The nervous system

Question 1

The human nervous system

Answer 1

A complex system of nerve cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to different parts of the body and so helps all the parts of the body communicate with each other. The HNS is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) with each further divided.

Question 2

What two parts is the human nervous system divided into?

Answer 2

Central Nervous System CNS

Peripheral Nervous system PNS

Question 3

What two parts is the CNS divided into?

Answer 3

Brain

Spinal Cord

Question 4

What two parts is the PNS divided into?

Answer 4

Somatic Nervous System SNS

Autonomic Nervous System ANS

Question 5

What two parts is the ANS divided into?

Answer 5

Sympathetic Branch

Parasympathetic Branch

Question 6

What are the two main functions of the CNS?

Answer 6

Control of behaviour

regulation of the body’s physiological processes

Question 7

The Brain

Answer 7

• Centre of all conscious awareness
• outer layer, cerebral cortex is highly developed
• divided into two hemispheres

Question 8

The Spinal Cord

Answer 8

• Extension of the brain
• relays the information between the brain and the rest of the body
• contains circuits of nerve cells that enable us to perform nerve reflex actions
• e.g pulling your hand away from from a hot plate.

Question 9

What is the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) made up of?

Answer 9

• All the nerves outside the CNS make up the PNS.

Question 10

What is the function of the PNS?

Answer 10

• Relay nerve impulses from the CNS to the rest of the body back to the CNS.

Question 11

What is the Somatic Nervous System SNS responsible for?

Answer 11

• Carrying sensory and motor information to and from the CNS
• controls skeletal, muscle muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors

Question 12

What is the Autonomic Nervous System ANS responsible for?

Answer 12

• carrying only motor information from and to the CNS

- controls internal organs and glands in the body such as breathing, heart rate and digestion.

Question 13

What is the role of the Sympathetic Nervous System?

Answer 13

• Involved with response that help us deal with emergencies (fight or flight).
• Causes neurons to travel to virtually every organ and gland and prepares the body for rapid action.

Question 14

What are some examples of changes that are made to the body by the Sympathetic NS?

Answer 14

• Release stored energy
• Pupils dilate
• inhibits digestion
• heart rate increases
• increases breathing rate.

Question 15

What is the role of the parasympathetic NS?

Answer 15

• returning the body to a rest state once an emergency has passed
• Makes any bodily processes that were inhibited return to normal.