THE NERVOUS SYSTEM By Ana and Anju

INTRODUCTION The Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system consists of nerves
The Human Nervous System is
that connect the CNS to the visceral organs such as
interconnected. It is composed of
the heart, stomach, and intestines. The visceral
two main components called
organs are controlled and regulated by the
Central Nervous System (CNS) and
autonomic nervous system, also known as the
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
involuntary system. The autonomic nervous system
The nervous system is responsible utilises the reflex arc to regulate and control a large
for coordination in the body. Each portion of the involuntary system.
thought, sensation and action that
a person has is because of a
functioning nervous system.

The nervous system is imperative

when keeping the body in balance As stated by Dr. Pavol Švorc,
(homeostasis). The nervous ”The parasympathetic nervous system is a
system achieves this through its more slowly activated inhibitory system and
network of sensory receptors that The sympathetic nervous system is a quick
provide information to the brain response mobilising system.”
with changes both internal and
external.

Central Nervous System The digestive system, urethra,

heart muscle, bladder, lower
The central nervous system is made airways, the adrenal medulla
of the Spinal cord and Brain. Its aswell as the sweat and lacrimal
function is to receive sensory glands are connected and
information, to the processing the
controlled by the autonomic
information and sending out motor
nervous system. Both
signals. This is imperative in keeping
sympathetic and
the body at Homeostasis.
parasympathetic nerve systems
The CNS (brain and spinal cord) interprets
are the two main components of
incoming sensory information and issues
instructions based on experience the autonomic nervous system,
they are known to frequently
work in "opposite" ways.

The peripheral nervous system includes both

Peripheral Nervous System the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
systems, which collaborate to achieve
The peripheral nervous system is made up of nerves homoeostasis.
The body's response to danger known as the "fight
that branch outside of the CNS (central nervous
or flight response" are mostly controlled by the
system) in order to support the limbs and organs. sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The SNS plays
a crucial role in the regulation of emotional
The somatic/voluntary nervous system responses, motivation and memory formation.
and the autonomic/involuntary nervous Excessive activation of the SNS can lead to chronic
stress, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
system are the two major systems of the
Whereas the parasympathetic nervous system
peripheral nervous system. The somatic (PNS) keeps the body functioning while it is at rest
nervous system, actively participates in ie. 'rest and digest' functions such as salivation and
lacrimation, which promotes relaxation and
conscious behaviours, and is made up of reduces energy expenditure, allowing body to
nerves which communicate between the recover from stress and conserve energy. The PNS
also plays a crucial role in controlling emotional
skin and muscles. responses, memory formation and social behavior.
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