2.

3 Part 1 - Overview of the Nervous System

Central nervous system

Peripheral nervous system
Somatic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system

Types of Neurons
Sensory/Afferent Neurons
Motor/Efferent Neurons
Interneurons
 What is the nervous system?

the body’s
speedy, electrochemical
communication network, consisting
of all the nerve cells of the peripheral
and central nervous systems
 What are nerves?

bundled axons of many neurons that

form neural cables connecting
the central nervous system with
muscles, glands, and sense organs.

For example, the optic nerve bundles a million axons into a

single cable carrying the messages from the eye to the brain
 What are the three types of neurons?

There are three types of neurons: sensory (afferent), motor(efferent) and

interneurons.
 How are sensory and motor neurons
different?

sensory neurons motor neurons

contain afferent nerve contain efferent neurons

fibers
carry messages from the
carry information from the CNS to the muscles and
sense organs to the CNS glands
 Interneurons

● any neuron that acts as an intermediary in passing

signals between two other neurons.
● Interneurons do not have motor or sensory
functions; they just act to pass on information.
● About 20-30% of brain
● Also located in the spinal column
 What is the Central
Nervous System (CNS)
and what does it do?

The CNS is made up of the brain and

spinal cord.

The CNS is the decision maker… it is

responsible for coordinating incoming
sensory messages and outgoing
motor messages.
 What is the Peripheral
Nervous System (PNS)
and what does it do?

The PNS is made up of sensory and

motor neurons.

The PNS connects the body to the

CNS by gathering information from
the senses and transmitting
messages from the CNS.
 What are the two parts of the
peripheral nervous system?

somatic autonomic

controls the body’s controls the glands

and the muscles of the
skeletal muscles
internal organs
(such as the heart)
also called the skeletal
nervous system operates automatically
 How is the autonomic division
further broken down?
sympathetic nervous parasympathetic nervous
system system
arouses the body, calms the body,
mobilizing its energy conserving its energy

fight, flight or freeze rest or digest

The gas pedal of a car. The brake pedal of a car.

 The sympathetic
nervous system…

accelerates heartbeat,
raise blood pressure,
slows digestion, raises
blood sugar, and
cools the body
SNS = Evolutionary Byproduct
 How Stuff Works - SNS
● The amygdala (fear center of the brain) sends a distress signal
● The hypothalamus activates the sympathetic nervous system by sending signals through the autonomic nerves
to the adrenal glands.
● These glands respond by pumping the hormone adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) into the bloodstream.
● As adrenaline circulates through the body, it brings on a number of physiological changes.
○ The heart beats faster than normal, pushing blood to the muscles, heart, and other vital organs.
○ Pulse rate and blood pressure go up.
○ The person undergoing these changes also starts to breathe more rapidly. Small airways in the lungs
open wide. This way, the lungs can take in as much oxygen as possible with each breath. Extra oxygen is
sent to the brain, increasing alertness.
○ Sight becomes shaper as the pupils dialate
○ Meanwhile, adrenaline triggers the release of blood sugar (glucose) and fats from temporary storage
sites in the body. These nutrients flood into the bloodstream, supplying energy to all parts of the body.
● All of these changes happen so quickly that people aren't aware of them. In fact, the wiring is so efficient that
the amygdala and hypothalamus start this cascade even before the brain's visual centers have had a chance to
fully process what is happening. That's why people are able to jump out of the path of an oncoming car even
before they think about what they are doing.
 How Stuff Works - SNS

As the initial surge of epinephrine subsides, the hypothalamus activates the second
component of the stress response system — known as the HPA axis. This network consists of
the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal glands.

The HPA axis relies on a series of hormonal signals to keep the sympathetic nervous system
— the "gas pedal" — pressed down. If the brain continues to perceive something as
dangerous, the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which travels
to the pituitary gland, triggering the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This
hormone travels to the adrenal glands, prompting them to release cortisol. The body thus stays
revved up and on high alert. When the threat passes, cortisol levels fall. The parasympathetic
nervous system — the "brake" — then dampens the stress response.
 The
parasympathetic
nervous system…

decelerates heartbeat,
lowers blood pressure,
stimulates digestion,
processes waste, and
calms the body
 How do the two parts of the
central nervous system function?

brain spinal cord

Comprised of the cortex and 2-way connection between

subcortical structures carrying
out various functions PNS and brain

Nerves arranged into neural Oversees the sensory and

networks
motor pathways of
Like people grouping in cities reflexes.
 How does a reflex occur?

Sense receptors in the skin send signals up through

1 the spinal cord via sensory (afferent) neurons.

Interneurons in the spinal cord receive the

2 information from the sensory neurons and send
signals back through motor neurons.

Motor (efferent) neurons connect to

3
muscles in the body and direct movement.
 How does a simple reflex occur?

A simple reflex ... like that to pain… occurs only in the spinal
cord before information reaches the brain.