Module # 9

Nervous System

What is the Nervous System?

- the major controlling, regulatory, and communicating system in the body.

The Nervous System Consists of

- Spinal Cord - a vital structure that connects your brain to the rest of your body
- Brain- Command Center / essential organ that controls many body functions.
- Nerves- like cables that carry electrical impulses between your brain and the rest of your
body
- Ganglia - are clusters of nerve cell bodies found throughout the body.

Major Functions of Nervous System:

1. Receiving of sensory inputs
2. Integrating information
3. Controlling muscles and glands
4. Maintaining homeostasis
5. Establishing and maintaining mental activity

Main Divisions of the Nervous System:

1. Central Nervous System (CNS) – consists of the brain and spinal cord

2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) – consists of all the nervous tissue outside the CNS
(nerves)
 Sensory Motor

Neurons that carry sensory impulse from A neuron that carries motor impulses from the
sensory organs to the central nervous system central nervous system to specific effectors is
are known as sensory neurons known as motor neurons.

They are located in the dorsal root ganglion of They are located in the ventral root ganglion of
the spinal nerve the spinal cord.

Comprises of a short axon Comprises of a long axon

An adult has an average of 10 million sensory Half million of motor neurons are found in the
nerves in the body body

Found in eyes, skin, ears, tongue and nose Found in muscles and glands

Somatic Nervous System – innervates skeletal muscle; mostly under voluntary control
Autonomic Nervous System – innervates cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands; mostly
under involuntary control

Sympathetic Autonomic Nervous System: It is the part of the autonomic nervous

system located near the thoracic and lumbar regions in the spinal cord. Its primary
function is to stimulate the body’s fight-or-flight response. It does this by regulating the
heart rate, rate of respiration, pupillary response etc.

Parasympathetic Autonomic Nervous System: It is located in between the spinal

cord and the medulla. It primarily stimulates the body’s “rest and digest” and “feed and
breed” responses.
Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Involved in the fight or flight response. Involved in maintaining homeostasis and also,
permits the rest and digest response.

The sympathetic system prepares the body for the parasympathetic system aims to bring the
any potential danger. body to a state of calm.

Sympathetic system has shorter neuron Has comparatively longer neuron pathways,
pathways, hence a faster response time. hence a slower response time.

Increases heartbeat, muscles tense up. Reduces heartbeat, muscles relaxes.

In “fight and flight” situations, Adrenaline is No such functions exist in “fight or flight”
released by the adrenal glands; more glycogen situations.
is converted to glucose.
Cells of the Nervous System:
Neurons / Nerve Cells – receive stimuli, conduct action potentials, & transmit signals to other
neuron or effector organs;
has three parts:

▪ Cell Body: contains a nucleus and processes stimulus

▪ Dendrites: extensions of the neuron cell body; receive stimulus from other neurons or
sensory receptors
▪Axon: single long process; transmits stimulus to a gland, muscle, organ, or other neuron

2. Glial Cells / Neuroglia – supportive cells of CNS & PNS; do not conduct action potentials;
carry out different functions that enhance neuron function and maintain normal conditions

Myelin Sheaths – fatty, protective wrapping around axons of some neurons that are formed by
oligodendrocytes (CNS) and Schwann cells (PNS)

Organization of Nervous Tissue:

1. Gray Matter – consists of groups of neuron cell bodies & their dendrites, where there is very
little myelin
2. White Matter – consists of bundles of parallel axons with their myelin sheaths, which are
whitish in color

Reflexes – involuntary reactions in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery &

transmitted to CNS; allow a person to react to stimuli more quickly; no conscious thought is
required.
Reflex Arc – the neuronal pathway by which a reflex occurs; basic functional unit of nervous
system; smallest, simplest pathway capable of receiving a stimulus & yielding a response.

Spinal Nerves – arise along spinal cord from union of dorsal & ventral roots.
All contain axons from both sensory and somatic motor neurons (mixed nerves)
✔ Categorized by region of vertebral column from which they emerge –
cervical (C1 to C8),
thoracic (T1 to T12),
lumbar (L1 to L5),
sacral (S1 to S5),
and coccygeal (Co) – 31 pairs in total

Brain – consists of its major regions which are the brainstem, the cerebellum, the diencephalon,
and the cerebrum.

Brainstem – connects the spinal cord to the remainder of brain

Cerebellum – attached to brainstem by several large connections called cerebellar peduncles;

known as “little brain”
Cerebral Cortex – located at the surface of cerebrum that is composed of gray matter ✔
Functions: controls thinking, communicating, remembering, understanding, & initiates
involuntary movements
Diencephalon – part of brain between brainstem & cerebrum consisting of the thalamus,
epithalamus, & hypothalamus

Medulla Oblongata - the connection between the brainstem and the spinal cord
Functions: helps control vital processes like your heartbeat, breathing and blood pressure

Pons-a broad horseshoe-shaped mass of transverse nerve fibres that connect the medulla.
Functions: handles unconscious processes and jobs, such as your sleep-wake cycle and
breathing

Midbrain- the topmost part of the brainstem, the connection central between the brain and the
spinal cord
Functions: transmitting information necessary for vision and hearing

Thalamus-an egg-shaped structure in the middle of your brain

Function: influences moods & detects pain

Hypothalamus- a gland in your brain that controls your hormone system

Function: plays a central role in maintaining homeostasis, control of body temperature, hunger,
thirst, sexual pleasures, rage, fear, relaxation after meal, control the secretion of hormone from
pituitary gland
Lobes of Cerebral Hemispheres

1. Frontal Lobe – vital in control of voluntary motor functions, motivation, aggression, mood, &
olfactory reception
2. Parietal Lobe – principal center for receiving & consciously perceiving most sensory
information such as touch, pain, temperature, and balance
3. Occipital Lobe – functions in receiving and perceiving visual input
4. Temporal Lobe – involved in olfactory & auditory sensations; plays an important role in
memory