BRAINCAKEThe Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system can further be subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
The sympathetic nervous system is reponsible for the fight-or-flight response and generally results in activity being increased. The neurotransmitter used is noradrenaline.
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Key terms in this lesson
- Neurotransmitter
- A chemical released from the presynaptic membrane at a synapse that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, triggering a response.
- Acetylcholine
- A neurotransmitter released at cholinergic synapses and neuromuscular junctions that causes depolarisation of the postsynaptic membrane.
- Noradrenaline
- A hormone and neurotransmitter produced by the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic nervous system that increases heart rate and constricts blood vessels to non-essential organs.
More in Neuronal Communication
- The Role of Synapses
- Summation
- Structural Organisation of the Nervous System
- Functional Organisation of the Nervous System
- Comparison of Neurones
- The Brain
- Structure of the Brain
- Cerebrum
All 38 lessons in Neuronal Communication · All OCR A-level Biology topics