peripheral nervous system

• what does the peripheral nervous system do

  transmits information to and from the central nervous system
• what two systems does it contain

  the somatic nervous system

  the autonomic nervous system
• the somatic nervous system

  important in movement, reflexes and control of conscious movement
• somatic nervous system

  made up of 12 pairs of cranial nerves

  and 31 pairs of spinal nerves
• what do sensory neurons do

  relay messages to the central nervous system
• what do motor neurons do

  relay information from the central nervous system to other areas of the body
• what process is the somatic nervous system involved in

  reflex actions without the involvement of the central nervous system

  allows the reflex to occur quickly
• the autonomic nervous system

  important in the survival response and involuntary actions

  e.g. heartbeat and digestion
• the two parts of the autonomic nervous system

  sympathetic

  parasympathetic
• sympathetic division

  uses the neurotransmitter noradrenaline which has stimulating effects
• parasympathetic division

  uses the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which has inhibiting effects