Divisions of the Nervous System

What does the nervous system break up into?

Central nervous system (CNS) and Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

What does the CNS break up into?

Brain and spinal cord

What does the PNS break up into?

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) and somatic nervous system (SNS)

What does the ANS break up into?

parasympathetic and sympathetic division

Function of CNS

sensory activities, memory, and emotions

Function of the PNS

connects the CNS with the rest of the body

Function of the ANS

Involuntary movements

Function of the SNS

Voluntary movements

Features of the sympathetic nervous system

→ fight or flight

• when hypothalamus detects a threat e.g. running away or fighting
  
  → adrenaline is released to fuel the physical activity required

• accelerated heart rate

• pupil dilation

• sweating

• widened bronchial passages for increased breathing capacity

Features of the parasympathetic nervous system

→ rest and digest

• body at rest, preserving energy
  
  → lowers blood pressure and slows heart and breathing rates as body enters state of relaxation

• the more time in the PNS state, the healthier the person is likely to be