Scribd
Upload
406 views8 pages

The Nervous System

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, and is surrounded by bone. The brain contains neurons and glia and is divided into the cerebrum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. The spinal cord runs along the back and connects the brain to the rest of the body. The PNS connects the CNS to other body parts through nerves and is involved in reflexes.

Uploaded by

ananth
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
406 views8 pages

The Nervous System

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, and is surrounded by bone. The brain contains neurons and glia and is divided into the cerebrum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. The spinal cord runs along the back and connects the brain to the rest of the body. The PNS connects the CNS to other body parts through nerves and is involved in reflexes.

Uploaded by

ananth
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

The nervous system: The nervous system monitors and controls almost every organ system through a series

of positive and negative feedback loops.


The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system

1) The Central Nervous System (CNS) includes the brain and spinal cord. 2) The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) connects the CNS to other parts of the body, and is composed of nerves (bundles of neurons).

Central Nervous System


The Central Nervous System (CNS) is composed of the brain and spinal cord. the CNS is surrounded by bone-skull and vertebrae. The brain:
the average adult human brain weighs 1.3 to 1.4 kg (approximately 3 pounds). The brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells (neurons) and trillons of "support cells" called glia.

the brain is composed of 3main parts:

1) the cerebrum :
The cerebrum is the largest portion of the brain. Its is divided into two halves called cerebral hemispheres. Their outer surface is highly convoluted with ridges and grooves. Front part of the cerebrum is the region responsible for memory and morals(the higher mental activities). Rear side of the cerebrum contains a region called visual centre responsible for sight. Functions: Overall, the cerebrum is the seat of Intelligence coordination sensation consciousness Language Reasoning speech It controls all voluntary actions.

The hypothalamus : It regulates homeostasis. It has regulatory areas for thirst, hunger, body temperature, water balance, and blood pressure, and links the Nervous System to the Endocrine System.

2) the cerebellum,
it is the second largest portion of the brain located at the base, under the cerebrum. Functions: the cerebellum is a motor area of the brain concerned with the balance and coordinating movements of skeletal muscles, maintains body balance and posture.

3) the medulla oblongata


it is the main component of the hindbrain. It is a continuation of the upper part of the spinal cord and forms the inferior part of the brain stem. The medulla relays motor and sensory impulses between the other parts of the brain and spinal cord. Functions: It regulates involuntary activities such as heart beat, breathing and blood vessel diameter. It also coordinates reflexes such as swallowing, vomiting, coughing, sneezing and hiccupping

The Spinal Cord


The spinal cord runs along the dorsal side of the body and links the brain to the rest of the body. Vertebrates have their spinal cords encased in a series of (usually) bony vertebrae that comprise the vertebral column. The gray matter of the spinal cord consists mostly of cell bodies and dendrites. The surrounding white matter is made up of bundles of inter neuronal axons (tracts). Some tracts are ascending (carrying messages to the brain), others are descending (carrying messages from the brain). The spinal cord is also involved in reflexes that do not immediately involve the brain.

The Neuron
The neuron is the functional unit of the nervous system. Humans have about 100 billion neurons in their brain alone! A typical neuron has 3 parts in it.

1) Dendrites : receive information from another cell and transmit the


message to the cell body.

2) The cell body : contains the nucleus, mitochondria and other organelles. 3) The axon : conducts messages away from the cell body.

There are three kinds of neurons: 1) Sensory neuron 2) Relay neuron 3) Motor neuron

1) Sensory neuron : Sensory Neuron conducts impulses from sensory receptor (sensory organs) to brain. Sensory organs 2) Relay neurons: Relay neurons carry impulses from one part of the brain to another part of the brain or one part of the spinal cord to another part of the spinal cord. Or They carry impulses from sensory neurons to motor neurons via brain or spinal cord. On part of the Brain 3) Motor neurons: They carry impulses from the brain or spinal cord to effectors. Brain or spinal cord effectors (skeleton muscle or gland) another part of the brain brain or spinal cord.

Imp vocabulary: GRAY MATTER: Areas of your central nervous system that consist of the "cell bodies" of your neurons. WHITE MATTER: Areas of your central nervous system that consist of nerve fibers.

NERVE IMPULSE: An electrical signal that travels along a neuron. Information is carried through the nervous system in nerve impulses. NEUROTRANSMITTERS: Chemicals that transmit nerve impulses between neurons.

Voluntary actions:
Involves thought and free will Allows us to consciously control our skeletal muscles

Examples: talking, eating, thinking, moving etc.

Involuntary actions: Does not involve thought Not under the control of the will Cannot control the activities

Examples: pumping of the heart, Peristalsis and blinking of eyes.

Stimulus: a stimulus is a change in the environment that effects an organism. Receptor type Photo receptor Chemoreceptor Thermo receptors Responds to stimulus Light chemicals changes in temperature Example in humus Rod cells in retina of eye Taste buds Thermoreceptors in skin

Receptors: specialised cells that can detect changes in stimuli.

Response: Effectors: part of the body that produces response. Reflex action: Def: Reflex action it is a coordinated response to a specific stimulus.

In bright light: Radial muscles of the iris relax. Circular muscles of the iris contract. Less light enters the eye through the contracted pupil.

In dim light:

Radial muscles of the iris contract. Circular muscles of the iris relax. More light enters the eye through the dilated pupil.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy