Nervous + Endocrine System

• What are the two main components of the human nervous system?

  Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
• What are the main components of the Central Nervous System (CNS)?

  • Brain
  • Spinal cord
• What are the two hemispheres of the brain called?

  Left and right hemispheres
• What is the primary function of the brain?

  The brain is the center of all awareness
• What is the outer layer of the brain called?

  Cerebral cortex
• How is the brain of humans different from that of animals?

  The brain is more developed in humans than in animals
• What is the spinal cord an extension of?

  Brain
• What is the role of the spinal cord in the nervous system?

  The spinal cord passes messages to and from the CNS and connects nerves to the PNS
• What is one of the responsibilities of the spinal cord?

  Responsible for reflexes
• What are the two main components of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

  The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
• What is the primary function of the Somatic Nervous System (SNS)?

  It receives information from the senses and sends it to the CNS.

  Info it recieves from CNS turns it into muscle movement.
• How does the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) function in the body?

  It is responsible for vital functions such as breathing and digestion, sending information to internal body organs
• What are the two subdivisions of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?

  The sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system
• What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?

  It prepares the body for fight or flight responses
• What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

  It slows down functions like digestion and takes care of the body after fight or flight responses
• What are the key functions of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?

  • Responsible for vital functions (e.g., breathing, digestion)
  • Sends information to internal body organs (e.g., liver)
  • Operates automatically and involuntarily
• Compare the roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

  Sympathetic Nervous System:

  • Prepares body for fight or flight
  • Stimulates functions like increased heart rate and digestion

  
  

  Parasympathetic Nervous System:

  • Slows down bodily functions
  • Takes care of the body after fight or flight
• Somatic Nervous System key points

  • Connects CNS to outside world
  • Consist of Sensory receptors and Motor pathways
• Sensory Receptors


  Carrys info to spinal cord and brain
• Motor Pathway


  Allows brain to control movement
• Autonomic Nervous System key points

  • important in homeostasis
  • consists of motor pathways
  • subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
• Neurones


  Nerve cells
• 3 types of neurones

  Sensory neurone - carrys signal to CNS

  Relay neurone - carrys message from one part of CNS to another

  Motor neurone - carrys signal from CNS to effector
• Synapse


  point at which one neurone (presynaptic) sends a chemicaal message to an adjacent neurone (post-synaptic)
• Neurotransmitter

  Chemical message that is released by neurones

  They can stimulate/inhibit development of active potential in other post-synaptic neurones
• Uni-directional

  info passed chemically (neurotransmitter) between neurones can only be passed in one direction due to synapse structure e.g. location of receptors.
• Re-uptake

  neurotransmitters can be reabsorbed into the postsynaptic cell after transmitting a neural impulse.

  Happens at transport proteins - prepares cell to fire again
• SSRI


  class of drugs that influence the process of neurotransmission. In this case blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the cell.
• Function of Endocrine System

  provides a chemical system of communication through the bloodstream

  secretes hormones which are required to regulate many bodily function
• Pituitary Gland

  Located in brain below hypothalmus

  Master gland

  Produces Oxytocin

  Produces ACTH
• Pineal Gland

  Located in brain

  Produces melatonin
• Melatonin


  Helps regulate sleep

  Synchronises our sleep-wake cycle with day and night
• Oxytocin


  Bonds mother and baby

  Increases contractions during birth
• Thyroid Gland

  Produces thyroxine
• Thyroxine

  Controls metabollic rate

  Involved in digestion, how heart works, brain development
• Adrenal Gland

  Located in the kidneys

  Produces adrenaline

  Stimulates sympathetic nervous system
• Metabollic Rate


  how much energy body uses
• Adrenaline

  Triggers fight/flight
• Testes


  2 male reproductive organs

  Produces testosterone

  Produces sperm
• Higher levels of testosterone associated with aggression