The Nervous System

• Nervous System

  A complex network of nerve cells that carries messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to different parts of the body.
• Central Nervous System (CNS)

  Controls behaviour and regulates body's physiological processes.

  Divided into: Brain and Spinal Cord
• Brain

  • Centre of all conscious awareness
  • Divided into two hemispheres
• Spinal Cord

  • Relays information between the brain and the rest of the body: allows the brain to monitor and regulate processes
  • coordinates voluntary movement
  • performs simple reflexes without the direct involvement of the brain.
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

  • All the nerves outside the CNS
  • Relays nerve impulses from CNS to the body and back again
  • Divided into: Somatic NS and Autonomic NS
• Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

  • Deals with our external environment.
  • Consists of sensory nerves carrying information from the environment to CNS and motor nerves
• Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

  • Deals with our internal environment.
  • Controls activities of our internal organs and is involved in homeostatic functions (homeostasis)

  Divided into: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
• Sympathetic Branch (SANS)

  Becomes more active when doing anything requiring energy.

  • Involved in fight or flight mechanisms when the body is exposed to a threat.
  • Series of connections from the spinal cord to major organs.
• Parasympathetic Branch (PANS)

  controls homeostatic functions and ensures we conserve energy.

  • Becomes less active when SANS is activated.
  • Connections between brain and organs.