Jonica Canlas BSN-1, 11-A

Psychology

July 3, 2011

Central Nervous System

The Central Nervous System consists of the Brain and Spinal Cord. It contains millions of neurones (nerve cells). If you slice through some fresh brain or spinal cord you will find some areas appear grey whilst other areas appear rather white. The white matter consists of axons, it appears white because it contains a lot of fatty material called myelin. The myelin sheath insulates an axon from its neighbours. This means that nerve cells can conduct electrical messages without interfering with one another. The grey matter consists of cell bodies and the branched dendrites which effectively connect them together. So this area is mainly cytoplasm of nerve cells which is why it appears white. Different areas of the brain are concerned with different functions. If I drilled a hole in your head with my Black & Decker, and then put a piece of copper wire in and wiggled it about, I could give your brain a little electric shock; not enough to kill you of course, but enough to make something happen. So if the electrode was put into your taste centre you might taste something even though there was nothing in your mouth. We know exactly where to put the wires to make different things happen. So an electric shock in another area might make you wiggle your toes. That explains why you "see stars" when you bang your head and stir up the visual centre which is at the back of your brain. There are areas of the brain which deal with speech, hearing, smell, sight, movements, salivating, and so on. Some of these centres are concerned with the information coming into the brain (sensory areas) and others are concerned with making something happen (motor centres).

Peripheral Nervous System

The Peripheral Nervous System consists of all the sensory nerves (these feed information into the spinal cord and brain) and the motor nerves (these carry messages to other parts of the body from the brain and spinal cord). Sensory nerves contain sensory neurones. Motor nerves contain motor neurones. Mixed nerves contain both sensory and motor neurones. Sensory neurones are usually connected to motor neurones by intermediate neurones (sometimes called inter neurones). Sensory, intermediate and motor nerves have gaps between them called synapses. Sural nerve Branch of the tibial nerve ensuring nerve sensation especially to the outer part of the calf, the ankle and the heel. Tibial nerve Branch of the sciatic nerve extending through the posterior tibial nerve and providing nerve sensation to certain muscles of the leg and the sole of the foot. Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh Branch of the sacral plexus ensuring movement in part of the buttock (greatest gluteal muscle) and sensation in the posterior part of the thigh.

Gluteal nerve The lower gluteal nerve (originating in the posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh) and the upper gluteal nerve (branch of the sacral plexus) provide nerve sensation to the greatest, medium and small gluteal muscles. Digital nerve Nerve originating in the brachial plexus ensuring nerve sensation in the fingers of the hand. Sacral plexus Network formed of several nerves whose branches ensure movement and sensation in the buttock and part of the thigh. Lumbar plexus Network formed of the first four lumbar nerves whose six branches ensure movement and sensation in the lower limb. Intercostals nerve Nerve ensuring motor function and sensation in the muscles between the ribs, as well as in a portion of the diaphragm and the abdominal wall. Radial nerve Branch of the brachial plexus providing nerve sensation especially in the extensor muscles of the upper limb and fingers. Axillary nerve Branch of the brachial plexus providing nerve sensation especially in the deltoid and small round muscles; it also ensures sensitivity in the shoulder joint. Cranial nerves Each of 12 pairs of nerves connected to the brain providing nerve sensation to the head and neck; they serve a motor or sensory function. Deep peroneal nerve Branch of the common peroneal nerve ensuring nerve sensation mainly in the muscles of the anterior part of the leg and the back of the foot. Superficial peroneal nerve Branch of the common peroneal nerve ensuring nerve sensation mainly in the lateral peroneal muscles of the outer leg and the back of the foot.

Common peroneal nerve Branch of the sciatic nerve ensuring nerve sensation especially in the muscles of the anterior and external parts of the leg. Saphenous nerve Branch of the femoral nerve ensuring nerve sensation in the inner leg and knee. Sciatic nerve The organism s largest nerve, originating in the sacral plexus, ensuring nerve and motor sensation in a large portion of the lower limb. Femoral nerve Large branch of the lumbar plexus ensuring nerve sensation especially in the flexor muscles of the thigh and the extensor muscles of the leg. Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh Branch of the lumbar plexus ensuring nerve sensation mainly to the buttock and the outer thigh. Ilioinguinal nerve Branch of the lumbar plexus that, along with the iliohypogastric nerve and the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh, provides nerve sensation to a portion of the abdomen, the genital organs and the thigh. Iliohypogastric nerve Branch of the lumbar plexus ensuring nerve sensation in one section of the abdominal wall and in the genital organs. Obturator nerve Branch of the lumbar plexus providing nerve sensation especially to the abductor muscles of the inner thigh. Ulnar nerve Branch of the brachial plexus providing nerve sensation, with the median nerve, especially to the flexor muscles of the hand and toes. Median nerve Branch of the brachial plexus providing nerve sensation to various muscles in the lower part of the forearm and part of the hand, where it divides into five branches. Brachial plexus Network formed of the last four cervical nerves and the first dorsal nerve whose branches ensure motion and feeling in the upper limb.