Nervous System

• What are the two subsections of the nervous system?

  1. The Central Nervous System
  2. The Peripheral Nervous System
• What is the function of the nervous system?


  It allows you to respond to changes in the environment (stimuli), and to coordinate your actions.
• The Central Nervous System is made up of the brain and the spinal cord.
• Receptors detect stimuli and effectors bring about a response to a stimulus.
• Examples of effectors?

  Muscle cells and cells found in glands, e.g the pancreas
• What is the peripheral nervous system made up of?


  Neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.
• What are the two systems in the peripheral nervous system?


  • The autonomic nervous system
  • The somatic nervous system
• What does the autonomic nervous system control?


  Unconscious activities, e.g digestion.
• What does the somatic nervous system control?


  Conscious activities such as running and playing video games.
• What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

  • The sympathetic nervous system
  • The parasympathetic nervous system
• What is the sympathetic nervous system?


  Gets the body ready for action - fight or flight
• What is the parasympathetic nervous system?


  Calms the body down - rest and digest
• The nervous system is based on electrical and chemical signals whereas the endocrine system is based on hormones.
• The brains outer layer is the cerebral cortex, which is only 3mm thick.
• What does the spinal cord do?

  • Passes messages to and from the brain
  • Connects nerves to the peripheral nervous system
  • Responsible for reflex actions