Textbook Question
Describe the role of summation in postsynaptic cells.
Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 43, Problem 7
Compare and contrast the somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system.
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the primary function: The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements of the muscles, while the autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate.
Examine the components: The somatic nervous system consists of motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the target muscles. The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which work to balance the body's response to various stimuli.
Discuss the control mechanisms: The somatic nervous system operates under conscious control, meaning one can decide to move muscles. In contrast, the autonomic nervous system functions without conscious control to manage physiological functions.
Explore the neurotransmitters involved: The somatic nervous system primarily uses acetylcholine to stimulate muscle contractions. The autonomic nervous system uses both acetylcholine and norepinephrine, depending on whether the action is part of the sympathetic or parasympathetic system.
Consider the impact of external stress: The autonomic nervous system is heavily involved in the body's response to stress, activating the 'fight or flight' response through the sympathetic system, and calming the body down through the parasympathetic system. The somatic nervous system does not directly engage with stress response but can be influenced indirectly as muscles tense up during stress.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Somatic Nervous System
The somatic nervous system (SNS) is a component of the peripheral nervous system responsible for voluntary control of body movements. It consists of motor neurons that innervate skeletal muscles, allowing for conscious actions such as walking or picking up objects. The SNS also transmits sensory information from the body to the central nervous system, enabling the perception of external stimuli.
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Peripheral Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates involuntary physiological functions, including heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate. It operates without conscious control and is divided into two main branches: the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes 'rest and digest' activities. This balance is crucial for maintaining homeostasis.
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Comparison of SNS and ANS
While both the somatic and autonomic nervous systems are integral parts of the peripheral nervous system, they serve distinct functions. The SNS is involved in voluntary movements and sensory processing, whereas the ANS manages involuntary bodily functions. Additionally, the SNS typically involves a single neuron pathway from the spinal cord to the muscle, while the ANS uses a two-neuron pathway to connect the central nervous system to target organs.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Why is memory thought to involve changes in particular synapses?
a. At some synapses, more neurotransmitters are released after learning takes place.
b. At some synapses, a different type of neurotransmitter is released after learning takes place.
c. When researchers stimulated certain neurons electrically, individuals replayed memories.
d. When researchers changed synapses in the brains of patients during surgery, the patients' memories changed.
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Textbook Question
Explain the difference between a ligand-gated K+ channel and a voltage-gated K+ channel.
Textbook Question
Which of the following brain regions is responsible for the formation of new memories?
a. Brainstem
b. Cerebellum
c. Frontal lobe
d. Hippocampus
Textbook Question
Explain why drugs that prevent neurotransmitters from being taken back up by a presynaptic neuron have dramatic effects on the activity of postsynaptic neurons.
Textbook Question
Alzheimer's disease is a common form of dementia affecting millions of people, especially the elderly. Two regions of the brain are particularly affected, often shrinking dramatically and accumulating large deposits of extracellular material. Based on your knowledge of memory, what two brain regions do you think these are? Explain.
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