Division of the Nervous/Endocrine System

• Central Nervous System (CNS) - The Nervous System that makes up the brain and spinal cord
• Hormones - chemical messengers that travel through the body to regulate certain processes in the body
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) - The nervous system that lies outside the CNS that carries messages between the brain/spinal cord and the body
• The Nervous System:

  A) Nervous System

  B) Central Nervous System (CNS)

  C) Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

  D) Spinal Cord

  E) Brain

  F) Somatic Nervous System

  G) Autonomic Nervous System

  H) Sympathetic Nervous System

  I) Parasympathetic Nervous System

  
• Nervous System - A specialised network of cells that carry electrical impulses, acting as the body's primary communication system to process and respond to environmental information.
• Brain Stem - connects the brain and spinal cord and controls involuntary processes eg. breathing
• Spinal Cord - transfers messages from the brain and the rest of the body and is responsible for simple reflex actions eg. jumping out your chair
• Somatic Nervous System - consciously controls voluntary skeletal muscle movements and sensory information for the body

  • Sensory receptors - detect stimuli and send signals to the CNS through sensory neurons
  • Motor Pathways - allows the brain to control movement
• Autonomic Nervous System - controls involuntary muscle movements and glands

  • only consists of motor pathways
• Sympathetic Nervous System - involved in responses that prepare the body for fight and flight responses eg. increased heart rate
• Parasympathetic Nervous System - involved in responses that promote relaxation and restoration eg. decreased heart rate
• Endocrine System - network of glands that secrete chemical messages called hormones through blood vessels
• Hypothalamus - connected to the pituitary gland and is responsible for stimulating or controlling the release of hormones from the pituitary gland, therefore regulating the Endocrine System
• Pituitary Gland (master gland) - the hormones released control and stimulate the hormones released from other glands

  • releases (ACTH), stimulating the adrenal cortex and releasing cortisol (stress)
  • releases oxytocin (love)
• Pineal Gland - releases melatonin, responsible for biological rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle
• Thyroid Gland - releases thyroxine which is responsible for regulating metabolism

  • people who have over active thyroid struggle to put on weight, and vice versa
• The Adrenal Gland - divided into the adrenal medulla and adrenal cortex

  • Medulla - adrenaline and noradrenaline release for F/F responses
  • Cortex - cortisol release stimulates the release of glucose while suppressing the immune system
• The Testes (male reproductive organ) - releases androgens, including hormones such as testosterone

  • responsible for the development of male sex characteristics and sex drive, sperm production and maintenance of muscle strength
• The Ovaries (female reproductive organ) - release estrogen controlling the regulation of the female reproductive system, including menstrual cycle and pregnancy