MCPHS Exam -Anatomy & Physiology Nervous
System| Questions and Verified Answers
2 Major divisions of the nervous system
1. Central nervous system
2. Peripheral nervous system
Central Nervous System (CNS)
consists of the brain and spinal cord
receives information from and sends information to the body
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
responsible for detecting stimuli in and around the body and sending that information to the
CNS and then communicating messages from the CNS to the body
Information flow in the nervous system
- The sensory division of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) detects stimuli and conducts
action potentials to the central nervous system (NCS)
- The CNS interprets incoming action potentials and initaites action potentials that are
conducted through the motor division to produce a response.
- The motor division is divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous
system.
2 Primary Divisions of PNS
,1. Sensory (afferent) division
2. Motor (efferent) division
Sensory division
Transmits electrical signals from specialized receptors in the body toward the CNS
Sensory receptors
detect stimuli and then send input along nerves, which extend from the receptor to the brain or
spinal cord
can be neuron endings or specialized cells that detect external/internal environmental stimuli
Motor (efferent) division
Transmits impulses from the CNS to effector organs, such as muscles and glands
2 branches:
- somatic
- automonic
2 branches of the motor (efferent) division
1. Somatic
2. Autonomic
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
Division of the PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles
Voluntary
Single neuron system
,Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Involuntary division of the motor division
Regulates activities without our conscious control
2 subdivisions:
- Sympathetic division
- Parasympathetic division
2 major subdivisions of the autonomic nervous sysetm
1. Sympathetic division
2. Parasympathetic
Sympathetic division of nervous system
Prepares the body for physical activity
"fight-or-flight"
Parasympathetic division of nervous system
Regulates resting functions such as digesting food or emptying the urinary bladder
"rest-and-digest"
Enteric nervous system
Consists of neuronal networks within the wall of the digestiv tract
_____________ account for over half of the brain's weight
Glial cells
, 2 major control systems of the body
1. Nervous system
2. Endocrine system
Nervous System (composition & overall function)
Made up of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and sensory receptors
Uses electrical and chemical signals to control functions of the body
Regulates and coordinates functions of the body required to maintain homeostasis
2 main cell types of nervous tissue
1. Neurons
2. Glial cells
Neurons
nerve cells- electrically excitable cells of the nervous system
send electrical signals to other cells using axons
Nerve
a collection of many axon bundles and their connective tissue sheaths found in PNS
some nerves carry electrical signals to the CNS, while other carry signals away from the CNS
Cranial nerves
12 pairs of nerves
Originate in the brain
System| Questions and Verified Answers
2 Major divisions of the nervous system
1. Central nervous system
2. Peripheral nervous system
Central Nervous System (CNS)
consists of the brain and spinal cord
receives information from and sends information to the body
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
responsible for detecting stimuli in and around the body and sending that information to the
CNS and then communicating messages from the CNS to the body
Information flow in the nervous system
- The sensory division of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) detects stimuli and conducts
action potentials to the central nervous system (NCS)
- The CNS interprets incoming action potentials and initaites action potentials that are
conducted through the motor division to produce a response.
- The motor division is divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous
system.
2 Primary Divisions of PNS
,1. Sensory (afferent) division
2. Motor (efferent) division
Sensory division
Transmits electrical signals from specialized receptors in the body toward the CNS
Sensory receptors
detect stimuli and then send input along nerves, which extend from the receptor to the brain or
spinal cord
can be neuron endings or specialized cells that detect external/internal environmental stimuli
Motor (efferent) division
Transmits impulses from the CNS to effector organs, such as muscles and glands
2 branches:
- somatic
- automonic
2 branches of the motor (efferent) division
1. Somatic
2. Autonomic
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
Division of the PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles
Voluntary
Single neuron system
,Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Involuntary division of the motor division
Regulates activities without our conscious control
2 subdivisions:
- Sympathetic division
- Parasympathetic division
2 major subdivisions of the autonomic nervous sysetm
1. Sympathetic division
2. Parasympathetic
Sympathetic division of nervous system
Prepares the body for physical activity
"fight-or-flight"
Parasympathetic division of nervous system
Regulates resting functions such as digesting food or emptying the urinary bladder
"rest-and-digest"
Enteric nervous system
Consists of neuronal networks within the wall of the digestiv tract
_____________ account for over half of the brain's weight
Glial cells
, 2 major control systems of the body
1. Nervous system
2. Endocrine system
Nervous System (composition & overall function)
Made up of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and sensory receptors
Uses electrical and chemical signals to control functions of the body
Regulates and coordinates functions of the body required to maintain homeostasis
2 main cell types of nervous tissue
1. Neurons
2. Glial cells
Neurons
nerve cells- electrically excitable cells of the nervous system
send electrical signals to other cells using axons
Nerve
a collection of many axon bundles and their connective tissue sheaths found in PNS
some nerves carry electrical signals to the CNS, while other carry signals away from the CNS
Cranial nerves
12 pairs of nerves
Originate in the brain
