Biopsych: Divisions of the nervous system

Question 1

What is the nervous system (1mark)

Answer 1

A network of cells in the human body
The body internal communication system

Question 2

What is the function of the nervous system (2marks)

Answer 2

To collect, process and respond to information from the environment
And to control organs and cells in the body

Question 3

Sketch a diagram to show the divisions of the nervous system:

Answer 3

Nervous system:
Central nervous system Peripheral nervous system

Brain and spinal cord Autonomic Somatic

Autonomic:

Sympathetic branch, parasympathetic branch

Question 4

Give three functions of the brain:

Answer 4

Receives and processes information from the senses, e.g visual cortex processes visual information

Responsible for higher mental functions

Initiates responses

Question 5

Give three functions of the spinal cord

Answer 5

Conducts signals (sends messages) to and from the brain

Connects nerves to the peripheral nervous system

Controls reflex reactions, for example, removing a hand when it touches a hot plate

Question 6

The brain is responsible for higher mental functioning. what is higher mental functioning?

Answer 6

The human ability to take knowledge and learning and use it to create new ideas, things and concepts.

Question 7

What is the role of the peripheral nervous system

Answer 7

Sends messages to and from the central nervous system via neurones

Question 8

What are the two divisions of the nervous system

Answer 8

Central and peripheral nervous systems

Question 9

What are to two components of the Central nervous system

Answer 9

Brain and spinal cord

Question 10

What are the two divisions of the Peripheral nervous system

Answer 10

Autonomic and somatic nervous systems

Question 11

What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 11

Sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 12

Describe the autonomic nervous system (3 points)

Answer 12

Responsible for involuntary responses for vital functions, such as breathing and digestion.

Controls smooth and cardiac muscles and glands

Control centres for ANS are found in the brain stem

Question 13

Describe the somatic nervous system (4 points)

Answer 13

Responsible for voluntary movement such as walking

Transmits information from brain to control skeletal muscles

SNS carries commands/is controlled by the motor cortex

Connects the CNS and the senses, and integrates the brain with the outside world

Question 14

What is the sympathetic branch responsible for:

Answer 14

Fight or flight response

Question 15

What is the parasympathetic branch responsible for

Answer 15

Conserving and restoring body energy when relaxed

Question 16

Give three differences between the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system

Answer 16

The ANS is responsible for involuntary responses for vital functions such as breathing and digestion, whereas the SNS is responsible for voluntary movements such as walking

The ANS controls smooth and cardiac muscles and glands whereas the SNS transmits information from the brain to control skeletal muscles

The ANS control centres are in the brain stem
, whereas the SNS is controlled by (carries commands from) the motor cortex

Question 17

Outline the structure and function of the nervous system (6 marks)

Answer 17

1- The nervous system is split into two main parts, the central and peripheral nervous systems
2- The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is responsible for higher mental functioning, and the spinal cord is responsible for reflex actions and transmitting information to and from the brain.
3- The peripheral nervous system is subdivided into the the autonomic and somatic nervous systems
4- The autonomic nervous system is responsible for involuntary movements such as breathing and digestion
5- The autonomic nervous system can be sub-divided again into the sympathetic (responsible for fight or flight) and parasympathetic (which is responsible for conserving and restoring body energy when relaxed) branches
6- The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary movements such as walking and transmits information to skeletal muscles/effecters.