Name Date Page 1

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM PART 1

Read the text below. Then, answer the questions on pages 2 and 3.

Beep beep beep! An alarm clock sounds at 7:00 a.m. to wake you up. You turn over, check the time
on the clock, and hit the snooze button. How does your body know what to do when your alarm
rings? The nervous system is responsible for coordinating everything you do. It helps you respond
and adapt to stimuli, which are changes that occur both outside and inside of the human body.
The nervous system also helps maintain the body’s internal environment by controlling things like
breathing and body temperature.
To understand how your body responds to
your alarm clock, we need to understand NEURON ANATOMY
how the nervous system is structured. Just
AXON
like other systems in the human body, the
DENDRITE
nervous system has several levels of
organization. Neurons are specialized cells
NUCLEUS AXON
that are the basic units of structure and
TERMINAL
function in the nervous system. A neuron is MYELIN
made up of a cell body, dendrites, and an
axon. A message, or impulse, first reaches
a neuron at its dendrites. Dendrites branch
DIRECTION OF IMPULSE
out in many directions to receive impulses
from neighboring cells and send them to
the cell body. The cell body contains the nucleus, which is the control center of the neuron. Then
the axon carries impulses away from the cell body. The axon is coated in myelin, a material that
allows an impulse to be transmitted as fast as 120 meters per second! At its end, or terminal, the
axon branches out in many directions to send impulses to other cells.
Neurons are organized into cable-like networks known as nerves. Nerves work together in a
system to send messages. Every day, billions of nerve impulses are sent through your nervous
system. While neurons form a network, they are not actually attached to one another. Instead,
messages travel between neurons through a synapse, which is a tiny gap between cells. Here,
the electrical signal from the axon changes to a chemical signal that crosses the synapse. This
chemical signal is called a neurotransmitter.
When a neurotransmitter binds to the receptor
THE SYNAPSE on the next neuron, it stimulates an impulse in
SYNAPTIC GAP that dendrite.
The messages transmitted between neurons
in a nerve only travel in one direction. A nerve
impulse from a neuron will travel along nerves to
NERVE IMPULSE NERVE IMPULSE the central nervous system, which is made up of
the brain and spinal cord. Some responses, like
AXON TERMINAL NEUROTRANSMITTER reflexes, are processed directly by the spinal cord.
NEUROTRANSMITTER RECEPTOR Most responses continue on to the brain, which
interprets the incoming signals from the nerves.
Name Date Page 2

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM PART 1

Keep going! Read the text below. Then, answer the questions that follow.

The brain also coordinates the body’s responses. A message from the brain will travel through the
spinal cord. Then it will travel through nerves in the peripheral nervous system. This system includes
all of the nerves outside of the central nervous system. The nerves in the peripheral nervous system
are the communication pathway between the brain and spinal cord and the other parts of the body.
NEURONS AND RECEPTORS
There are three different types of neurons in the human body. They work together to detect,
transmit, and send impulses to coordinate your response to stimuli.

• Sensory neurons pick up a stimulus in the environment, convert it into a nerve impulse,
and send a message to the brain.
• Interneurons make up the majority of the neurons in the body. As the “middle man” of the
nervous system, interneurons transmit impulses to and from the central nervous system.
• Motor neurons send messages from the brain to the other cells in the body to
initiate movement.

Sensory neurons, sometimes called sensory receptors, can be further classified by the type of
stimuli they detect. Mechanical receptors found in the skin and ears detect touch and sound.
These receptors detect the sound of your alarm clock ringing. Electromagnetic receptors in the
eyes detect changes in light, helping you see the time on your alarm clock. Chemical receptors
in the nose and mouth detect substances and allow you to smell and taste.
Now let’s consider what happens when your alarm clock sounds. Sensory neurons detect the sound
of your alarm, which is converted to a nerve impulse. This impulse travels from the sensory neurons
to interneurons and then to the brain. The brain sends a message via the motor neurons to your
eyelids and body, causing you to turn over, open your eyes, and reach out and press the snooze
button on the alarm.

Show what you know! Use the reading to answer the questions below.

1. What is the primary function of the nervous system?

2. Neurons are made up of three main parts. Describe the function of each part.
a. axon:
b. cell body:
c. dendrite:
Name Date Page 3

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM PART 1

Keep going! Use the reading to answer the questions below.

3. What is myelin, and what is its function in the neuron?

4. What is the role of a neurotransmitter in the nervous system? Use the vocabulary words axon,
dendrite, and synapse in your answer.

5. List the three main types of sensory receptors in the body. Describe what each receptor does,
and provide an example of where the receptor is found in the body.

SENSORY RECEPTOR FUNCTION LOCATION IN THE BODY

6. Identify the major components of the 7. Breakfast smells good! You follow the smell
nervous system on the diagram below. and walk to the kitchen. Describe how a nervous
impulse, or message, travels along a network of
neurons from your nose to your brain and back
out to your muscles, causing movement. Identify
the types of receptors involved in detecting the
stimulus, transmitting the nerve impulse, and
generating a response.
Name Date Page 1

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM PART 2

Read the text below. Then, answer the questions on pages 2 and 3.

Have you ever accidentally touched a hot pot on a stove? If you have, you may remember the pain
of burning your hand! You probably also learned to be careful around hot objects. Your reactions
and memories are examples of your nervous system at work. The nervous system coordinates
everything you do, including processing stimuli from your internal and external environment.
Processing these stimuli may result in an immediate response. It may also result in the storage
of new memories. In order to understand how the nervous system works, let’s explore the brain,
spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system in more detail.
The brain and spinal cord are both part of the central nervous system. The human brain has about
100 billion neurons. Working together in networks, these neurons handle thousands of messages
every day. The spinal cord relays messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

NERVOUS SYSTEM ANATOMY

PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM:

BRAIN CRANIAL
NERVES
CEREBRUM
CEREBELLUM SPINAL
NERVES
BRAIN
CENTRAL STEM
NERVOUS
SYSTEM
SPINAL CORD SENSORY
NEURON
MOTOR OTHER
SPINAL NERVE NEURON PERIPHERAL
NERVES

There are three major components of the brain: the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem.
The cerebrum is the largest region of the brain. It processes input from the five senses and includes
regions for communication and learning. The cerebellum coordinates your muscle actions and helps
maintain your balance. The brain stem controls involuntary actions like breathing and digestion.
These actions are known as autonomic functions, or functions that you don’t have to think about.
The peripheral nervous system includes all of the nerves outside of the central nervous system.
This includes 31 pairs of symmetrical nerves, called spinal nerves, that extend from the spinal cord
to the two sides of the body. It also includes 12 pairs of nerves extending from the brain called
cranial nerves that send signals between the face, neck, torso, and brain. The peripheral nervous
system has two major divisions: the somatic and autonomic systems. The autonomic nervous
system transmits messages from the brain stem to control autonomic functions, like increasing your
heart rate when you run. The somatic nervous system transmits messages to control all conscious
movement, like wiggling your toes or using a fork to eat a meal.
Name Date Page 2

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM PART 2

Keep going! Use the reading to answer the questions below.

Some messages from sensory receptors are processed directly by the spinal cord. Let’s consider
the example of touching a hot pot on a stove. Ouch! Immediately you pull your hand back. This
whole process happens very fast. This is known as a reflex. A reflex response doesn’t require the
brain at all. Instead, when your spinal cord receives nerve impulses from your fingers, your spinal
cord sends an impulse directly back. This nerve impulse tells the motor neurons in your hand to pull
your hand away from the pot. Reflexes are useful because they allow the body to respond without
having to think about what action to take.
Reflex actions are paired
with other nervous impulses
which travel to the brain for
REFLEX RESPONSE
SPINAL CORD
interpretation. This is why your
RECEPTOR
feeling of pain is often delayed. IN SKIN
The reflex response happens
first, and then the brain registers
pain. After the unpleasant
experience of touching a hot
pot on a stove, most people HOT OBJECT
DIRECTION
learn to be careful around OF IMPULSE
hot objects. How do you learn
this information? Sensory MUSCLE CONTRACTS AND WITHDRAWS HAND
experiences can generate an
immediate response, like the reflex of pulling your hand away coupled with the feeling of pain.
These immediate responses are processed into stored information, or memories, in the brain.
So, the next time you encounter a hot pot on the stove, you will be less likely to touch it.

Show what you know! Use the reading to answer the questions below.

1. Match the part of the nervous system with its function in the list below.
a. Peripheral nervous system I. Region of the brain that processes smell

b. Cranial nerve II. Controls involuntary actions like your heartbeat

III. Helps maintain your balance
c. Spinal cord
IV. Includes all of the nerves outside of the brain
d. Cerebellum and spinal cord

e. Cerebrum V. Is made up of the brain and spinal cord

VI. Sends signals between the brain and
f. Brain stem the face, neck, and torso
g. Central nervous system VII. Controls reflexes
Name Date Page 3

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM PART 2

Show what you know! Use the reading to answer the questions below.

2. Why is it useful for humans to have both an autonomic and a somatic system?

3. Jay is walking past the basketball court. His friend Taylor attempts a three-point shot and
misses. Taylor yells, “Watch out!” Jay hears Taylor and turns to see the ball flying toward him.
Jay instinctively raises his arms to block the ball. Number the nervous system response steps
below into the correct order.
Jay’s eyes see the ball. Jay’s muscles move to block the ball.
Jay’s ears hear his friend yelling. Jay’s brain interprets the yell
from his friend.

4. What part of Jay’s experience was a reflex? Explain how this reflex was useful for Jay.

5. Explain how memories of this experience would be useful for Jay in the future.

6. Bridget is threading a fishing lure on some fishing line. Her finger accidentally touches one of
the sharp hooks on the lure. Bridget immediately pulls her finger away. That hurt! Bridget
examines her skin to see if she needs a bandage. Number the nervous system response steps
below into the correct order.
Bridget’s finger touches the hook. Bridget’s muscles move her finger away.
Bridget feels pain in her finger. Bridget’s brain directs her eyes
to look at her finger.

7. What part of Bridget’s experience was a reflex? Explain how this reflex was useful for Bridget.

8. Explain how memories of this experience would be useful for Bridget in the future.