Nervous and Endocrine System

Question 1

What are the two main functions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

1) To collect, process and respond to info in the environment
2) To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body

Question 2

What are the 2 sub-systems?

Answer 2

Central Nervous System - CNS

Peripheral Nervous System - PNS

Question 3

What makes up the CNS? Define them.

Answer 3

The Brain - centre of all conscious awareness, 2 hemispheres, cerebral cortex highly developed in humans

The Spinal Cord - extension of the brain, responsible for reflex actions.

Question 4

What is the PNS further divided into?

Answer 4

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) - governs vital functions like breathing

Somatic Nervous System (SNS) - controls muscle movements, receives info from sensory receptors

Question 5

What does the PNS so?

Answer 5

Transmit messages through neurons to and from the CNS

Question 6

How is the endocrine system different to the nervous system?

Answer 6

acts a lot more slowly but has widespread and powerful affect

Question 7

What do glands release? Give an example.

Answer 7

Hormones e.g. thyroid releases thyroxine

Question 8

Where are hormones secreted? What do they do?

Answer 8

into the bloodstream, affects any cell in the body that has receptors for that hormone.

Question 9

Wht does the hormone thyroxine do?

Answer 9

affects cells in the heart so, increases heart rate.

Also increases metabolic rates thus affecting growth rates

Question 10

What is the name of the master gland? Where is it? Why is it called that?

Answer 10

Pituitary Gland
the brain
Controls the release of hormones from all the other endocrine glands in the body.

Question 11

Explain the Fight or Flight response.

Answer 11

1) Stressor triggers the ANS
2) ANS goes from the parasympathetic state to the sympathetic state of physiological arousal.
3) Adrenaline is released from adrenal medulla, triggering physiological changes e.g. increased heart rate
4) Threat passes - ANS goes back to the parasympathetic state thus creating a resting state.

Question 12

What is a parasympathetic state?

Answer 12

a resting state

Question 13

What is a sympathetic state?

Answer 13

a physiologically aroused state

Question 14

What type of response and reaction is the Fight or Flight Response?

Answer 14

Acute Response

Automatic Reaction