NERVOUS SYSTEM

AND HOMEOSTASIS
 OBJECTIVES
1. Define and identify the parts of
the Nervous System.

2. Describe how the nervous system

coordinates and regulates feedback
mechanisms to maintain homeostasis.
The Nervous System
● Works together with
endocrine system to
control and coordinate
the workings of the
components of the body.
● It is like a communication
of network that transmits
information by electrical
signal called nerve cells
or neurons.
● It is a system of cells,
tissues and organs that
regulates body’s
responses to internal and
external stimuli.
 What are the
major divisions
and parts of the
Nervous System?
The Central Nervous
System (CNS)
● The CNS serves as the
main processing center
for the entire nervous
system.
● It is where the
interneurons receive
and pass messages.
● It consists of two main
components namely
the:
a. Brain
b. Spinal Cord
The Brain

● It is located within the skull

that functions as organizer
and distributor of the
information for the body.

● It consists of 10 billion
neurons that control
everything a person does:
Memory, Movements,
Thoughts and Senses.

● Meninges cover the entire

brain and the cerebrospinal
fluid substance helps cushion
and protect the brain and
the spinal cord.
 Parts and functions of the Brain

Cerebrum

Cerebellum
Brain
Stem
 Parts and functions of the Brain
Cerebrum
● It is the large upper region of
the brain.
● The cerebrum has two sides:
the right and left
hemispheres.
● The outer part of the
hemisphere is covered with a
thin tissue called gray matter.
The rest of the cerebrum is
made of white matter.
● It controls activity and
thought.
Parts and functions of the Brain

Cerebellum

● It is located beneath the

back part of the cerebrum.
● It is responsible for balance,
muscle control and
coordination.
Brain Stem

⮚ It is located below the

cerebellum at the
base of the skull,
which serves as the
body’s life support
system.
⮚ It controls the heart
beat, breathing,
digestion, heart rate
and blood pressure.
Brain Stem

The brainstem has

three parts:
Medulla Oblongata – It
controls breathing, heart rate
and swallowing.
Pons –It regulates breathing
and helps control eye
movement.
Midbrain – It is linked to vision
and controls the movement
of the eye and constriction
and dilation of the pupil.
 Thalamus
⮚ It serves as a relay
station for senses.
It is responsible in
processing of the
information from
the sense organs.
Hypothalamus
⮚ Associated with feelings. It
regulates the body’s
temperature, use of water,
blood pressure and release of
regulatory chemicals.
Spinal Cord

● Relays sensory and motor

information to and from
the brain and other parts
of the body.
● The spinal cord is rod
tissue that extends about
two-thirds of the way
down the back just below
the ribs.
● The spinal column allows
the trunk to bend.
THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

It connects the
central nervous
system to the
organs and limbs
Main divisions of the Peripheral
Nervous System:

Somatic Nervous System – it is

responsible for actions that a
person can control such as
skeletal muscles and sensory
neurons of the skin (voluntary
muscles).

Autonomic Nervous System –

controls autonomic functions,
which do not require a person
to think (involuntary muscles).
For example, involuntary
muscles help to digest food,
heartbeat and breathing.
The Somatic Nervous System

It is associated with
the voluntary control
of the body
movements and has
two main parts:

a. Cranial Nerves
b. Spinal Nerves
The Somatic Nervous System

Cranial Nerves – the

nerve fibers that carry
information into and
out of the brain stem.
Spinal nerves

Spinal nerves – the

nerves that carry
motor and sensory
signals between the
spinal cord and the
body.
The Autonomic Nervous System

It is associated with the

involuntary control of
the body movements
and has two divisions:

a. Sympathetic
b. Parasympathetic
Sympathetic Nervous System

Prepares the body for

action and stress. (fight or
flight)

It is activated when the body is

in a dynamic role or stress.
(e.g., increased heart rate and
breathing, dilation of pupil,
sweating, etc.)
Parasympathetic Nervous System

⮚ Helps the body to

conserve energy.(Rest or
Digest)

⮚ It maintains body
functions and restores
the body to normal or
relaxed mode.
The Nerve and Nerve Cell

The basic cell of the nervous system

is the nerve cell. The nerve cells are
called NEURONS. Some exist alone
and others joined together to form
organs like the brain and spinal
cord. It carries nerve impulses, or
action potential from one part of
the body to another.
 The basic parts of a NEURON

A typical neuron has three parts

:
Dendrites
⮚ Cell body- which controls the
growth of the nerve cell.

Cell body ⮚ Dendrites-which are short-

branched fibers that carry
impulses or messages toward
the cell body.
Axon
⮚ Axon- (also known as
connective tissue) which is
typically long, thin fibers that
carries messages away from
the cell body.
 The Nerve Impulse

⮚ A nerve impulse is a combination of an electrical charge and

a chemical reaction. A nerve impulse is not a flow of
electricity but an electrochemical signal moving along a
neuron.
⮚ A nerve impulse cannot jump from one neuron to another.
When a nerve impulse comes to the end of an axon, it
produces the chemical, called neurotransmitter, to be
released. The chemical crosses the space between neurons
called synapse and stimulates the nerve impulse to start in
the next dendrite.
Sensory neurons – transmit information/impulses from
sensory nerves (receptor cells) to the Central
Nervous System.

Motor neurons – transmit impulses from the brain to

muscles, glands or other neurons in the Peripheral
nervous system.
How does the
nervous system
work?
When a receptor such as an organ
perceives a stimulus, the impulse is
sent to the brain by the sensory
neurons, which then transmit
information from one nerve cell to
another. As the message reaches the
brain, it processes the information
and commands an effector such as a
muscle or an organ to respond. The
message coming from the brain is
sent through the motor neurons.
Homeostasis
It is the state reached when each part of the body functions in
equilibrium with other parts.

Homeostasis is responsible for the regulation and maintenance of the

internal environment of the body. It regulates body temperature, fluids,
salts, acids, gases and nutrients that help support human life. Internal
control system of the body responds immediately to change from the
different conditions or internal environment.
● Amount of water in
the body
● Blood sugar level
● Body temperature
 How does the Nervous
System Coordinate and
Regulate Feedback
Mechanism to Maintain
Homeostasis?
 Negative Feedback
Negative feedback is a control system to reduce or
minimize any changes or conditions of the body,
which helps the whole body system to be stable. It
is also a mechanism that regulates homeostasis.
The term negative is a deviation from set point.
The set point refers to the normal value and ideal
requirement of the body to maintain homeostasis.
STIMULUS

RECEPTOR

CONTROL CENTER

EFFECTOR

RESPONSE
 Positive Feedback
Positive feedback is a control system that uses
information from sensors to increase the rate of
processes. It is also the exact opposite of a
negative feedback mechanism. This type of
feedback is important whenever a rapid change is
necessary.
During labor, the
oxytocin released in
the uterus intensifies
and speeds up
contractions. The
release of oxytocin
stops when the baby
is born. The birth ends
the release of
oxytocin and ends the
positive feedback
mechanism.