THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Lecturer : PA. AMKONGO

I-CARE HTI : ONIIPA CAMPUS
Learning objectives (Broad):
At the end of this lecture, students should be able to DESCRIBE the
Nervous system broadly.
Definition of the Nervous System (NS)

The nervous system is defined as a wiring somatic system that functions

to:
Coordinate or control somatic activities (body activities)
By sending electrical and chemical information (signals) to the body
parts.

I think most of you know electricity.

How do we light our houses or our lecture halls?

The answer to this question will be we do that by switching on the power

using the switch knob.

Each building is fitted with electric through which electrical currents

run to the bulbs for the light to occur..
In the human body, those wires are represented by the nerves (nerve
fibers).
The electrical currents are represented by the nerve impulses.

[ NB!! STUDENTS ARE CHALLENGED TO COMPARE THE GIVEN DEFINITION OF THE

NERVOUS SYSTEN WITH ANY OTHER DEFINITION FROM ANY OTHER ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY LITERATURE.
ANY SIMILARITIES OR DEFFERENCES IN THE TWO OR MORE DEFINITIONS YOU GOT?
WHAT ARE THEY?
COULD YOU LIST THOSE SIMILARITIES IF ANY, AS WELL AS THE DIFFERENCES
PLEASE? ]
Divisions of the nervous system
It is divided into the:
 Central nervous system (Brain & Spinal cord).
• Brain is in the cranial cavity.
• Spinal cord is in the vertebral column.
• Primary functions of the Central Nervous System (CNS):
Integration and Processing of information in the human body (nerve
impulses).
 Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Refers to the nerves outside the CNS (outside the cranium and the
vertebral column).

Consists of the 12 cranial nerves and numerous spinal nerves.

NB: Although all nerves originate from the CNS, they are not called
central nervous system nerves; they are called peripheral nerves,
because they are at the periphery to the central nervous system; i.e.
outside the brain and spinal cord.

The basic unit of the Nervous system

It is called a neuron (nerve cell).
A neuron is defined as a functional unit of the nervous system.
It has the following parts:
• A cell body (Karyocyte)
• A nucleus in the center of the cell body.
• Cytoplasm surrounding a nucleus
• Many short extensions (dendrites)
• A single long extension (Axon)
• Telo-dendrites ( numerous extensions at the end of the axon).
• Knobs of Ranvier
• A membrane around the axon called neurolemma
• Myelin and myelin sheaths

Functions
• Dendrites receive impulses from another neuron.
• Axons convey impulses away from the neuron.
 A typical neuron

[Students are requested to study the neuron above and label it

correctly from no.1 to no.7 please; from any Anatomy and Physiology
literature].
The three basic functions of the nervous system are:
 Sensory input (Deals with sensory impulses from the effectors to the
CNS).
 Integration(Deals with connecting sensory nerves to motor nerves).
 Motor output (Deals with actions/movements/motions; i.e. transmission of motor impulses from the CNS to the effectors).

Names, functions, and the Roman numbers of the 12 pairs cranial nerves

Name of the pair Functions Roman number

1. Olfactory nerves Smell I

2. Optic nerves
3. Oculomotor nerves
4. Trochlear nerves
5. Trigeminal nerves
Has three branches
6. Abducent nerves
7. Facial nerves
8. Acoustic nerves
(Vestibulo-cochlears nerves)
9. Glosso-pharyngel nerves
10. Vagus nerves Motor activities of
11. Accessory nerves
12. Hypoglossal nerves
Vision) II
Motion of eye muscles III
Motion of eye muscles IV
Movement of muscles of V
mastication.
Another branch supply
the anterior part of
scalp and face.
Supply lateral rectus of the eyes VI
Facial expressions VII
Hearing and balance VIII
Movement of the tongue
Taste IX
X
all smooth muscles of al
internal organs and blood vessels.
Supply sternocleidomastoid muscles XI
and trapezius muscles
Supply the extrinsic and intrinsic XII
muscles of the tongue.

Sources: 1. Lamley, Craven, andAitken: Essential Anatomy

2. Tortora and Anagostakos Principles of Anatomy and Physiology
3. Ross and Wilson. Anatomy and Physiology for Nurses
4. Any relevant Basic Anatomy and Physiology litera ture.

WITH THIS, I WISH TO SAY TO YOU DEAR STUDENTS:

Stay home and study
Stay calm (my ever motto) and study
Stay safe and coronavirus free

ADIOS!