Term
| what are the 3 main functions of the nervous system? |
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Definition
1) monitors sensory input, or stimuli
2) integrates input, which means it processes & interprets stimuli then "decides" on a response if necessary
3) initiates motor output by activating effector organs (muscles or glands) |
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Term
| what are effector organs? |
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Definition
| -muscles or glands activated by motor output initiated by nervous system (response to stimuli) |
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Term
| how is the nervous system divided? |
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Definition
-central nervous system (brain & spinal cord)
-peripheral nervous system (nerves that extend from the brain ("cranial nerves") & the spinal cord "spinal nerves") = neural tissue outside of central nervous system |
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Term
| what is the "command center?" what is the function? |
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Definition
-central nervous system
-receives all input from sensory receptors |
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Term
| what are the 2 functional divisions of the peripheral nervous system? |
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Definition
1) sensory/afferent neurons
2) motor/efferent neurons |
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Term
| what is the job of sensory/afferent neurons? |
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Definition
| -carry signals, or action potentials, FRoM sensory receptors TO the central nervous system |
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Term
| what is the job of motor/efferent neurons? |
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Definition
-carry signals, or action potentials, FROM central nervous system TO effector organs
-results from either a contraction of muscle or glandular secretion |
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Term
| what are the 2 functional divisions of motor neurons? |
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Definition
1) somatic nervous system
2) autonomic nervous system |
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Term
| what is the somatic nervous system? |
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Definition
| -system of motor nerves that conduct action potentials to only skeletal muscles |
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Term
what is the autonomic nervous system?
-what are its further divisions? |
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Definition
-system of motor nerves thats made of visceral nerve fibers that regulate the activity of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands
-divided into parasympathetic nervous system (rest & digest) & sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) |
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Term
| what is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system? |
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Definition
-a subdivision within autonomic nervous system (within motor neurons, within peripheral nervous system)
-"rest and digest" controls vegetative functions, the lowering of blood pressure, increasing of digestive function |
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Term
| what is the function of the sympathetic nervous system? |
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Definition
-nervous system->peripheral nervous system->motor/efferent neurons->autonomic nervous system->sympathetic nervous system
-"fight or flight"" controls energetic functions, the increasing of heart rate/BP, decreasing of digestive function |
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Term
| which autonomic nervous system DECREASES digestive function? |
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Definition
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Term
| what autonomic nervous system division is in almost all viscera? |
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Definition
BOTH parasympathetic & sympathetic
-which division has more influence depends on central nervous system integration |
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