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12 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back

What is the central nervous system (CNS)?

Major subdivision of the human nervous system that includes the brain and the spinal cord.

What is the spinal cord?

Part of the CNS relaying messages via nerve fibres to and from the brain.

What are the central nervous system's main functions?

It transmits sensory information along sensory neurons from the peripheral nervous system to the brain.



It transmits information from the brain to the peripheral nervous system, which activates motor neurons to which muscle cells respond.

What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

The network of nerves that branch out from the CNS to all other parts of the body, the PNS delivers information from the sensory receptors, via afferent nerves, to the CNS, and transmits messages from the CNS to muscular or glandular effect or organs via efferent nerves. The PNS is divided into two subsystems; the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

What is role of the somatic nervous system?

It transports messages between the sense organs and the spinal cord. Via its connections with the skeletal muscles, it also controls voluntary bodily movements.

What doesn't the somatic nervous system control?

Nerves from the somatic nervous system do not control the non-skeletal muscles, such as the heart, lungs, stomach or intestines.

What is a sensory (afferent) nerve?

Specialised neurons within the PNS that detect sensory information received from receptors all over the body and transmit this to the brain via the spinal cord.

What is a motor (efferent) nerve?

Specialised neurons within the PNS that transmit information or commands from the brain via the spinal cord to the muscles, glands or organs to enable a response.

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system?

It controls involuntary bodily activities, such as digestion and heart rate, where nerves transmit information to and from the glands and internal organs, thus enabling a balanced state.

What is the main function of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system?

When the fight-or-flight response is activated the sympathetic nervous system is turned on, initiating some responses and inhibiting others to mobilise the body to deal with an emergency situation.

What is the flight-or-fight response?

Triggered by the hypothalamus, a state of increased arousal that occurs when the sympathetic division of the ANS is activated which prepares or mobilises the body to confront a 'threatening' situation or 'fight it or, flee to safety from a situation, hence the term 'flight'.

What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Once the emergency situation is over, it conserves bodily functions by restoring the body to a balanced state of homeostatic equilibrium.