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Summary The nervous system and endocrine system AQA A level Psychology Cornell style notes
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detailed Cornell notes on the nervous system and endocrine system
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The nervous systemNervous Nervous system: consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral
system nervous system. Communicates using electrical signals
• The nervous system is specialised network of cells in the human body and
is our primary internal communication system
• It is based on electrical and chemical signals whereas the endocrine
system is based on hormones
The nervous system has 2 main functions:
1. To collect, process and respond to information in the environment
2. To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
The nervous system is divided into two subsystems:
The central nervous system(CNS)
Central nervous system(CNS): consists of the brain and the spinal cord and is the
Central origin of all complex commands and decisions
nervous • The CNS is made up of the brain and the spinal cord
system(CNS) • The brain is the centre of all conscious awareness
• The brain's outer layer, the cerebral cortex, is only 3mm thick ad covers
the brain like and orange peel covers an orange(it is only found in
mammals)
• The brain is highly developed in humans and is what distinguishes our
higher mental functions from those of other animals
• Only few living creatures- sponges, sea squirts, jellyfish- do not have brain
• The brain is divided into two hemispheres
• The spinal cord is an extension of the brain. It passes messages to and
from the brain and connects nerves to the PNS. It is also responsible for
reflex actions such as pulling your hand away from a hot plate
The peripheral nervous system(PNS)
Peripheral nervous system(PNS): sends information to the CNS from the outside
Peripheral world, and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body
nervous • The PNS transmits messages, via millions of neurons9nerve cells), to and
system(PNS) from the central nervous system
Autonomic The peripheral nervous system is further subdivided into the :
nervous • Autonomic nervous system(ANS): governs vital functions in the body such
system(ANS) as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses
• Somatic nervous system(SNS): governs muscle movement and receives
Somatic information from sensory receptors
nervous
system(SNS)
, Endocrine
system
The endocrine system
Glands and hormones
Endocrine system: one of the body's major information systems that instructs
Gland
glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones are
carried towards organism the body. Communicates via chemicals
• The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control vital
Hormone
functions in the body
• The endocrine system acts more slowly than the nervous system but has
very widespread and powerful effects
• Central control system(endocrine system
Gland: an organ in the body that synthesises substances such as hormones
Thyroid gland
• Various glands in the body, such as the thyroid gland, produce hormones
Thyroxine
Hormone: a biochemical substance that circulates in the blood but only affects
target organs. They are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly. Their
effects are very powerful
• Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and affect any cell in the
body that has a receptor for that particular hormone
• Most hormones affect cells in the more than one body organ, leading to
many diverse and powerful responses.
E.g. the thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroxine. This hormone
affects cells in the heart(increases heart rate). It also affects cells throughout
the body increasing metabolic rate(the chemical processes taking place in
the cells). This in turn affects growth rates
• The main glands of the endocrine system are shown in this diagram
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