Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology

Science 10
The Nervous System

Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Identify the parts of the
nervous system; and
•Explain how body processes
are controlled through the
nervous system
 Levels of Organization
In a multicellular organism levels are:
cells à tissues àorgans àorgan systems
tissues: group of similar cells that perform
same function
organ: group of tissues that work together to
perform complex function (ex: sight)
organ system: group of organs that perform
closely related functions
 Human Body Systems
• Nervous System • Endocrine System
• Respiratory System • Lymphatic/Immune
• Digestive System System
• Skeletal System • Reproductive System
• Muscular System
• Circulatory System
• Excretory System
Body Systems’ Functions
• Although each of the
10 organ systems has
a different set of
functions, they all
work together as a
whole to maintain
homeostasis.
Human Body Systems
• Humans have
complex systems
• Cells are grouped
for efficiency
• Dynamic
equilibrium
 Nervous System
• The nervous system controls and coordinates
functions throughout the body and responds
to internal and external stimuli
• Nearly all multicellular organisms have
communication systems
– Specialized cells carry messages from one cell
to another
– Smooth and efficient communication through
the body
Functions of the Nervous System
• Maintain homeostasis with
electrical signals
• Provide for sensation
• Provide for higher mental
functions and emotions
• Activate muscles and glands
 QUESTION?
DOES BEING IN
LOVE IS MORE
ABOUT THE BRAIN
THAN THE HEART?
Love and other emotions
are actually regulated in the
brain, not the heart.

Specifically, a part of the

brain called the amygdala.
•People might partly associate
the heart with strong emotions
like love because when we get
excited to see someone, our
heart sometimes beats faster,
and we notice our heartbeat.
We aren’t really aware of
what’s happening in our brain.
• THEORIES: the heart
shape comes from the
shape of the leaves of a
now-extinct plant called
silphium, which was
considered a key
component of a love
potion in the time of the
Romans.

• St. Valentine used the

symbol when arranging
secret marriages. Another
is that it was simply a
guess of what the human
heart looked like.
 Structural Classification
of the Nervous System
• Central nervous system (CNS)
•Brain & spinal cord
- Command center
- Takes in info & give instruction
Structural Classification
of the Nervous System
• Peripheral nervous system
(PNS)
- Nerves outside the brain and spinal
cord
- Communication lines
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
• The Central Nervous System
(CNS) serves as the main
processing center for the entire
nervous system. It consists of two
main components, namely: Brain
and Spinal Cord.
 Regions of the Brain
• Cerebral
hemispheres
• Diencephalon
• Brain stem
• Cerebellum Figure 7.12

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CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

•Cerebellum is the part

under cerebrum that
controls posture, balance,
and coordination.
 Cerebellum
• Two hemispheres with convoluted
surfaces
• Functions in balance and
coordination
• Provides involuntary coordination
of body movements
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 Cerebellum

Figure 7.15a

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Medulla Oblongata
• The lowest part of the brain stem
• Merges into the spinal cord
• Contains important control centers
•Heart rate control
•Blood pressure regulation
•Breathing
•Swallowing
•Vomiting
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 Pons
• The bulging center part of the
brain stem
• Mostly composed of fiber
tracts
• Includes nuclei involved in the
control of breathing
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 Midbrain
•Mostly composed of
tracts of nerve fibers
•Reflex centers for
vision and hearing

Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Slide 7.39
 Brain Stem
• Attaches to the spinal cord
• Parts of the brain stem
•Midbrain
•Pons
•Medulla oblongata
• Size your thumb (~ 3 inches)
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CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Brainstem is the part that
connects the brain to the
spinal cord and controls
automatic functions such as
breathing, digestion, heart
rate, and blood pressure.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
•Cerebrum is the large,
upper part of the brain
that controls activity
and thought.
 Cerebral Hemispheres (Cerebrum)

• Paired (lf & rt)

superior parts of
the brain=
hemispheres
• Include more
than half of the
brain mass
• Largest & most
complex area of
the brain
Figure 7.13a

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 Cerebral Hemispheres (Cerebrum)

• The surface is
made of ridges
(gyri) and
grooves (sulci)

Figure 7.13a

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Lobes of the Cerebrum
• Fissures (deep grooves) divide the
cerebrum into lobes
• Longitudinal fissure – separates
hemispheres
• Lobes of the cerebrum
• Frontal lobe
• Parietal lobe
• Occipital lobe
• Temporal lobe Slide
 Lobes of the Cerebrum

Figure 7.15a

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 Sensory and Motor Areas of the
Cerebral Cortex

Figure 7.14

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 Lobes of the brain
• Frontal Lobe
•Primary motor area – sends
impulses to skeletal muscles
•Broca’s area – involved in our
ability to speak
•Intellectual and psychic
functions
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 • Temporal Lobe
• Gustatory, auditory, olfactory area

• Occipital Lobe
• Visual areas

• Parietal Lobe
• Sensations; pain; hot & cold; touch;
speech & reading
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Layers of the Cerebrum
• Gray matter
• Outer layer
• Composed
mostly of neuron
cell bodies
• Initiates
thoughts &
voluntary actions

Figure 7.13a

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 Layers of the Cerebrum

• White matter
• Fiber tracts
inside the gray
matter
• Example:
corpus callosum
connects
hemispheres
Figure 7.13a

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 Specialized Area of the Cerebrum

• Interpretation areas of the

cerebrum
•Speech/language region
•Language comprehension region
•General interpretation area

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 Specialized Area of the Cerebrum

Figure 7.13c

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Diencephalon
• Sits on top of the brain stem
• Enclosed by the cerebral hemispheres
• Made of three parts
• Thalamus
• Hypothalamus
• Epithalamus

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 Thalamus
• The relay station for sensory impulses
• Transfers impulses to the correct part of
the cortex for localization and
interpretation
• Ability to concentrate
• Degree of wakefulness
• Pleasantness & unpleasantness

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 Hypothalamus
• Helps regulate body temperature
• Controls water balance
• Regulates metabolism
• Appetite and thirst
• An important part of the limbic system
(emotions)
• The pituitary gland is attached to the
hypothalamus
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 Epithalamus
• Houses the pineal body (an
endocrine gland) – sexual
maturity and growth
• Includes the choroid plexus
– forms cerebrospinal fluid

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Epithalamus
• Some functions of its components
include the secretion of melatonin by
the pineal gland (involved in circadian
rhythms), and regulation of motor
pathways and emotions.
• Notable examples of circadian
rhythms include the sleep-wake cycle,
daily rhythms in body temperature, and
day-night rhythms in cortisol and
melatonin production
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 Amydala
• The amygdala is
located in the temporal
lobe of the brain.
• It is responsible for
perception of emotions
such as anger, fear, and
sadness, as well as the
controlling of aggression.
That's why your
• It also helps to store amygdala is so important
memories of events and to survival. It processes
emotions so that an things you see or hear
individual may be able to and uses that input to
recognize similar events
in the future. learn what's dangerous.
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 Protection of the
Central Nervous System
• Scalp and skin
• Skull and vertebral column
• Meninges

Figure 7.16a

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 Protection of the
Central Nervous System
• Cerebrospinal fluid
• Blood brain barrier

Figure 7.16a

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Blood Brain Barrier
• Includes the least permeable
capillaries of the body
• Excludes many potentially harmful
substances and pathogen via active
efflux pumps
• Useless against some substances
• Fats and fat-soluble molecules
• Respiratory gases
• Alcohol
• Nicotine
• Anesthesia
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings