NERVOUS SYSTEM

- Function:
 Regulate the body’s activities
 Receptors receive internal and external stimuli
 Interprets the stimuli and decides a response

- Glial cells: provide nutrients and protection to the neurons

- Neurons: cells that

receive, store and
transmit nerve impulses.
 Cell body: grey matter
 Myelin sheath: white
matter

- Transmission of nerve impulses:

1. The nerve impulse reaches the dendrites causing a change in its plasma membrane, which
translates to and electrical signal
2. The signal is transmitted through the axon
3. When it reaches the axon terminal, neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft
4. Neurotransmitters join the receptors in the dendrites of the next neuro. It repeats
5.
- Parts:
 Central nervous system: brain/spinal cord protected by meninges and cerebrospinal fluid
 Peripheral nervous system: all nerve tissue located outside the CNS

- Peripheral nervous system:

* Function:
 Sensory nerves: transmit impulses from the receptors to the CNS
 Motor nerves: transmit the impulse from the CNS to the effectors
 Mixed nerves: transmit impulses in both directions
* Location:
 Cranial nerves: 12 pair distributed in the head, neck and some parts of the circulatory,
digestive and respiratory systems. Directly to the brain
 Spinal nerves: 31 pairs that connect the spinal cord to the torso and limbs. Cervical,
thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal.
* Somatic nervous system:
 Voluntary actions: the receptor detects a stimulus that travels to the spinal cord and
cerebrum, where a response is prepared
 Reflex actions: the receptor detects a stimulus that travels to the spinal cord, where a
response is prepared (no cerebrum)
*Autonomic nervous system:
System Activation Pupils Bronchi Heart rate Digestive activity Bladder
Sympathetic Physical or emotional stress Dilate Dilate Quickens Reduces Relaxes
Parasympathetic Rest and digestion Contract Contract Slows Increases Contracts
 ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
- Function:
 Coordinate together the nervous system (main)
 Makes part in homeostasis
 Regulate chemical reactions of cells
 Influence reproductive processes

- Coordination:
Hypothalamus: negative feedback
receive a stimuli->produce target cells bind with specific
action->reaction
hormones to blood (target cells) hormones->respone of target cells

Characteristics Nervous system Endocrine system

Main component Nervous tissue Endocrine glands
Means of communication Nerves Blood
Transmission system Nerve impulses Hormones
Response (speed/duration) Rapid and short-term Slow and long-term

- Endocrine glands and hormones:

 Hypothalamus->oxytocin: contraction of uterus and milk ejection
 Pituitary->prolactive: breast development and milk production
 Thyroids->calcitonin: deposit calcium in the bones
 Parathyroid->parathormones: control the level of calcium in blood
 Adrenal glands->adrenaline: stress response
 Pancreas->insulin: control blood glucose levels
 Ovaries->progesterone: regulate menstruation and support pregnancy
 Testicles->testosterone: production of spermatozoa
- Hormone control:
 inhibits increasin of increasing decreasing
glucose of insuline of glucose
 release decreasing decreasing increasing
of glucose of insuline of glucose

DRUGS
- Drug: any substance that alters the CNS’s function. It is capable of creating physical or
psychological dependence. Alters our behavior, perception of surrounding and way of thinking
 Neurons produce different neurotransmitters stored in vesicles of presynaptic neurons
 Nerve impulse make vesicles bind the presynaptic neuron’s membrane. Neurotransmitters
are released in the synaptic cleft interacting with receptors of postsynaptic neurons. And
they return or decompose
 Excitatory neurotransmitters increase electrical activity and inhibitory decreases it.