Peripheral Nervous System Flashcards
Describe the general structure of the peripheral nervous system, and state its primary function.
Nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord.
Transmits signals between the CNS and the rest of the body
-Pineal Gland
-Thyroid Gland
-Adrenal Glands
-Pancreas Glands
What are ganglia?
Groups of cell bodies that act as relay points for messages transmitted through nerves of the PNS
Identify three types of nerves based on the direction in which they carry nerve impulses.
Sensory nerves (Afferent Nerves): Transmit information from sensory receptors in the body to the CNS.
Motor nerves (Efferent Nerves): Transmit information from the CNS to muscles, organs, and glands.
Mixed nerves can transmit information in both direction, and can do afferent and efferent functions, because
they contain both sensory and motor neurons
Outline all of the divisions of the peripheral nervous system.
Automatic
- Sympathetic
- Parasympathetic
-Enteric
Somatic
Compare and contrast the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
Both
- Main division of the peripheral system
- Senses the environment for the body to react to
Somatic:
- Voluntary activity
- Controlled by cerebral cortex
Automatic:
- Involuntary activity
- Controlled by hypothalamus
When and how does the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system affect the body?
In emergencies
By activating fight or flight response in the body
What is the function of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system? What specific effects does it have on the body?
It returns the body to normal routine after sympathetic activity
Slows down heart rate and blood flow, and maintains homeostasis of the body
Name and describe two disorders of the peripheral nervous system.
Addison’s Disease: The adrenal glands make too little cortisol and too little aldosterone, causing severe pain and weakness.
Alzeimer’s: Disrupts neuron processes to the brain, causing loss of memory and motor skills
Give one example of how the CNS interacts with the PNS to control a function in the body.
- The PNS senses the skin overheating from the weather
- The PNS sends the information to the CNS
- The CNS responds to the information by making the body sweat to cool down.
For each of the following types of information, identify whether the neuron carrying it is sensory or motor and whether it is most likely in the somatic or autonomic nervous system.
A. Visual information
B. Blood pressure information
C. Information that causes muscle contraction in digestive organs after eating
D. Information that causes muscle contraction in skeletal muscles based on the person’s decision to make a movement
A. Sensory neuron, somatic nervous system
B. Sensory neuron, autonomic nervous system
C. Motor neuron, autonomic nervous system
D. Motor neuron, somatic nervous system
The cranial nerves:
A. Carry sensory information
B. Carry motor information
C. Are part of the somatic nervous system
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
They carry sensory and motor information, and are part of the somatic nervous system
True or False. All of the spinal nerves carry both sensory and motor information.
True
True or False. The sympathetic nervous system enhances digestion to provide more energy for the body.
False
