Animal Responses

Organisation of the nervous system

The nervous system may be divided into the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. 

• The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the brain and spinal cord
• The peripheral nervous system consists of the nerves which run between the CNS and the rest of the body - from receptors to effectors. 

The peripheral nervous system has two components:

• the somatic nervous system, includes all sensory neurones and also the motor that run to skeletal muscles. 
• the autonomic nervous system, consists of two motor neurones carrying impulses to effectors other than the skeletal muscles, such as glands and muscles of the gut and heart. Neurones of the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system use different neurotransmitters…