The Nervous System

CHAPTER 25 SECTION 1
 Objectives:

Describe the relationship between the central

nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

Compare the somatic nervous system with the

autonomic system

List one function of each part of the brain

 The Nervous System:

Controls almost everything you do…

 The Nervous System:

The nervous system is the body’s central command

post

2 basic functions:
 Gathers and interprets information

 The NS responds to the information that is gathered

 Two Systems Within a System:

Central Nervous System (CNS)

 Parts: Brain and spinal cord
 Function: processes and responds to all messages coming from
the peripheral nervous system

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

 Parts: all the parts of the nervous system except for the brain
and spinal cord; nerves
 Function: connects all parts of the body to the CNS; uses
specialized structures (nerves) to carry information
 Central Nervous System:

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/adam/images/en/central-nervous-system-picture.jpg
 Peripheral Nervous System:

http://faculty.etsu.edu/forsman/ftl_3_presentation/peripheral%20nerves.jpg
 The Neuron

A nerve cell that is specialized to transfer messages

in the form of fast-moving electrical energy

Electrical messages are called: impulses

Impulses may travel as fast as 150 m/s or as slow as

0.2 m/s
 The Neuron

http://www.web-books.com/eLibrary/Medicine/Physiology/Nervous/neuron.jpg
 The Main Parts of a Neuron:

Cell Body: the cell body of the neuron; it contains the

nucleus (also called the soma)

Dendrites: the branching structure of a neuron that

receives messages (attached to the cell body)

Axon: the long extension of a neuron that carries

nerve impulses away from the body of the cell

Axon terminal: the hair-like ends of the axon

 More Neuronal Parts…

 myelin sheath - the fatty substance that surrounds and

protects some nerve fibers

 node of Ranvier - one of the many gaps in the myelin

sheath - this is where the action potential occurs during
saltatory conduction along the axon

 nucleus - the organelle in the cell body of the neuron that

contains the genetic material of the cell

 Schwann's cells - cells that produce myelin - they are

located within the myelin sheath
 Information Collection:

Neurons are a type of nerve cell that carry impulses

Sensory neurons: gather information about what is

happening in and around the body

Nerve endings are called receptors (detect changes)

Ex: receptors in your eyes detect light; sensory info is

sent to the CNS for processing
 Delivering Orders:

Motor neurons: neurons that send info from the

brain & spinal cord to other systems

When muscles get impulses from motor neurons

they respond by contracting

Ex: motor neurons cause muscles around your eyes

to contract when you are in bright light; muscles
make you squint
 Nerves:

Nerve: a collection of axons bundled together with

blood vessels & connective tissue

Most nerves have axons of both sensory & motor

neurons

Axons are part of nerves but nerves are more than

just axons
 Somatic & Autonomic Nervous Systems:

The PNS has 2 main parts:

 The sensory part – Sensory Neurons
 The motor part – Motor Neurons

The motor part of the PNS has 2 kinds of nerves:

 Somatic Nerves
 Autonomic Nerves
 Somatic & Autonomic Nervous Systems:

http://online.sfsu.edu/~psych200/unit5/u5m5.gif
 Somatic Nervous System:

Most neurons are under our conscious control

These neurons stimulate skeletal muscles

Control voluntary movements:

 Writing, smiling, talking, jumping…
 Autonomic Nervous System:

Do not require conscious control

Controls body functions that you don’t think about

(digestion, heart rate)

Keeps body’s functions in balance (homeostasis)

2 divisions:
 Sympathetic Nervous System
 Parasympathetic Nervous System
 Divisions of ANS & SNS:

Parasympathetic Nervous System:

 Nerves that control the involuntary movements under
normal conditions

Sympathetic Nervous System:

 Nerves that control involuntary movement under
STRESS conditions.
 Divisions ANS & SNS:

http://www.becomehealthynow.com/images/organs/nervous/sympth_parasymth.gif
 The Central Nervous System:

Receives info from the sensory neurons

Responds by sending messages to the body via motor

neurons in the PNS

The control center: BRAIN

 Controls voluntary & involuntary actions

3 Main parts: Cerebrum, Cerebellum, Medulla

 The Cerebrum:

The largest part

Where you think and store memories

Controls voluntary movements & experience senses

2 hemispheres (left & right)

 Left hemisphere directs the right side of the body
 Right hemisphere directs the left side of the body
 The Cerebrum:

Left Hemisphere:
 Primarily controls activities like speaking, reading, writing,
and solving problems

Right Hemisphere:
 Primarily controls activities like spatial thinking, processing
music, and interpreting emotions
 The Cerebrum:

http://library.thinkquest.org/4371/media/nervoussys2.jpg
 The Cerebrum:

http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/morris5/medialib/images/F02_11.jpg
 The Cerebellum:

The 2nd largest part

Lies beneath the back of the cerebrum

Processes sensory information from your body (from

skeletal muscles and joints)

Keeps track of the body’s position (keeps you from

losing your balance)
 The Cerebellum:

http://clarian.org/ADAM/doc/graphics/images/en/18008.jpg
 The Medulla:

Part of the brain that attaches to the spinal cord

Approx. 3 cm long

Can’t live without it

Controls involuntary processes (blood pressure,

body temp., heart rate, breathing)
 The Medulla:

http://www.myschoolhouse.com/courses/c/3/Images/brain.gif
 The Spinal Cord:

Part of the CNS

Made of neurons and bundles of axons that pass

impulses to and from the brain

Protected by vertebrae

Communicate with PNS

 Spinal Cord:

http://www.serious-injury-lawyers.org/images/spinal_big.jpg
 Spinal Cord Injury:

Injury may block information to and from the brain

Some sensory and motor commands may not get

through

Every year 1000’s of people are paralyzed by spinal

cord injuries (car accidents, sports accidents)

Safety equipment is vital!!

 Spinal Cord Injury:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/19619.jpg
 Levels of Injury:

http://www.unistemcells.com/uploadfile/20081223174542617.jpg