Nervous system

• What are the two subsystems the nervous system is divided into?

  • Central nervous system (CNS)
  • Peripheral Nervous system (PNS)
• Describe the central nervous system:

  Made up of the brain and the spinal cord

  • Brain = cerebral cortex is outer layer and highly developed in humans
  • Spinal cord = Connects the brain to the PNS and is responsible for reflex actions
• Describe the peripheral nervous system:

  The PNS transmits messages via millions of neurons to and from the CNS. It is further subdivided into the:

  • Autonomic nervous system = governs vital functions within the body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses
  • Somatic nervous system = governs muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors
• What is the autonomic nervous system further subdivided into:

  • Sympathetic nervous system = Prepares body for fight or flight
  • Parasympathetic = Returns body to normal after fight or flight. sends messages to organs to reverse the effects of sympathetic