Fundamentals of

the Nervous
System
Learnin
At the end of period, the students must
g be able to:

Objectiv
e
1. Describe the basic function and
anatomic features of the human
nervous system
 Essential
Question

How do you become aware of

everything around you?
I. Nervous System Overview
A. Master control and communication system
1. Stimulus—changes detected inside or outside the body
2. Sensory receptors - monitor changes inside and outside the body
2. Sensory input—information gathered by receptors
3. Integration—Processes and interprets sensory input
4. Motor output—Dictates response; activates effector organs
 Sensory receptor
Stimulus

Sensory input

Integration

Motor output
Action

Effector
The function of the Nervous System

Sensory functions involve gathering

information about the internal and
external environments of the body.
Integrative functions analyze and
interpret incoming sensory information
and determine an appropriate response.

Motor functions are the actions

performed in response to integration.
II. Basic Organization of the Nervous
System
A. Central nervous system (CNS)
1. composed of the brain and spinal cord
2. is the integrating and command center
B. Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
1. Consists of nerves extending from brain and spinal cord
a. cranial nerves (off the brain)
b. spinal nerves (off the spinal cord)
2. Peripheral nerves link all regions of the body to the CNS
3. Nucleus – group of nerve cell bodies in the brain/cord
4. Ganglion – group of nerve cell bodies outside brain/cord
Brain
CNS
Spinal
cord

Nerves
PNS
Ganglia
C. Sensory (afferent) division
1. somatic sensory – information from skin, muscle and tendon
2. visceral sensory – information from organs, glands, all else
3. information carried to CNS by spinal and cranial nerves

D. Motor (efferent) division

1. somatic motor – (voluntary) information to muscles
2. visceral motor – (involuntary) information to organs, glands, etc.
a. also called the autonomic nervous system
i. sympathetic division
ii. parasympathetic division
 Central nervous system (CNS) Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Brain and spinal cord Cranial nerves and spinal nerves

Sensory (afferent) division Motor (efferent) division

Somatic and visceral sensory Motor nerve fibers
nerve fibers

Somatic nervous Autonomic nervous

Somatic sensory fiber Skin system system (ANS)
Somatic motor Visceral motor
(voluntary) (involuntary)
Conducts impulses Conducts impulses
from the CNS to from the CNS to
skeletal muscles cardiac muscles,
smooth muscles,
Visceral sensory fiber and glands
Stomach
Skeletal
muscle

Motor fiber of somatic nervous system

Sympathetic division Paraysmpathetic

Mobilizes body systems
during activity
division
Conserves energy
Promotes house-
keeping functions
during rest

Sympathetic motor fiber of ANS Heart

Structure
Function
Sensory (afferent)
division of PNS Parasympathetic motor fiber of ANS Bladder
Motor (efferent)
division of PNS
E. Somatic sensory - general (widespread) somatic senses

1. Receptors spread throughout outer tube of body

a. Touch, Pain, Vibration, Pressure, Temperature

2. Proprioceptive senses - detect tendon/muscle stretch

a. Body sense—position and movement of body in space

3. Special somatic sense - balance

F. Visceral sensory
1. General visceral senses
a. stretch, pain, temperature, nausea, and
hunger
b. felt in digestive and urinary tracts, and
reproductive organs
2. Special visceral senses: hearing, vision, taste and
smell
III. Somatic vs. Visceral
Motor
A. Somatic motor
1. general somatic motor—contraction of skeletal muscles
a. Under our voluntary control
b. Often called “voluntary nervous system”
B. Visceral motor
1. regulates the contraction of smooth and cardiac muscle
2. controls function of visceral organs and glands
3. also called the autonomic nervous system (involuntary)
Summary of Structural and Functional Divisions of the
Nervous System
 Apply what you learned

Imagine you have just picked up a cup of coffee.

List all of the sensory, integrative, and motor
functions that your nervous system is performing
as you do so.
 Essential
Question

How do you become aware of

everything around you?