SSIP TERM 2 2022

LIFE SCIENCES
Topic(s) : Nervous System
Venue:

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SSIP AIMS/GOALS
The four interconnected outcomes that drive the professional development
activities for SSIP are:
1. Enhancing Teachers knowledge: deep understanding of subject matter
knowledge and students ideas on the content
2. Enhancing quality teaching and assessment for learning: effective
instructional approaches that teachers may use to ensure improved
understanding by most learners.
3. Developing ICT integration skills :Use of ICT to improve teaching and
learning
4. Building professional learning communities: allow teachers to start
collaborating and form professional networks in non-formal settings in
context of their schools

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 MODULE 2
Overview of Module 2
In this module we will look at the concept of ‘The Human nervous system ’
Content
You will study this module through the following units:
Unit 1: Responding to the environment and coordination of activities
in the body
Unit 2: Structure of the Nervous System
Unit 3: Structure of the Central Nervous System
Unit 4: Location and functions of the Peripheral Nervous System
Unit 5: Location and functions of the Autonomic Nervous System
Unit 6: Structure and functioning of a nerve
Unit 7: Structure and function of a simple reflex arc
Unit 8: Disorders of the CNS

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 OUTCOMES OF THIS MODULE

Statement of the learning outcomes/objectives

When you complete this module you will be able to:
• Identify the different parts of the nervous system
• Identify the different structures of the brain.
• Describe the functions of the different parts.
• Draw and label the parts of the reflex arc.
• Briefly explain the events occurring during a reflex action.
• Carryout an investigation on reaction time.

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Exam
guidelines
2021

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Exam
guidelines
2021

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The nervous
system
 Nervous co-ordination

• To survive, all organisms need to be able to sense changes in their

environment and to control their responses to these changes.
• The nervous system and the endocrine system are important
communication systems that co-ordinate, intergrate and carry out the
activity of body cells, tissues, organs and the organism.
• They maintain a constant internal balance, while reacting to the
changes that occur in both the external and internal environment
 The Nervous system
How does our nervous system work?

Stimulus Response

Receptor Effector

Sensory neuron Motor neuron

Central
Nervous
system
 Reaction to stimuli in the environment
• The nervous system and sense
organs play an important part in
picking up stimuli, gathering
information and responding quickly
to changes from both the external
and internal environment to
maintain a constant state
• The nervous system in vertebrates
performs five main functions
1. Gathers information using the
senses
2. Transmits information to
processing areas of the brain
3. Processes information
4. Formulates responses to stimuli
5. Sends information back through
the network of effector organs to
execute the response
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Activities you could do in class with learners, refer to
participant’s manual

Reaction time
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 Nervous system

Central Peripheral
nervous nervous
system system

Spinal Sensory Motor

Brain cord pathways pathways

Somatic Autonomic
(voluntary) (involuntary)
nervous system nervous system

Sympathetic Parasympathetic
division division
 The Brain

External structure of the brain Internal structure of the brain

 Brain structure

Cerebrum

Hypothalamus
Cerebellum

Pituitary gland
Medulla oblongata
Structure of the brain and the functions

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 Diagnostic Report 2021
• Some candidates could not give the correct function of the corpus
callosum. They wrote the corpus callosum separates or divides the
two hemispheres of the cerebrum.
• Candidates had to state that it connects the hemispheres of the
cerebrum since the cerebellum also has two hemispheres

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The spinal cord

• From each side of the cord 31 pairs of spinal nerves arise from ventral and dorsal roots.
• The spinal cord is made up of delicate nervous tissue which cannot repair itself. It is
therefore protected by:
33 vertebrae (bone) with discs of cartilage between them to act as shock
absorbers
three membranes called the meninges
cerebrospinal fluid
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 Spinal cord: Function
Function:
• The spinal cord is the pathway for all
impulses conducted from receptors to the
brain and from the brain to the effectors.
• The grey matter lies on the inside in the
shape of an ‘H’
• The white matter lies on the outside
(opposite to the cerebrum).
• The spinal cord processes all reflex actions.
• The spinal cord functions automatically and
is not controlled by the will.
• Sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve
impulses are conducted along the spinal cord
to all organs.

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Actvity 2.1 De Bono’s hats
• Divide into groups of 6 people.
• Consult the table with information on de Bono’s
six hats.
• Each person choose a colour hat.
• Apply the hat’s thinking method to the resource
material supplied in participants’ manual
• Answer the question:
Will you recommend a person with spinal
cord injury to undergo stem cell treatment?
• After 20 minutes, each person in the group will
present their findings to the classroom.

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 Nervous system

Central Peripheral
nervous nervous
system system

Spinal Sensory Motor

Brain cord pathways pathways

Somatic Autonomic
(voluntary) (involuntary)
nervous system nervous system

Sympathetic Parasympathetic
division division
 Peripheral nervous system
• The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is all the nervous tissue outside
the central nervous system (CNS).
• It consists of
• 12 pairs of cranial nerves connected to the brain
• 31 pairs of spinal nerves connected to the spinal cord
• It is divided into two parts :
• The somatic nervous system which controls voluntary (skeletal)
muscles
• The autonomic nervous system which controls involuntary muscles ,
allow body to react to changes so that homeostasis in body is
maintained

Function:
• it receives impulse from receptors and conveys the impulse to the
CNS.
• It also transmits the impulses from receptors to the CNS to effectors
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AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
• The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls the heart rate, breathing,
digestion and gland functions e.g. salivary glands secreting saliva.
• 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

• The two systems have an opposite effect: one stimulates, the other inhibits
i.e. each organ in the body is innervated by the sympathetic nerve and
parasympathetic nerve.
• This is known as double innervation
• E.g. the sympathetic nerve causes the iris to dilate and the parasympathetic
nerve causes the iris to constrict
Autonomic nervous system
Effect of the sympathetic system and the parasympathetic system
Sympathetic branch
Increases heart rate
Relaxes walls of the bladder
Dilates pupils
Constricts blood vessels in the skin
(vasoconstriction)
Increases blood pressure
Widens bronchioles
Stimulates sweat secretion
Stimulates secretion of adrenalin
Decrease peristalsis
Parasympathetic branch
Decreases heart rate
Contracts wall of the bladder
Constricts pupils
Dilates blood vessels in skin
(vasodilation)
Decreases blood pressure
Narrows bronchioles
No effect
No effect
Increases peristalsis
 Activity 2.2.
Describe the structure and the functioning of the autonomic
nervous system. (4)

It is made up of parasympathetic  and sympathetic  parts

- Every organ and gland is controlled by both parts  /double
innervations
- It controls involuntary events 
- Sympathetic nerves generally increase a response 
- Parasympathetic nerves generally decreases a response 
(Any 4)

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Nerves
Nerves send and carry
signals to and from all parts
of the body made up of
neurons.

A nerve is composed of
nerve fibres that are held
together by connective
tissue. One nerve consists
of millions of neurons.
Neurons – nerve cells

• Neurons are specialised cells which

connect the brain and spinal cord to all
other parts of the body.
• Each neuron has the following parts:
1. Cell body
2. Dendrites
3. Axon
• The dendrites always carry the impulse
to the cell body and the axon always
carries the impulse away from the cell
body
• The cell body controls the metabolism of
the cell
 Neurons
• Axons and dendrites have a
myelin sheath (a fatty layer
wrapped around them) which:

•acts as insulation

•speeds up the transmission of

impulses
 The three types of neurons:
Motor neuron Sensory neuron Inter neuron
• Sensory neurons
• afferent neurons
• carry impulses to CNS
Types of neurons
• either unipolar or bipolar
• sensitive to stimuli in the environment
• Connector/inter neurons
• receive impulse from sense organs
• always multipolar
• integrates or analyses information
• Carry impulses towards motor neuron
• Motor neurons
• efferent neurons
• carry impulses away from CNS
• always multipolar
• effect a response
 Fun facts about neurons
• Most specialized cell in animals
• Nervous system allows for 1
millisecond response time
• Longest cell
• Blue whale neuron - 10-30
meters
• Giraffe axon - 5 meters
• Human neuron -1-2 meters
Activity 2.3

1. Motor /multi-polar/efferent neuron (1)

2. - transmits impulse away from the cell body 

- Transmits impulse to effector  (1)
3. – causing it to conduct impulse faster
/prevent a short circuit
- insulates the neuron (2)

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Reflex action & Reflex arch
• A reflex action is a quick, automatic response to a stimulus.
Examples: knee-jerk, sneezing and quickly removing a body part away from
danger to respond to pain.
• A reflex arc is the pathway along which an impulse is transmitted to bring
about a response to a stimulus during a reflex action.
• The nervous impulse goes to the spinal cord, then a impulse passes from
the spinal cord directly to an effector to give an immediate response.
The significance of a reflex action:
The reflex action allows for a quick response, without thinking about it, to
prevent damage to the body.
Note: Always talk about impulse never a message
A reflex arc

An impulse is carried to
the brain, where pain is
registered
 Lets check our progress:
1. Identify the parts
1, 2 and 5. (3)
Questions
muscle
3
2. What will be the 1 hammer
effect on the body if 5
part 5 is damaged?
(1)

3. Describe the reflex

action shown in the
diagram. (10)
2

Organ Spinal cord Right leg

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 Answers
1 - cerebrum 
2 - medulla oblongata 
5 – cerebellum  (3)
2 Lack of muscle control /lack of co-ordination/ bad posture/
upset equilibrium Any (1)
3
• Hammer strikes the knee /stimulating the receptors 
• Stimululus is converted into an impulse to be transmitted along sensory neuron  to the
dorsal horn
• where the sensory neuron makes a synapse  with an interneuron. 
• The impulse moves along the interneuron to the motor neuron via a synapse 
• it moves along the motor neuron in the ventral root 
• to the effector/ the muscles in the leg. 
• which reacts and the leg is raised upwards.
 Diagnostic report 2021

Explain how the speed of transmission of impulses will differ for neuron 1 and neuron 2. (3)
• Impulses will be transmitted faster in neuron 1
• because of the presence of a myelin sheath in neuron 1
• and neuron 2 does not have a myelin sheath
OR
• Impulses will be transmitted slower in neuron 2
• because of the absence of a myelin sheath in neuron 2
• Neuron 1 has a myelin sheath
Some candidates were not able to compare neurons. They did not always pick up that neuron 1 had a myelin sheath and
neuron 2 did not, and therefore could not explain the transmission speed of the impulse. Both neurons were motor neurons
as stipulated in the Examination Guidelines, but multipolar neurons were also accepted as a concession for 2021 only.

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 Diagnostic report 2021

Explain why a person will feel the stimulus but will not be able to respond if only this type of neuron is damaged. (3)

•The central nervous system receives /interprets impulses

•from the receptor/sensory neuron but
•no impulse will reach the effector

Candidates understood the reason why a person could not respond if a motor neuron is damaged, but they did not explain the
complete pathway.
They described the reflex arc instead of explaining the reflex action.
Also, they mentioned spinal cord only without mentioning the brain. They needed to mention the entire central nervous system

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 Activity 2.4
1. The diagram below shows part of a person’s nervous system that has been cut at X.

A bee stings the finger, as shown in the diagram above. What are the effects of this sting on
the person?
A The person feels no pain and does not move his / her arm away.
B The person feels no pain and moves his / her arm away.
C The person feels pain and does not move his / her arm away.
D The person feels pain and moves his / her arm away.

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 The Synapse
• A synapse is the point where an
impulse passes from the terminal
branch of the axon of one neuron to
the dendrite of the next neuron.
• The neurons NEVER touch each
other.
• The gap between the two neurons is
called the synaptic gap.
• Chemical neurotransmitters such as
acetylcholine/dopamine/serotonin
help to transmit the impulse from
one neuron to the next across the
synaptic gap.
 Significance of a synapse
• Ensures that the impulse travels in one direction
• At the synapse a nerve impulse can either be speeded up,
slowed down or blocked
• Therefore it enables unnecessary or unimportant background
stimuli to be filtered out
• Channels impulses so that reactions are integrated and become
part of learning and memory
Activity 2.5
DBE November 2020

1. 1  and 4 

2. 1  and 3 

3. 2  and 3 

Give only the NUMBERS (1,2,3 or 4) of TWO neurons that:

1. Transport impulses from the receptor to the central nervous system
2. Will have a faster transmission of impulses
3. Are damaged if a person can feel the stimulus but is unable to react

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DBE June 2018
2. The diagram below represents a possible 'path' followed by an impulse when a person
touches a hot plate.

2.1 Name the 'path' represented in the diagram (1)

Reflex arc 
2.2 Identify the type of neuron represented by:
(a) B (1)
Motor neuron 
(b) C (1)
Interneuron 
(c) E (1)

Sensory neuron 

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DBE June 2018
2.3 Give the LETTER only of the part that represents the:
(a) Receptor (1)
F
(b) Effector (1)
A
2.4 Give the LETTER and NAME of the:
(a) Region where the impulse is transmitted chemically (2)
D – synapse 

(b) Part that has an insulating function (2)

G – Myelin sheath 
(10)

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Diseases of the Nervous system: Alzheimers disease
• It is the most common form of dementia
Dementia: general term
used for memory loss and
loss of other intellectual
• Usually affecting people over 65, abilities

although some people may develop early-onset AD.

• Characterized by a loss of neurons and
synapses in the cortex of the brain,
as well as the presence of clumps of proteins
(amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers

• Cause: Unknown

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Diseases of the Nervous system:Alzheimer’s disease
• Symptoms: the loss of brain function results in
• Slower thinking
• Behavioural changes
• Confusion about events, time and place
• Difficulty recognizing people they know
• Difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking

• Cure: None
• Researchers are trying to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset and
prevent it from developing
• Stem-cell research and therapeutic cloning hold great potential for providing a cure
for Alzheimer’s disease

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 Diseases of the Nervous system: Multiple sclerosis
(MS)
• It is a progressive, degenerative disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), including
the brain, optic nerve and spinal cord.
• MS commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20 – 40 and affects more women than
men.
• Multiple sclerosis means ‘many scars’,
Normal
resulting in damage to the myelin sheath of neuron

nerve cells.
• Scattered patches of demyelination on
Neuron
the neurons make it impossible for affected by
Multiple
impulses to move across these areas. sclerosis

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 Diseases of the Nervous system: Multiple sclerosis
(MS)
• Cause: Auto-immune disease
• Symptoms: MS affects:
• Movement, feeling and co-ordination and balance
• Vision, tingling and numbness, muscle weakness and spasms,
• Fatigue
• Bladder and bowel problems
• Pain
• Concentration and memory loss
• Mood swings
• Cure: none
• Management strategies:
• Healthy lifestyle
• Stem-cell research and biologically engineered production of interferons slow down the
progress of the disease

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MODULE SUMMARY
• The structure of the brain and reflex arc must be studied with the aid
of diagrams.
• There is practical work listed in CAPS that needs to be performed to
enhance teaching and learning.

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