The Nervous System Flashcards
(10 cards)
How is the nervous system structured?
The nervous system splits into the
* Central Nervous System
* Peripheral nervous system
The CNS is split into the
* The brain
* The spinal cord
The PNS is split into the
* Somatic nervous system
* Autonomic nervous system
The ANS is split into the
* Sympathetic nervous system
* Parasympathetic nervous system
What is the function of the CNS?
The CNS has two functions:
* To control behaviour
* To regulate physiological processes
What is the function of the brain and its sub-parts?
Provides conscious awareness and is involved in all psychological processes
The sub-parts:
* Frontal (higher order functions e.g planning, logic)
* Parietal (integrates info from the different senses)
* Occipetal (processes visual info)
* Temporal (processes auditory info)
* Brain stem (connects brain to spinal cord, controls involuntary processes)
What is the function of the spinal cord?
Relays info between brain and body
Allows brain to monitor and regulate bodily processes
Enables simple reflexes without direct involvement of brain
What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
Contains all the nerves outside the CNS
Transmits messages through millions of neurons travelling to and from the CNS
What is the function of the somatic nervous system?
Responsible for carrying sensory and motor info toward (sensory receptors) and away from (motor pathways) the CNS
Controls muscles and voluntary movements
What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
Enables the fight or flight response by activating when danger is detected
What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
Inhibits fight or flight to relax after the response
What are the similarities and differences between the brain and the spinal cord?
Similarities:
* Both control involuntary processes
Differences:
* The brain provides conscious awareness, whereas the spinal cord only allows for simple reflexes
* The brain has multiple regions for multiple functions, whereas the spinal cord only has one
What are the similarities and differences between the somatic/autonomic nervous systems?
Similarities:
* Sympathetic and somatic respond to external stimuli (fight or flight through sympathetic, sensory receptors through somatic)
Differences:
* Autonomic has two sub-components, somatic only has one
* Somatic has sensory and motor pathways, whereas autonomic only has motor
* Autonomic controls internal organs and glands, while somatic controls muscles and movements
