength
□ Parasympathetic
® Function:
◊ Rest and digest
◊ Brings body back down after threat passes
○ Function:
§ Automatic muscle movements
□ Info to and from internal body organs

Question 8

What is the structure and function of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 8

• Somatic nervous system
○ Structure:
§ Nerves connect to skin, sensory organs, skeletal muscles
○ Function:
§ Voluntary muscle movements
§ Processing sensory information
□ That arrives via external stimuli (eg hearing, touch, sight)