the nervous system

Cards (11)

  • The nervous system is a specialised network of cells in the human body and is its primary internal communication system.
  • The nervous system is divided into two parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
  • The CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord
  • The brain is the centre of all conscious awareness and the cerebral cortex, the brain's outer layer, is highly developed in humans. The brain is divided into two hemispheres
  • The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and is responsible for reflex actions. It passes messages to and from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS
  • The PNS transmits messages, via millions of neurons (nerve cells) to and from the CNS
  • The PNS is further divided into the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system
  • The autonomic nervous system governs involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate and stress responses. This is also divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic
  • the sympathetic is involved in fight or flight
  • the parasympathetic is known as 'rest and digest'. it slows down our heart rate and breathing rate
  • The somatic nervous system controls voluntary muscle movement and sensory and motor nerves