UNIT 3 AOS 1 - THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
● The roles of different subdivisions of the central and peripheral nervous systems in responding to, and
processing and coordinating with, sensory stimuli received by the body to enable conscious and unconscious
responses, including spinal reflexes
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: a major division of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord, which
receives neural messages from and transmits neural messages to the peripheral nervous system
BRAIN: a complex organ contained within the skull that coordinates mental processes and behaviour, and regulates
bodily activity
SPINAL CORD: a cable of nerve tissue that extends from the brain, connecting it to the peripheral nervous system
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: a major division of the nervous system comprising every neuron in the body outside
the central nervous system
SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM: is a division of the peripheral nervous system that transmits neural messages related to
voluntary motor movement. The somatic nervous system comprises:
• sensory neural pathways, which are made up of sensory neurons.
• motor neural pathways, which are made up of motor neurons.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM: a division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates visceral muscles, organs,
and glands, and transmits neural messages to the central nervous system about their activity.
The autonomic nervous system is further divided into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic
nervous system.
There are three types of neurons:
- Motor neurons (also known as efferent neurons), which transmit neural messages about motor movement
from the central nervous system to the peripheral nervous system.
- Sensory neurons (also known as afferent neurons) , which transmit neural messages about bodily sensations
from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system.
, - Interneurons
, which transfer neural messages between sensory neurons and motor neurons. The central
nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, is made up of interneurons.
CONSCIOUS RESPONSES: a deliberate and voluntary action that is initiated by the brain and performed intentionally by
the body
UNCONSCIOUS RESPONSES: automatic and involuntary actions that are performed by the body independently of the
brain.
Unconscious physiological responses:
● The roles of different subdivisions of the central and peripheral nervous systems in responding to, and
processing and coordinating with, sensory stimuli received by the body to enable conscious and unconscious
responses, including spinal reflexes
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: a major division of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord, which
receives neural messages from and transmits neural messages to the peripheral nervous system
BRAIN: a complex organ contained within the skull that coordinates mental processes and behaviour, and regulates
bodily activity
SPINAL CORD: a cable of nerve tissue that extends from the brain, connecting it to the peripheral nervous system
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: a major division of the nervous system comprising every neuron in the body outside
the central nervous system
SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM: is a division of the peripheral nervous system that transmits neural messages related to
voluntary motor movement. The somatic nervous system comprises:
• sensory neural pathways, which are made up of sensory neurons.
• motor neural pathways, which are made up of motor neurons.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM: a division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates visceral muscles, organs,
and glands, and transmits neural messages to the central nervous system about their activity.
The autonomic nervous system is further divided into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic
nervous system.
There are three types of neurons:
- Motor neurons (also known as efferent neurons), which transmit neural messages about motor movement
from the central nervous system to the peripheral nervous system.
- Sensory neurons (also known as afferent neurons) , which transmit neural messages about bodily sensations
from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system.
, - Interneurons
, which transfer neural messages between sensory neurons and motor neurons. The central
nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, is made up of interneurons.
CONSCIOUS RESPONSES: a deliberate and voluntary action that is initiated by the brain and performed intentionally by
the body
UNCONSCIOUS RESPONSES: automatic and involuntary actions that are performed by the body independently of the
brain.
Unconscious physiological responses:
