Nervous System 2 (Worksheet)

• Bones (cranium and vertebrae)


  • Enclose brain and spinal cord and protect them from mechanical injury
• Meninges


  • Three layers of connective tissue coverings of the brain and spinal cord (dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater)
  • Protect and anchor the brain
  • Provide space for the cerebrospinal fluid, which is located between arachnoid and pia mater
• Cerebrospinal fluid

  • Shock absorption
  • Supports the weight of the brain
  • Nourishment and waste removal
• Blood brain barrier

  • Tightly controls what substances may enter the brain
  • Small hydrophobic molecules and gases can freely diffuse across
  • Hydrophilic substances need specific carriers to enter
• Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, could be caused by many forms of bacteria, viruses, or fungi
• Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain tissue
• Small hydrophobic molecules and gases can freely (simple diffusion) pass blood brain barrier
• Cerebral cortex


  • Where most of the higher thinking and processing take place
  • Contains sensory areas for skin senses, vision, hearing and olfaction
  • Motor cortex for voluntary control of movement
  • Association areas for interpreting sensations, language, thinking, decision making, self-awareness and creativity
• Hippocampus


  • Important in long-term memory
• Amygdala


  • Important in remembering fear and responding to it
• Hypothalamus


  • Maintains homeostasis and influences blood pressure, heart rate, digestive activity, breathing rate, and body temperature
  • Controls release of hormones by pituitary gland
• Thalamus


  • Processes sensory information (except smell) and relays it to other areas of the brain
• Cerebellum


  • Maintains balance and coordination, refines motor skills, new motor skills
• Midbrain


  • Voluntary muscle control
  • Relays auditory and visual information
  • Relays information from the spinal cord
  • Eye movement control
• Pons

  • Assists medulla oblongata with control of involuntary breathing
  • Relays messages from the spinal cord
• Medulla oblongata


  • Controls vital involuntary functions, including breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure
• Parts of the nervous system

  • Brain
  • Spinal cord
• Effects of Sympathetic and Parasympathetic branches on organs/body functions

  • Eye pupils (Sympathetic: dilates, Parasympathetic: constricts)
  • Salivary glands (Sympathetic: inhibits, Parasympathetic: stimulates)
  • Heart rate (Sympathetic: increases, Parasympathetic: decreases)
  • Breathing rate (Sympathetic: increases, Parasympathetic: decreases)
  • Airways (Sympathetic: dilates, Parasympathetic: constricts)
  • Blood vessels (Sympathetic: constricts, Parasympathetic: dilates)
  • Digestion (Sympathetic: inhibits, Parasympathetic: stimulates)
  • Bladder sphincter muscle (Sympathetic: constricts, Parasympathetic: relaxes)
  • Sex organs (Sympathetic: inhibits, Parasympathetic: stimulates)