Chapter 5 - The Peripheral Nervous System Flashcards
(9 cards)
Describe the Somatic Nervous System
The somatic nervous system is a subdivision of the PNS, which carries sensory information to the CNS and motor information from the CNS.
What are sensory neurons?
Sensory neurons are specialised nerve cells that receive and carry sensory messages. They are also called afferent neurons
What are Motor Neurons?
Motor neurons are specialised nerve cells that carry messages to skeletal muscles causing them to contract or relax. They are also called efferent neurons
What are Interneurons?
Interneurons preform the important function of making connections between a sensory neuron and a motor neuron, which rarely connect directly. They are also called connecting neurons
What is the Autonomic Nervous System?
the ANS is a subdivision of the PNS that connects the CNS to the body’s internal organs and glands, providing feedback to the brain about their activities.
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
- The sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for increasing the activity of most visceral muscles, organs and glands in times of vigorous activity, stress or threat.
- The parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for decreasing the activity of most visceral muscles, organs and glands, and restoring body functions to normal state.
Explain the Sympathetic Nervous System
the sympathetic nervous system activates internal muscles, glands and organs to prepare the body for vigorous activity or to deal with a stressful or threatening situation. It enhances survival by providing an immediate response, in a split second to any kind of emergency.
Explain the Parasympathetic Nervous System
The Parasympathetic Nervous System keeps the systems of the body functioning efficiently. In times of minimal stress and in the absence of threats, it helps to maintain the internal body environment in a steady, balanced state of normal functioning
Give 5 examples of the activities of the sympathetic and parasympathetic System
*pupils- regulate the amount of light entering the light
sympathetic- Dilate Parasympathetic-Contract
*Heart- pumps blood Sympathetic- accelerates heart rate Parasympathetic- slows heart rate
*Stomach- digestion Sympathetic- Decreases contractions Parasympathetic- increases contractions
*Sweat glands- regulates temperature
sympathetic- increase sweat parasympathetic- decrease sweat
*Salivary Glands- digestion Sympathetic- decrease salivation Parasympathetic- increase salivation
