Nervous System, Endocrine system & Fight or Flight response

• What are the two main components of the human nervous system?

  Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
• What is the primary function of the nervous system?

  To collect information, process it, and direct bodily organs and muscles
• How does the central nervous system (CNS) contribute to processing information?

  It provides complex processing and contains the brain and spinal cord
• What role does the spinal cord play in the CNS?

  It receives and transmits information to and from the brain and body
• What are sensory (afferent) neurons responsible for?

  Delivering information to the central nervous system (CNS)
• What do motor (efferent) neurons do?

  Transmit information away from the central nervous system (CNS)
• What are the two parts of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

  • Somatic nervous system (SNS): Controls skeletal muscles and is voluntary
  • Autonomic nervous system (ANS): Controls internal organs and glands and is involuntary
• What is the difference between the somatic nervous system (SNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

  SNS is voluntary and controls skeletal muscles, while ANS is involuntary and controls internal organs
• What does the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system do?

  Activates the fight-or-flight response
• What neurotransmitter is released by the sympathetic branch during a stress response?

  Noradrenaline
• What happens to the body during the fight-or-flight response?

  Heart rate and breathing increase, pupils dilate, and digestion stops
• What is the role of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system?

  Decreases bodily activities and promotes rest
• What neurotransmitter is released by the parasympathetic branch?

  Acetylcholine
• What is homeostasis in relation to the nervous system?

  A process that maintains balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
• How many nerve cells are estimated to be in the human gut?

  About 100 million
• How does the number of nerve cells in the gut compare to that in a cat's brain?

  It is about the same number of nerve cells
• What are the key functions of the nervous system?

  • Collects information from the environment
  • Processes the information
  • Directs actions by transmitting electrochemical messages
• What is the primary function of the endocrine system?

  To release hormones into the bloodstream
• How do hormones differ from neurotransmitters?

  Hormones are chemical messengers released by glands, while neurotransmitters are released by neurons
• How many major glands are in the endocrine system?

  Eight major glands
• What systems in the body do the endocrine glands regulate?

  Metabolism, growth, sleep, and reproduction
• What psychological factors do the endocrine glands influence?

  Emotions and behavior
• What are the major glands of the endocrine system and their associated hormones?

  • Pituitary gland: ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone)
  • Hypothalamus: CRH (Corticotropin-releasing hormone)
  • Pineal gland: Melatonin
  • Thyroid gland: Thyroid hormones
  • Thymus: Thymosin
  • Pancreas: Insulin and Glucagon
  • Adrenal glands: Cortisol and Adrenaline
  • Testes: Testosterone; Ovaries: Estrogen
• What is the role of the pituitary gland?

  It influences the release of hormones by other glands
• What hormone does the pituitary gland release during the fight-or-flight response?

  ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone)
• What is the function of the hypothalamus in the endocrine system?

  It maintains homeostasis and communicates with the pituitary gland
• What hormone is released by the hypothalamus?

  CRH (Corticotropin-releasing hormone)
• What is the function of the pineal gland?

  It modulates sleep patterns by releasing melatonin
• What is the primary role of the thyroid gland?

  To influence metabolic rate
• What hormones are released by the thyroid gland?

  Thyroid hormones
• What is the function of the thymus gland?

  To stimulate the development of T-cells for immune response
• What hormone does the thymus gland release?

  Thymosin
• Where is the pancreas located?

  Just behind the stomach
• What hormones does the pancreas release?

  Insulin and glucagon
• What condition can result from the pancreas not producing insulin?

  Diabetes
• Where are the adrenal glands located?

  On top of each kidney
• What hormones do the adrenal glands release during stress?

  Cortisol and adrenaline
• What hormone do testes produce?

  Testosterone
• What hormone do ovaries produce?

  Estrogen
• What are the secondary sexual characteristics influenced by testosterone?

  Distinctively male characteristics