Chapter 2A

Question 1

Nervous system

Answer 1

The nervous system is a organized network of nerve tissue in the body, it contains the central nervous system which includes the brain and the spinal cord, and then the peripheral nervous system which includes the somatic and autonomic nervous system including the sympathetic and parasympthetic nervous systme

Question 2

Central nervous system

Answer 2

The central nervous system (CNS) comprises the brain and spinal cord. It processes sensory information, coordinates movement, manages cognition and emotions, and regulates vital functions like heart rate and body temperature. Protected by the skull, vertebral column, and meninges, the CNS is crucial for controlling and integrating bodily functions.

Question 3

The brain

Answer 3

• the brain is responsible for processing information and initiating actions
• it is responsible for maintaining physiological and psychological functioning

Question 4

The spinal cord

Answer 4

• the spinal cord is a thick bundle of Neurons that allows the brain to communicate with the rest of the body and vice versa
• Neurons branch off to various muscles, organs and glands

Question 5

peripheral nervous system

Answer 5

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) connects the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body. It consists of sensory and motor neurons that extend beyond the brain and spinal cord, transmitting information to and from the CNS. The PNS is divided into the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary movements and sensory information, and the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion.

Question 6

somatic NS

Answer 6

• the somatic NS is responsible for voluntary movements initiated by the brain
• it also transmits sensory information to the brain for processing
• it controls skeletal muscles

Question 7

Autonomic NS

Answer 7

• this division of the peripheral NS is responsible for involuntary functioning- those functions that we don’t have to think about
• it controls visceral/smooth muscles, organs and glands

Question 8

sympathetic NS

Answer 8

• this division prepares the body to react to danger or stress
• it heightens survival functions and slows functions not vital for survival

Question 9

parasympathetic NS

Answer 9

• this division is dominant most of the time and maintains optimal functioning of the body
• it is responsible for returning the body to normal levels after the sympathetic NS has been activated

Question 10

sensory neurons

Answer 10

these neurons take sensory information from the environment (i.e getting poked with a needle) and sends the signal to the brain

Question 11

motor neurons

Answer 11

these neurons communicate information from the brain to tissues and organs throughout the body allowing movement

Question 12

interneuron

Answer 12

these neurons make up the majority of neurons in the body. they are essentially the middle man transmitting information between sensory and motor neuron. they play a key role in learning memory and planning

Question 13

diagram of a neuron

Answer 13

• nucleus
• dendrites
  -axon
• terminal buttons
• axon terminals

Question 14

Alternative terminology (SAME)

Answer 14

We use the term sensory to describe neurons that send information to the CNS. Al alternative term that you might see is AFFERENT

The motor neuron sends neural messages to the skeletal muscles. They can also be referred to as EFFERENT.

sensory = afferent
motor = efferent