What are the 2 major systems that allow humans to gain and respond to information from their environment?
- Nervous system
- Endocrine system
What are the functions of the nervous system?
- Carries messages from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the body and back again to the brain
- Allows us perceive, comprehend and respond to the world around us
What is the structure of the nervous system?
Nervous system is divided into:
Peripheral
Central
The peripheral is divided into:
Autonomic
Somatic
the autonomic is further divided into:
Sympathetic
Parasympathetic
The central nervous system is divided into:
the brain
the spinal cord
What are the functions of the central nervous system?
- The control of behaviour
- The regulation of the body’s physiological processes
What is the main function of the spinal cord?
To relay information between the brain and the rest of the body
What are the main areas of the brain?
- Cerebrum
- Cerebellum
3.Diencephalon - Brain stem
Describe the cerebrum
- It is the largest part of the brain
- It is split down the middle into two halves
called cerebral hemispheres. The two halves
can communicate with each other through
the corpus callosum - It is further divided into 4 different areas
What are the areas of the cerebrum?
- Frontal lobe
- Parietal lobe
- Temporal lobe
- Occipital lobe
What is the function of the cerebellum?
It is involved in controlling a person’s motor skills and balance, coordinating the muscles to allow precise movements
What are the areas of the Diencephalon?
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
What is the function of the thalamus?
Acts as a relay station for nerve impulses coming from the senses
What are the functions of the hypothalamus?
- regulating the body’s temperature, hunger,
thirst - acts as a link between the endocrine system
and the nervous system
What are the functions of the brain stem?
- Regulates automatic functions essential for
life - Motor and sensory neurons travel through
the brain stem, allowing impulses to pass
between the brain and the spinal cord
What is the function of the peripheral nervous system?
Relay nerve impulses from the CNS to the rest of the body and back
Describe the structure and function of the somatic nervous system
- It is made up of 12 cranial nerves and 31
spinal nerves - It is involved in reflex action
What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
Regulates involuntary actions
What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
It is involved in responses that help us deal with emergencies. It uses the neurotransmitter, noradrenaline
What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
To relax the body after an emergency has passed
What are neurons?
Neurons are cells that are specialised to carry neural information throughout the body
What does a neuron typically consist of? (its structure)
- The cell body
- Dendrites
- Axon
- Myelin sheath
- Nucleus
- Nodes of Ranvier
- Terminal buttons
What is the function of the cell body?
The control centre of the neuron
What is the function of dendrites?
Receives signals from other neurons or from other receptors
What is the function of the axon?
Carries nerve impulses away from the cell body
What is the function of the myelin sheath?
Insulates and protects the axon
Helps to speed up the electrical transmission along the axon
