The nervous system

• What is the nervous system?

  The human nervous system is a complex network of nerve cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to different parts of the body to communicate with each other
• What is the CNS comprised of?


  The CNS (Central Nervous System) is comprised of the brain and spinal cord.
• What is the human nervous system divided into?

  • The central nervous system (CNS) which comprises of the brain and spinal cord.
  • The peripheral nervous system which breaks down onto the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system
  • The autonomic nervous system then breaks down into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system
• What are examples of sensory receptors?


  • eyes
  • ears
  • skin
• What is the spinal cord?

  a collection of nerve cells that are attached to the brain and run the length of the spinal column
• Whats the main function of the spinal cord?

  to relay information between the and the rest of the body. This allows the brain to monitor and regulate bodily processes, such as digestion and breathing and to co-ordinate voluntary movements
• What is the spinal cord connected by?

  pairs of spinal nerves which branch off of the thoracic region, carrying messages to and from the chest and parts of the abdomen
• What does the spinal cord contain?

  circuits of nerve cells that enable us to perform some simple reflexes without the direct involvement of the brain
• What happens if the spinal cord gets damaged?


  areas supplied by spinal nerves below the damaged site will be cut off from the brain and will stop functioning
• What part of the brain is the biggest?

  Cerebrum
• What are the 4 parts of the cerebrum?

  1. Frontal lobe
  2. Occipital lobe
  3. Parietal lobe
  4. Temporal lobe
• What are the 2 functions of the nervous system?


  1. to collect, process and respond to information in the environment
  2. to co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells to maintain homeostasis
• what’s homeostasis?


  Internal balance in the body despite external changes in the environment
• Whats the brain the centre of?


  all conscious awareness
• what is the brain divided into?


  2 hemispheres
• What is the peripheral nervous system made from?


  all the nerves outside the CNS
• Whats the function of the PNS?


  Transmitting sensory and motor information to the rest of the body
• Whats the PNS divided into?


  Somatic and autonomic nervous system
• what are cranial nerves?


  nerves that emerge directly from the underside of the brain
• what is the somatic nervous system responsible for?


  • voluntary movements
  • reflex actions
  • receiving information from sensory receptors
• what do sensory neurons do?


  relay messages to the CNS
• what do motor neurons do?


  relay information from the CNS to other areas of the body
• What does the autonomic nervous system do?


  governs vital functions in the body
• what are the 2 parts of the ANS?


  sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
• what are examples of what the ANS governs?


  • HR
  • breathing
  • digestion
  • blood pressure
  • sexual arousal
  • stress responses
• What does the sympathetic nervous system govern?


  prepares the body to expend energy (fight or flight)
• what does the parasympathetic nervous system do?


  maintains and conserves body energy an functions (rest and digest)