8.1 A&P

What are the two organ systems that coordinate body activities?

Nervous system and endocrine system.

What is the main difference between nervous system and endocrine system responses?

The nervous system responds rapidly and briefly using electrical signals, while the endocrine system responds more slowly but with longer-lasting effects using hormones.

What does the nervous system do overall?

It monitors internal and external environments, integrates sensory information, and coordinates voluntary and involuntary responses.

Why is the nervous system considered the most complex organ system?

It constantly monitors conditions, processes information, and issues rapid commands using fast electrical signals.

What type of cells perform nervous system functions?

Neurons.

What are neuroglia?

Support and protect neurons.

What are the two major anatomical divisions of the nervous system?

Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).

What structures make up the CNS?

Brain and spinal cord.

What is the primary role of the CNS?

It processes sensory information, coordinates responses, and serves as the center for intelligence, memory, and emotion.

What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?

All neural tissue outside the CNS that connects the CNS to the rest of the body.

What is the functional role of the PNS?

It carries sensory information to the CNS and motor commands away from the CNS.

What is sensory (afferent) information?

Information traveling from receptors toward the CNS.

What does the afferent division do?

It carries sensory input from receptors to the CNS.

What are receptors?

Structures that detect changes in the internal or external environment.

What are somatic sensory receptors?

Receptors that monitor the outside world and body position.

What are visceral sensory receptors?

Receptors that monitor internal conditions and organ system status.

What is information processing?

The interpretation and integration of sensory information within the CNS.

What is motor (efferent) output?

Commands sent from the CNS to effectors.

What does the efferent division do?

It carries motor commands from the CNS to muscles and glands.

What are effectors?

Structures that carry out motor commands (muscles and glands).

What two systems does the efferent division split into?

Somatic nervous system (SNS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS).

What is the somatic nervous system (SNS)?

The division that provides voluntary control of skeletal muscle.

What type of muscle does the SNS control?

Skeletal muscle.

What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

The division that provides involuntary control of internal functions.

What is another name for the ANS?

Visceral motor system.

What does the ANS regulate?

Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glandular secretions.

What are the two divisions of the ANS?

Sympathetic division and parasympathetic division.

What is the general role of the sympathetic division?

Prepares the body for stress or activity (fight-or-flight).

What is the general role of the parasympathetic division?

Promotes rest, digestion, and energy conservation (rest-and-digest).

How do sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions interact?

They often have opposite effects on the same organs.

Give an example of opposing ANS effects.

Sympathetic division increases heart rate, parasympathetic division decreases heart rate.

What is the overall flow of nervous system information?

Receptors → Afferent division → CNS (processing) → Efferent division → Effectors.

What is the big-picture purpose of the nervous system?

Maintain homeostasis by rapidly sensing, processing, and responding to changes in the body and environment.