HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM

NERVOUS SYSTEM

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

 Brain  12 pairs cranial nerves
 Spinal cord  31 pairs spinal nerves

MOTOR NERVES SENSORY NERVES

Conduct impulses from the Conduct impulses from the
CNS to the effectors receptors to the CNS

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Conducts impulses from the CNS to the Conducts impulses from the CNS to
involuntary muscles (smooth muscles and the voluntary muscles
heart muscles) and certain glands

SYMPATHETIC DIVISION PARASYMPATHETIC DIVISION

Prepares the body for action, Enables body to return to normal
‘fight or flight’
o Central nervous system may be divided into two main parts viz. central nervous
system and peripheral nervous system.
o The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.
o The peripheral nervous system is made up of all the nerves outside the central
nervous system

The need for a nervous system in humans in terms of:

 Reaction to stimuli( stimuli can be external and internal)
 Co-ordination of the various activities of the body

Assessment Guideline:
o Location and function of:
Cerebrum, Hypothalamus, Cerebellum, Medulla oblongata and spinal cord
o Effects of certain drugs on the central nervous system:
Dagga, Heroin, Ecstasy, Tik

STRUCTURE OF THE BRAIN

The brain is the enlarged upper part of the spinal cord and is divided into the following
main parts:
 Cerebrum
 Thalamus and hypothalamus
 Cerebellum
 Medulla oblongata
 Cerebellum
 It is situated below and
behind the cerebrum
Cerebrum
 It co-ordinates and controls
 Occupies two-thirds of the
the actions of all voluntary
cranial space
muscles to make smooth
 Contains motor areas where all
and precise movement
voluntary actions originate
possible
 Contains sensory areas that
 It controls the tension in the
interpret nerve impulses from
muscles (muscle tone) to
the sense organs so that the
maintain balance and poise
sensation of sight, sound,
smell, taste and touch can
arise
 Seat of higher mental functions
such as memory,
intellegenceetc.

Hypothalamus Medulla oblongata

 Thalamus is situated under
the corpus callosum, and the
hypothalamus is situated
under the thalamus
 It plays a role in the
maintenance of
homeostasis, by regulating
the following:
o blood pressure
o heartbeat
o body temperature
o water balance
o hunger, appetite, thirst
o sleep
 It plays a role in the control
of emotions such as anxiety,
anger and fear
 It controls the functioning of
the hypophysis, which
secretes several vitally
important hormones
 Lowest part of the brain
stem and is an extension
of the spinal cord
 It transmits nerve
impulses between the
spinal cord and the brain
 It controls autonomic
functions, including the
following:
o rate and depth of
breathing
o heartbeat
o vasomotor activity-
widening and
narrowing of blood
vessels
o peristalsis and
vomiting
Effects of certain drugs on the central nervous system

Drug Effect
Dagga ( Marijuana  It affects the parts of the brain that control emotions,
or Cannabis) memory and judgment
 It can weaken short-term memory and can block information
from becoming saved into long term memory
 It weakens problem solving ability
Heroine  Heroin mixed with alcohol and other substances kills
 It gives users an immediate ‘rush’ of pleasure but leaves the
brain in a ‘fog’ for many hours afterwards
 Brain cells become dependent for daily function and routine
 Overdose reduces breathing by deceasing nerve signals to
the chest and reducing nerve contractions- suffocation
results
 Persistent use of heroin harms the nervous system
irreversibly
 Memory loss, paranoia, anxiety and confusion
Ecstasy  Difficulty in differentiating between reality and fantasy
 Problems in concentration
 Memory loss, paranoia, anxiety and confusion
Tik  Paranoia, anxiety, fearfulness, delusion and exhaustion
 Breaking out into a sweat or cold chills
 Memory loss, mood swings and wild rages
 Circulatory and respiratory collapse, coma and death

PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

The peripheral nervous system is all the nervous tissue outside the central nervous
system, made up of 43 pairs of nerves

 12 pairs cranial nerves are connected to the brain.

 31 pairs spinal nerves are connected to the spinal cord.

The peripheral nervous system is divided into:

 The somatic nervous system consisting of cranial nerves and spinal nerves
that link the central nervous system (CNS) to skeletal muscles
 The autonomic nervous system which transmits the impulses from the CNS
to effector organs, controls heart rate, breathing, digestion and gland functions,
e.g. Saliva.
 AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

The autonomic nervous system has two branches

 The sympathetic branch prepares the body for energy-expending, stressful, or
emergency situations.
 The parasympathetic branch is active under ordinary, restful conditions.

Comparison of sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS

Sympathetic nervous system Parasympathetic nervous system

 Mostly stimulating in effect  Mostly inhibitory in effect
 Increases heart rate  Decreases heart rate
 Constricts many arteries  Dilates arteries
 Relaxation of bladder wall  Contraction of bladder wall
 Dilates pupils  Constricts pupils
 Inhibits peristalsis  Accelerates peristalsis
 Widens bronchioles  Constricts bronchioles

DISORDERS OF THE CNS

DISORDER CAUSES SYMPTOMS TREATMENT

Alzheimer’s Caused by neuronal It causes severe It is costly to treat and
disease communication memory loss- manage, there is no cure.
failure in the brain, patients may not Drugs that help produce
due to decreased recognise people acetylcholine have been
acetylcholine activity. they used to know tested but have led to severe
side-effects
Attention Deficit  Brain injuries  Difficulties in Treatment may involve
Hyperactivity before or during attention management techniques for
Disorder birth  Hyperactivity parents and teachers,
 Family stress  impulsiveness medication, removal of
 Educational particular foods from the diet
difficulties and or psychological
counselling
Depression Scientists are not Those who have The most effective treatment
certain of the causes bipolar disorder of depression takes place by
of both bipolar experience mood the use of drugs. Various
disorder and major swings from high to other treatments such as talk
depression low therapy and electroconvulsive
Those with major therapy are also used, but
depression have a these treatments are not well
‘low’ mood for most understood
of the time
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF A NERVE
HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM: ACTIVITIES

1. Study the diagram of longitudinal section of the human brain, a cross-section of

the spinal cord and the right leg.

1 muscle hammer
5 3

organ spinal cord

right leg
4
s
1.1 Identify the parts 1, 2 and 5. (3)
1.2 What will be the effect on the body if part 5 is damaged? (1)
1.3 Mention three disorders of the nervous system. (3)
1.4 Describe the reflex action shown in the diagram. (13)
1.5 Draw and label the type of neuron as indicated by NUMBER 4 (10)
(30)
2. Study the representation of a reflex arc below and answer the questions that
follow.

2.1 Define the concept ‘reflex arc’ (4)

2.2 What is meant by the term ‘reflex reaction’? (4)
2.3 In the reflex arc above, name the
2.3.1 stimulus
2.3.2 receptor
2.3.3 effector (3)
2.4 Describe and give an example of:
2.4.1 natural/ unconditional reflexes (1)
2.4.2 learnt/ conditioned reflexes (1)
2.5 Identify the parts numbered 1 to 5 (5)
2.6 An injury occurs. Explain which neuron is damaged and what its
effect will be if the injury takes place at A and B. (2)
Human Nervous system – MEMO

1.1 1 - cerebrum/ brain

2 - medulla oblongata
5 – cerebellum (3)
1.2 Lack of muscle control/lack of co-ordination/ bad posture/ upset
equilibrium Any 1 (1)
1.3 Alzheimer’s Disease, Attention Deficit Disorder,  Depression (3)
1.4 Hammer strikes the knee stimulating the touch corpuscles/receptors.
An impulse is transmitted along the dorsal root to the dorsal horn
where the sensory neuron makes a synapse with an interneuron. 
It moves along the motor neuron in the ventral horn, along the ventral
root  to the effector, the muscles in the leg.  The leg is
raised upwards.  At the same time an impulse moves to the brain to
be interpreted.  (13)
1.5

Marking guide:
Heading (1)
Size (1)
Any 8 (8)
2.1 The functional unit of the nervous system, which is the pathway along which
the nerve impulses are carried from a receptor to an effector to bring about
a reflex action. Any 4 (4)
2.2 It is a quick, automatic movement/action, by an effector, in response
to a stimulus received by a receptor. (4)
2.3
2.3.1 heat of a candle
2.3.2 sensory organs in the skin
2.3.3 muscles (3)
2.4
2.4.1 it happens automatically, for example coughing, sneezing, blinking or
jerking away from a painful stimulus (1)
2.4.2 These are inborn reflexes that need not be learnt like walking, running (1)
2.5 1- white matter
2- grey matter
3- cell body
4- spinal cord
5- interneuron (5)
2.6 sensory neuron – the person will not feel that he is burning
and consequently sustain a serious injury (3)

motor neuron – the person will feel that he is burning,  but will be
unable to jerk away his hand because the nerve impulses does not reach
he effector;  /the person cannot contract and therefore the person
is paralysed.  any 4 (4)
(25)