Nervous System

• Divisions of the Nervous System

  
• Central Nervous System - CNS

  spinal cord

  - relay info between the brain and rest of the body.

  - allows brain to monitor/regulate bodily processes, e.g. digestion and breathing.

  brain

  - divided into 4 areas: cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon and brain stem.

  - cerebrum is divided into 4 lobes: frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital.

  - cerebellum involves controlling a person's motor skills, balance and coordinating.

  - diencephalon contains thalamus and hypothalamus.

  - brain stem regulates automatic functions e.g. heartbeat, breathing, swallowing.
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

  relays nerve impulses from the CNS

  Somatic Nervous System - controls skeletal muscles

  - involved in reflex actions without the involvement of the CNS, allowing reflex occurring quickly.

  Autonomic Nervous System - regulates glands, blood vessels, internal organs

  - involuntary actions.

  - splits into sympathetic and parasympathetic.
• Sympathetic Nervous System


  - uses neurotransmitter noradrenaline, stimulating effects

  - help us deal with emergencies such as increasing heart rate and blood pressure and dilating blood vessels in muscles.

  - travel to almost every organ and gland in body.
• Parasympathetic Nervous System


  - uses neurotransmitter acetylcholine, inhibiting effects.

  - relaxes body once the emergency has passed.

  - slows the heartbeat down and reduces blood pressure.