Video Transcript
What is the primary purpose of the
autonomic nervous system? (A) To regulate involuntary
activities. (B) To control voluntary movements
and coordination. (C) To transmit information from
the brain to the rest of the body. (D) To initiate the fight-or-flight
response.
This question is asking us to
recall the primary purpose or main goal of a specific part of the human nervous
system. So to answer this question, let’s
review how the human nervous system is organized, paying special attention to the
structural organization of the autonomic nervous system. The human nervous system is a very
complex network of nerve cells. And although it is very complex,
the human nervous system is so highly organized that it can be subdivided based on
the primary purpose of the nerve cells.
The first main subdivision of the
nervous system is based on the location of the nerves. This creates two subdivisions, the
central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system consists
of the brain and the spinal cord. These two components work together
to act as the central processing unit of the human nervous system. They handle the most important
actions of integrating and processing the information carried by nerve cells. In contrast, the peripheral nervous
system consists of all of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.
Because of the wide diversity of
nerves found within the peripheral nervous system, it can be subdivided three more
times. The peripheral nervous system is
first subdivided based on the flow of information. The sensory division carries
impulses from the receptors in the periphery towards the central nervous system. The motor division carries
information away from the central nervous system to the periphery, where the
muscles, glands, and organs can carry out a specific response. Since a wide variety of responses
can be carried out by the motor division, the motor division is further subdivided
based on the type of motor response that is to be carried out.
If the motor response is voluntary,
then it falls under the control of the somatic nervous system. Impulses from the somatic nervous
system stimulate skeletal muscles and require our conscious control to be
performed. If the motor response is
involuntary, then it falls under the control of the autonomic nervous system. The primary purpose of the
autonomic nervous system is to conduct impulses for all of our involuntary and
subconscious activities. This can include functions like
increasing the heart rate, digesting our food, and escaping from danger.
Given the range of functions that
fall under the autonomic nervous system, it can be subdivided based on the activity
level of the motor response. When an increase in activity of
involuntary actions is needed, they are governed by the sympathetic nervous
system. These involuntary actions generally
support our fight-or-flight responses. When a decrease in activity of
involuntary actions is needed, it is governed by the parasympathetic nervous
system. These actions generally support our
rest-and-digest responses.
Now that we’ve reviewed the
organization of the human nervous system and understand the function of the
autonomic nervous system, we are prepared to answer the question. The primary purpose of the
autonomic nervous system is to regulate involuntary activities.
