Health education.

Content creation workshop.

Andrea Valadez Rodríguez.

Andrea Paola Cordero Cortez.
Regina Ruiz Velasco de la Mora.
Beatriz Caballero Saavedra.
5°B

Nervous system.

Index.

1
Cover page ........................................................................................................1.

Functions of the nervous system ……………………………………... 3.

Nervous system anatomy………………………………………………….4-7.

Divisions of the Nervous System …………………….………………….8-9.

Functions of the Cranial Nerves …………………….…………………..10.

Sensory Physiology…………………….…………………………..………..11.

Functions of the nervous system.

The nervous system helps all parts of the body communicate with each other. It also
responds to changes that occur both outside and inside the body. The nervous system uses
electrical and chemical means to send and receive messages.

2
The nervous system has three main functions: sensory, integrative, and motor.

Sensory: The sensory function of the nervous system is to gather information from sensory
receptors that control conditions inside and outside the body. These signals are sent to the
central nervous system (CNS) for processing by afferent neurons (and nerves).

Integration: The integration process consists of processing numerous sensory signals that
reach the central nervous system at any given time These signals are used for evaluation,
comparison and decision making, and are discarded or stored accordingly. Integration
occurs in the gray matter of the brain and spinal cord and is carried out by interneurons.

Motor: A network of interneurons in the CNS evaluates sensory information and

determines behavior by stimulating efferent neurons. The effector may be cardiac or
skeletal smooth muscle or glandular tissue. The effectors then release hormones or move
body parts in response to stimuli.

The nervous system consists of the brain, the spinal cord, the sensory organs, and all the
nerves that connect these organs to the rest of the body. Together, these organs are
responsible for controlling the body and communication between its parts. The brain and
spinal cord form the control center known as the central nervous system (CNS), where
information is evaluated, and decisions are made. The sensory nerves and organs of the
peripheral nervous system (PNS) monitor the internal and external conditions of the body
and transmit this information to the CNS.

Nervous system anatomy.

The nervous system is composed mainly of two kinds of tissue: neurons and glial cells.

Neurons communicate with the body by sending electrochemical signals. Neurons look
very different from other cells in the body because of the many long cell projections
extending from the central cell body. The soma is the roughly circular part of the neuron
that contains the nucleus, mitochondria, and most of the organelles. Small tree-like
structures called dendrites originate from the cell body and pick up stimuli from the
environment, other neurons, or sensory receptor cells. Long transmission pathways, called
axons, emanate from the cell body, and transmit signals to other neurons or effector cells in
the body.

3
Glial cells act as "helper cells" in the nervous system. Each neuron in the body is
surrounded by 6-60 glial cells that protect, nourish, and insulate the neuron. Neurons are
highly specialized cells that are essential for the body to function and mostly regenerate, so
glial cells are important for maintaining the function of the nervous system.

Brain.

The brain is a soft, wrinkled organ that weighs about two pounds and is in the cranial
cavity, surrounded, and protected by the skull. The cerebrum contains about 100 billion
neurons, which form the central control center of the body. Together, the cerebrum and
spinal cord form the central nervous system (CNS), where information is processed, and
responses are generated. The brain is the seat of higher mental functions, such as
consciousness, memory, planning, and voluntary action, and controls lower bodily
functions, such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and maintenance of digestion.

Spinal cord.

The spinal cord is a long, thin mass of neural bundles that carry information through the
vertebral cavity of the spine, beginning at the brain's medulla oblongata at its upper end and
continuing to the lumbar region of the spine. In the lumbar region, the spinal cord divides
into individual nerve bundles called the cauda equina (because it resembles a horse's tail).
The cauda equina continues below the sacrum and coccyx. The white matter of the spinal
cord serves as the main conduit for nerve signals from the brain to the body. The gray
matter of the spinal cord integrates reflexes into stimuli.

4
Nerves.

Nerves are bundles of axons of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that act as information
pathways to carry signals between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. Each
axon is surrounded by a sheath of connective tissue called endoneurium. Individual nerve
axons are grouped into axonal bundles called fascicles and are enclosed in a connective
tissue sheath called the perineurium. Eventually, many bundles of fibers are wrapped in
another layer of connective tissue called epineurium to form a complete nerve. The
connective tissue covering the nerves protects the axons and increases conduction velocity
in the body.

Meninges.

The meninges are the protective covering of the central nervous system (CNS). They are
composed of three layers: dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater.

- Dura mater: the thickest, most elastic, and superficial layer of the meninges. It is
composed of dense, irregular connective tissue and contains many tough collagen fibers
and blood vessels.
- Arachnoid membrane: much thinner and more sensitive than the dura mater. It lines the
interior of the dura mater and contains many fine fibers that connect it to the underlying
pia mater.
- Pia mater: a thin, delicate layer of tissue on the outside of the brain and spinal cord.

5
Cerebrospinal fluid.

The space surrounding the CNS organs is filled with a clear fluid known as cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF). CSF is made of plasma by a specialized structure called the choroid plexus.

Cerebrospinal fluid plays several important roles in the central nervous system:

1. The CSF absorbs the shock between the brain and the skull and between the spinal cord
and the vertebrae. This cushion protects the CNS from sudden changes in velocity such
as impacts and traffic accidents.
2. The brain and spinal cord float within the CSF and the buoyancy reduces their apparent
weight. The brain is a very large and soft organ that requires a large amount of blood to
function effectively. Reducing the weight of the cerebrospinal fluid keeps the blood
vessels of the brain open and prevents the nerve tissue from being crushed by its
weight.

Sense Organs.

All sensory organs of the body are part of the nervous system. The so-called special senses,
such as sight, taste, smell, hearing, and balance, are perceived by specialized organs such as
the eyes, taste buds, and olfactory epithelium. Sensory receptors for the common senses,
such as touch, temperature, and pain, are found almost everywhere in the body. All sensory
receptors in the body are connected to afferent neurons, which transmit sensory information
to the central nervous system for processing and integration.

6
Divisions of the Nervous System.

Central nervous system: The brain and spinal cord form the central nervous system (CNS).
The CNS serves as the body's control center, providing its processing, memory, and
regulatory systems. The central nervous system receives all conscious and unconscious
sensory information from the body's sensory receptors to perceive the internal and external
conditions of the body. This sensory information is used to make decisions about conscious
and unconscious actions necessary to maintain the body's homeostasis and ensure its
survival. It is also involved in higher nervous system functions, such as emotions and
personality. The brain is the seat of our consciousness and determines who we are as
individuals.

Peripheral nervous system: The peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes all parts of the
nervous system besides the brain and spinal cord. These parts include all cranial and spinal
nerves, ganglia, and sensory receptors.

7
Somatic nervous system: The somatic nervous system (SNS) is a division of the PNS that
contains all voluntary efferent neurons. The SNS is the only part of the PNS that is
consciously controlled and is responsible for stimulating the skeletal muscles of the body.

Autonomic nervous system: The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a division of the PNS
that contains all involuntary efferent neurons. The ANS controls visceral, cardiac, and
glandular tissue.

Organisms have two autonomic nervous systems: sympathetic and parasympathetic.

The sympathetic nervous system shapes the body's "fight or flight" response to stress,
danger, excitement, movement, emotion, and embarrassment. The sympathetic nervous
system increases breathing and heart rate, releases adrenaline and other stress hormones,
and slows digestion to cope with stress.

The parasympathetic nervous system shapes the body's "rest and digest" response when the
body relaxes, rests, or eats. The parasympathetic nervous system works to reverse the work
of the sympathetic nervous system after a stressful situation. The parasympathetic nervous
system slows breathing and heart rate, facilitates digestion, expels waste products, etc.

8
Functions of the Cranial Nerves.

Each nerve has a specific function within the nervous system.

The olfactory nerve (I) carries olfactory information from the olfactory epithelium in the
roof of the nasal cavity to the brain, its function is the sense of smell.

The optic nerve (II) carries visual information from the eye to the brain, its function is
vision.

The ophthalmic, trochlear, and external ocular motor nerves (III, IV and VI) work together
to allow the brain to control eye movement and focus.

The trigeminal nerve (V) transmits sensations from the face and innervates the muscles of
mastication.

The facial nerve (VII) innervates the facial muscles for facial expressions and conveys taste
information from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.

The vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) carries auditory and balance information from the ear to
the brain.

The glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) carries taste information from the posterior third of the
tongue to aid swallowing.

The vagus nerve (X) is sometimes called the migratory nerve because it innervates many
different areas, 'wandering' through the head, neck, and trunk.

Accessory nerve (XI) controls shoulder and neck movements.

The hypoglossal nerve (XII) moves the tongue for speaking and swallowing.

9
Sensory Physiology.

All sensory receptors can be classified according to their structure and the type of stimulus
they detect. Structurally, there are three classes of sensory receptors: free nerve endings,
encapsulated nerve endings and specialized cells. Free nerve endings are free dendrites at
the ends of neurons that extend into tissue. Pain, heat and cold are sensed through free
nerve endings. Encapsulated nerve endings are free nerve endings surrounded by a round
capsule of connective tissue. Specialized cells detect stimuli from five specialized senses:
sight, hearing, balance, smell, and taste. Each specialized sense has its own sensory cells,
such as rods and cones in the retina, which sense light for vision.

10