**L1 - The Nervous System Flashcards
what is the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM? (CNS)
The CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM consists of the BRAIN and SPINAL CORD.
It has TWO MAIN FUNCTIONS, the CONTROL OF BEHAVIOUR and the REGULATION of the BODY’S PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES.
In order to do this, the brain must be able to RECEIVE INFORMATION from the SENSORY RECEPTORS (eyes, ears, skin etc) and be able to SEND MESSAGES to the MUSCLES and GLANDS of the body in RESPONSE
what are the 4 MAIN AREAS OF THE BRAIN? (BCCD)
(B) Brain stem
(C) Cerebrum
(C) Cerebellum
(D) Diencephalon
what is the ‘B’ in BCCD?
BRAIN STEM - regulates BREATHING and HEART RATE
what is the first ‘C’ in BCCD?
CEREBRUM - this is the LARGEST PART OF THE BRAIN. It has FOUR LOBES, and is SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE into TWO HALVES, called the RIGHT and LEFT HEMISPHERE
what is the second ‘C’ in BCCD?
CEREBELLUM - responsible for MOTOR SKILLS, BALANCE and COORDINATING the MUSCLES to allow PRECISE MOVEMENTS
what is the ‘D’ in BCCD?
DIENCEPHALON - contains the THALAMUS (regulates CONSCIOUSNESS, SLEEP and ALERTNESS) and the HYPOTHALAMUS (regulates BODY TEMPERATURE, STRESS RESPONSE and HUNGER and THIRST)
what is the SPINAL CORD? - PT 1
the MAIN FUNCTION of the SPINAL CORD is to RELAY INFORMATION between the brain and the REST OF THE BODY
This allows the brain to MONITOR and REGULATE BODILY PROCESSES, such as DIGESTION and BREATHING, and CO-ORDINATE VOLUNTARY MOVEMENT.
what is the SPINAL CORD? - PT 2
The SPINAL CORD is connected to different parts of the body by PAIRS OF SPINAL NERVES, which connect to SPECIFIC MUSCLES and GLANDS
If the spinal cord is DAMAGED, body areas connected to it by NERVES BELOW THE DAMAGE will be CUT OFF and STOP FUNCTIONING
what is the PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM?
The PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (PNS) consists of the NERVOUS SYSTEM throughout the rest of the body (e.g NOT THE BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD)
The PNS transmits messages VIA NEURONES (nerve cells) TO AND FROM THE CNS
The PNS has TWO DIVISIONS;
1) the SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (SNS)
2) the AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS)
what are the TWO DIVISIONS of the PNS?
1) SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (SNS)
2) AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS)
what is the SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM?
The SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM controls VOLUNTARY MOVEMENTS and is UNDER CONSCIOUS CONTROL
It CONNECTS THE SENSES with the CNS and has SENSORY PATHWAYS and MOTOR PATHWAYS.
It controls SKELETAL MUSCLES. The SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM is CONTROLLED BY THE MOTOR CORTEX
what is the AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM?
The AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS) is INVOLUNTARY (not under conscious control)
It ONLY HAS MOTOR PATHWAYS and it CONTROLS SMOOTH MUSCLES and the INTERNAL ORGANS and GLANDS OF THE BODY
The ANS is CONTROLLED BY THE BRAIN STEM
There are TWO FURTHER DIVISIONS of the AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:
1) SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (SNS)
2) PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (PNS)
what are the TWO DIVISIONS of the AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM?
1) SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (SNS)
2) PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (PNS)
what is the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM?
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (SNS) - this is ACTIVATED when a person is STRESSED.
HEART RATE and BREATHING INCREASE, DIGESTION STOPS, SALIVATION REDUCES, PUPILS DILATE, and the FLOW OF BLOOD is DIVERTED FROM THE SURFACE OF THE SKIN (fight or flight response)
what is the PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM?
PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (PNS) - this is ACTIVATED when the BODY IS RELAXING and so CONSERVING ENERGY.
HEART RATE and BREATHING REDUCE, DIGESTION STARTS, SALIVATION INCREASES, and PUPILS CONSTRICT
