unit 3.1: divisions of the nervous system and neural pathways Flashcards
what is the nervous systems functions
analysing sensory information from the body and external environment
storing some information
making decisions regarding appropriate responses and behaviours
what makes up the central nervous system (CNS)
brain
spinal cord
what is the name of the other branch of the nervous system (not CNS)
peripheral nervous system
the PNS is comprised of what
sensory neurons
motor neurons
what is the pathway of an impulse in the PNS
stimuli
picked up by receptors
sensory neuron’s carry impulse to CNS
motor neuron’s carry impulse from CNS to effectors
response generated
what are receptors
external: skin
internal: thermoreceptors
what are effectors
muscles and glands
what are the 2 branches of the PNS
somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system
what does the somatic nervous system control
mainly voluntary movements (skeletal) e.g. walking and speaking, also responsible for involuntary reflex actions
what are the 2 branches of the autonomic nervous system
sympathetic
parasympathetic
what is the sympathetic nervous system
fight or flight
prepares the body for action
increased heart rate
increased blood flow to muscles
increased breathing rate
slows down peristalsis and intestinal secretions
what is the parasympathetic nervous system
rest and digest
lowers heart rate
reduced breathing rate
reduced blood flow to muscles
increased rate of peristalsis and intestinal secretions
what are the sympathetic and parasympathetic described as being
antagonistic
what are the 3 types of neural pathways
converging
diverging
reverberating
what is a converging pathway
impulses from several neurons travel to one neuron which increases sensitivity to excitatory or inhibitory signals
what is diverging neural pathways
impulses from one neuron travel to several different neuron’s affecting multiple destinations at one time which can allow us to coordinate control
what is reverberating pathways
neuron’s later in the pathway link with earlier neuron’s passing impulses back through the pathway
give an example of converging pathways
rod cells in eyes, take in information from multiple receptors to create a single end effect, in this case vision
give an example of a diverging pathway
when coordinating control, e.g. writing or threading a needle
