Biospychology

Question 1

What is the nervous system ?

Answer 1

It is a specialised network of cells in the human body that are the primary internal communication system.

Question 2

What are the two main functions of the nervous system ?

Answer 2

• to collect, respond and process information in the environment.
• to co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body

Question 3

What are the 2 sub systems in the nervous system ?

Answer 3

• Central Nervous system
• peripheral nervous system

Question 4

What is the central nervous system built up of ?

Answer 4

• the spinal chord
• the brain

Question 5

What is the spinal cord responsible for ?

Answer 5

The reflex actions that pass messages to and from the brain linking to the peripheral nervous system.

Question 6

What does the peripheral nervous system do ?

Answer 6

Transmits messages using millions of nerve cells to and from the CNS.

Question 7

What is the peripheral nervous system decided into ?

Answer 7

• the somatic nervous system
• autonomic nervous system

Question 8

What does the autonomic nervous systems function ?

Answer 8

Assists the vital functions within the body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion
It also maintains homeostasis.

Question 9

What is the somatic nervous systems function ?

Answer 9

Controls the skeletal muscles and recieves information to and from sensory receptors.
It also controls voluntary movements.

Question 10

What is the autonomic nervous system divided into and what are they responsible for ?

Answer 10

• sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight prepared the body to use its energy)
• parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest, conserves the bodies energy)

Question 12

What works in parallel to the autonomic nervous system ?

Answer 12

The endocrine system

Question 13

What are hormones and where are they found ?

Answer 13

Hormones are chemical messengers carried in the blood which transmit information all around the body.
They are found in the endocrine system

Question 14

Which glands in the endocrine system produce hormones ?

Answer 14

• thyroid gland (thyroxine which affects the cells in the heart and metabolic rates)
• adrenal gland (adrenaline and cortisol to stimulate stress and maintain healthy blood pressure )
• pituitary gland (located in the brain considered the master gland)
• testes and ovaries (testosterone maintaining sex drive oestrogen regulates the menstrual cycle )

Question 15

What is the hypothalamus ?

Answer 15

Pea sized structure that helps integrate the nervous system and endocrine system.
Helps maintain homeostasis

Question 16

What is the structure of a neurone ?

Answer 16

• cell body (contains the nucleus)
• dendrites (are attached to the cell body and receive messages from sensory neurons in order to trigger action potential)
• axon (attached to the axon hillock attached to the cell body)