Biopsychology Year 1

How is the nervous system divided?

• The central nervous system (CNS)

  • which is further split into the Brain and the Spinal cord

• The peripheral nervous system (PNS)

  • connects the CNS to the rest of the body

What is the role of the PNS?

• Carries messages to and from the CNS

What are the divisions of the PNS? (SOMATIC NS)

• Somatic nervous system

  • movement which is conscious and voluntary

  • it is involved in the relay of sensory and motor neurones form the CNS

What are the divisions of the PNS? (AUTONOMIC NS)

• Autonomic nervous system

  • considered involuntary and controls internal organs and glands

  • can be divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

  • Sympathetic is involved in preparing the body for fight or flight - increases heart rate, blood pressure and dilation of pupils (adrenaline)

  • parasympathetic is the body in the relaxed natural state

What is the role of the CNS?

• The Brain

  • can be separated into distinct lobes and all parts of the brain communicates with each other providing out thoughts and behaviours

• The spinal cord

  • connects the brain to the body and outside world and allows the brain to act

What is a neurone?

• the main building blocks of the nervous system and there is 100 billion present at birth

What is the structure of a neurone?

• Membrane - outside of a neurone is made up of a semipermeable membrane

• Nucleus - genetic makeup go a neurone

• Dendrites - input sites where the neurone receives messages from other neurones

• Axon - carries messages away form the neurones main body

What is a synapse?

• A very small space between two neurones and where the communication happens

Explain synaptic transmission?

What are the different types of neurones?

• sensory neurone

• relay neurone

• motor neurone

What is a sensory neurone and explain what it looks like

• carries impulse from sensory receptors which is translates into sensations such as heat, pain visual input

what is a relay neurone and explain what it looks like

• Allows sensory and motor neurones to communicate and only reside in the brain and spinal cord

What is a motor neurone and explain what it looks like

• releases neurotransmitters

What is the endocrine system?

• made up glands which secrete hormones in order to maintain homeostasis

What is the pituitary gland?

• referred to as the master gland and controls all other glands in the endocrine system

What is the thyroid gland?

• Locates in the neck

• secretes thyroxine

• releases hormones which regulate growth weight and appetite

What is the adrenal gland?

• Located at the top of the kidneys

• releases adrenaline and prepares the body for flight of fight

What is the pancreas?

• Regulates blood sugar levels by releasing insulin

What are the sexual glands?

• Ovaries

• Testes

What is the pineal gland?

The pineal gland is a small pea shaped gland in the brain. Its main function is the production and regulation of melatonin, which is important for regulating sleep.

What is the flight or fight response?

• A survival mechanism

• The sympathetic nervous system is activated when the body is faced with a stressful situation

  • purpose is to increase survival

• The bodies response is to release adrenaline

What are the changes in the body as a result of the release of adrenaline?

• pupils dilate

• heart rate and blood pressure increases

• the bladder relaxes

• liver realises glucose

What happens after the threat?

• The parasympathetic nervous system takes over and the body functions in the relaxed state