Nervous System Worksheet Name
Section A: Intro to Nervous System
The Nervous System regulates and coordinates activities within the body. It detects, interprets and
responds to changes that occur internally and externally. Sensory receptors gather information and send
electrical impulses to the Central Nervous System (CNS – spinal cord and brain). Electrical impulses are
processed and generate appropriate reactions by sending electrical impulses via nerves to effector organs
such as muscle and glands. The diagram illustrates the divisions of the nervous system.
1. The CNS is composed of the .
2. What is the function of the brain?
3. What is the function of the spinal cord?
4. The PNS has two divisions – the sensory and motor division.
a. What is the function of the sensory division?
b. What is the function of the motor division?
5. The motor division is composed of the
.
6. What does the somatic nervous system control?
7. What does the autonomic nervous system control?
8. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is further divided into two divisions – sympathetic and
parasympathetic division. What’s the difference between these two subdivisions?
Section B: Divisions & Functions
1. The Nervous System has 3 major functions. Identify the function based on its description.
a. : receives the stimuli and then takes the information to the
brain/central nervous system.
b. : make decisions/process information.
c. ; the act of carrying a response to a gland or muscle.
1
2. The sensory pathway is also referred to as the (afferent/efferent) pathway.
3. The motor pathway is also referred to as the (afferent/efferent) pathway.
4. The motor pathway carries information (to / away from) the central nervous system.
5. The sensory pathway carries information (to / away from) the central nervous system.
6. What does the CNS stand for?
7. What does the PNS stand for?
8. What does the ANS stand for?
9. The (CNS/PNS) is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
10. The (CNS/PNS) is made up of the nerves that lead to and from the brain and spinal cord.
11. Which sensory division carries information from the skin, skeletal muscles and joints to the CNS?
12. Which sensory division carries information from the visceral organs within the ventral body cavity to the
CNS?
13. Which motor division conducts information from the CNS to the skeletal system?
. What is another name for this division?
14. The ANS is further divided into the . This
division is commonly referred to as the involuntary division – why would it be called this?
15. The (parasympathetic/sympathetic) division of the nervous system mobilizes the body in emergency
situations making someone more alert. It is this portion of the nervous system that causes a person to
get the adrenaline rush in times of anxiety, anger, excitement resulting in an increased respiration rate,
increased heart rate, increased perspiration, etc…
16. The (parasympathetic/sympathetic) division of the nervous system regulates your body’s activities
under “normal”/stable conditions i.e. times when your emotional state is normal without any mood
swings associated to anger, excitement, etc…
17. Identify which division and function of the nervous system. Put a check in the appropriate boxes.
Division of the
Nervous System Nervous System Functions
CNS PNS Sensory Input Integration Motor Output
A. Brain
B. Decision Making
C. Getting “chill bumps”
D. Hearing a noise
E. Processing
F. Sweating
G. Spinal Cord
H. Glands secrete substances
I. Thinking
J. Tasting something
K. Meissner’s Corpuscles, Pacinian
Corpuscles, and Free Nerve
Endings
L. Picking up an object
M. Feeling Something
