Voluntary and Involuntary

Actions
• Two types of action controlled by the
human nervous system are:
(a)voluntary action
(b)involuntary action
• The peripheral nerves transmit both
voluntary and involuntary actions.
Voluntary action
 Nature of the control of action
• Involves thought
and free will
• Allows us to consciously
control our skeletal
muscles
 Voluntary action is controlled by:
• Cerebrum (fore-brain) which:
(a)coordinates incoming information and
then initiates impulses which are sent to
the effectors.
(b)may spontaneously initiates actions
without any sensory stimulation.
 Receptors involved:
• An action may be initiates by the
stimulation of a receptor,or by the
conscious will of the brain itself

Inborned or learned actions

• Voluntary actions are learned
 Role of voluntary action:
• To respond with the benefit of experience

Parts of the nervous system

involved:
• Reflex arc structures
• Interneurons(ascending and descending
fibres )in the spinal cord
• Always involved the cerebrum
 Speed of action:
• Slow response,as the
cerebrum needs time
to “think”before an
action is carried out.
• Eg. ) if we want to ask
question, we raise our
hands.
Response to the same stimulus:

• The same stimulus

may produce various
responses.
• Eg.) when you are
hungry,you may decide
to eat or not to eat, or
just need to drink water.
Involuntary action
 Nature of the control of action
• Does not involve thought
• Not under the control of the will
• Cannot control the activities
• examples; pumping of the heart and
peristalsis
 Controlled by:
• Spinal cord(spinal reflex action)
• Hind-brain(cranial reflex action) example
blinking of the eyes
 Parts of the nervous system
involved:
• Reflex arc:afferent neurones(from
receptors)to intermediate neurones in
spinal cord and out through efferent
neurones (to effectors)
• Hind-brain(in cranial reflex action)
 Receptors involved:
• A receptor is always involved
 Inborned or learned actions
• Reflex actions are inborn (already “hard-
wired”at birth
 Role of involuntary action:
• To respond quickly to avoid danger
 Speed of action:
• Rapid response,as the cerebrum is not
involved
Response to the same stimulus:
• The same stimulus always results in the
same response(stereotyped
response),example as in the knee jerk
Examples of involuntary action:
• Involuntary action(reflex action)involving
skeletal muscle:
(a)knee jerk
• Involuntary action involving:
(a)smooth muscles
(b)cardiac muscles
(c)glands,example,normal blood pressure