The Nervous System Flashcards
(9 cards)
1
Q
What is the ‘Nervous System’?
A
- Consists of the Central and the Peripheral nervous system.
2
Q
What is the ‘Central Nervous System’?
A
- Consists of the brain and spinal cord and is the origin if all complex commands and descions.
- It passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the peripheral nervous system.
3
Q
What is the ‘Brain’?
A
- The centre of all conscious awareness.
- The cerebral cortex is highly developed in humans and is what distiguishes people’s higher mental functions from those of animals.
- It is divided into two hemispheres.
4
Q
What is the ‘Spinal Cord’?
A
- An extension of the brain.
- It is responsible for reflex actions such as pulling a hand away from a hot plate.
5
Q
What is the ‘Peripheral Nervous System’?
A
- Sends information to the CNS from the outside world and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands.
- Does this via millions of neurons (nerve cells) and is divided into the autonomic and somatic nervous system.
6
Q
What is the ‘Somatic Nervous System’?
A
- It controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors in the sense organs to the CNS.
7
Q
What is the ‘Autonomic Nervous System’?
A
- Transmits information to and from internal bodily organs.
- It is sub divided into the Parasympathetic and the sympathetic nervous system.
- It governs vital functions of the body such as breathing and heart rate.
8
Q
What is the ‘Parasympathetic Nervous System’?
A
- A division of ANS which controls the relaxed state (rest and digest), conserving resources and promoting digestion and metabolism.
- This works in opposition to the Sympathetic.
9
Q
What is the ‘Sympathetic Nervous System’?
A
- A division if the ANS which activates internal organs for vigorous activities and emergencies, such as fight or flight.
- It consists of nerves that control increased heart rate and breathing.
