Nervous Sytem

• what are the two main components of the nervous system?

  1. central nervous system
  2. peripheral nervous system
• what is the CNS made of and what is its purpose?

  • brain and the spinal cord
  • provides conscious awareness and is involved in al psychological processes
• what is the role of the somatic nervous system?

  • facilitates communications between the CNS and the outside world
  • made up of sensory receptors that carry information to the spinal cord and brain, and motor pathways that allow the brain to control movement
• what is the role of the autonomic nervous system?

  • important role in homeostasis, which maintains internal processes like body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure
• what are the two components of the autonomic nervous system?

  1. sympathetic nervous system
  2. parasympathetic nervous system
• what is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?

  • involved in responses that prepare the body for fight or flight
  • impulses travel from sympathetic nervous system to organs in the body to help us prepare for action when we are faced with a dangerous situation
• what is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?

  • relax the body, and return us to our 'normal' resting state
  • slows down our heart and breathing rate and reduces our blood pressure