The

Nervous
System
Function:

1. It can detect sensation.

2. It can control movements.
3. It can control intellectual and
physiological functions.
Neurons/ Nerve Cells

The functional unit of the Nervous

System.
They are in need of a continuous
supply of oxygen and glucose.
They have the ability to synthesize
ATP.
Can conduct nerve impulses w/c is
maintained all throughout the neuron.
Irritability- is the ability to conduct
impulses in response to stimuli from the
internal and external environment.
Ex: Temperature, Light, Touch, Pressure

Conductivity- is the ability of the neuron

to conduct nerve impulses from one part
of the body to another.
Other Functions of Neurons:

1. To respond to chemical and physical

stimuli.
2. To conduct impulses.
3. To release chemical receptors.
 Division of the Nervous System
Nervous
System

Central Peripheral
Nervous Nervous
System System

Spinal
Brain Sensory Motor
Cord

Autonomi Somatic
Dienceph
Cerebrum Brainstem Cerebellum c Nervous Nervous
alon
System System

Sympathe Parasymp
tic athetic
Basic Parts of a Neuron

1. Cell Body- contains the nucleus.

2. Dendrites- pick up signals from other
neurons or sense organs.
3. Axon- the long projection of the cell body.
-. Carries messages away from the cell body.
4. Myelin Sheath- covers the axon, w/c speeds
up the travel of the nerve impulses.
5. Axon Terminals- pass on messages to the
dendrites of other neurons.
- Are usually found some distance from the cell
body.
Types of Neurons:
1. Sensory Neurons- also called as
Afferent Neurons.
-. Receive initial stimuli from sense
organs where most receptors are
located.
2. Interneurons- also called as Connector
Neurons or Association Neurons.
-. They read impulses received from
sensory neurons.
-. They determine what respond should
be generated.
Types of Neurons:

3. Motor Neurons- also called as Efferent

Neurons.
- It is through motor neuron that
messages from our brain and spinal
cord are sent to a muscle cell or gland
cell in our body.
Signals- it carry information that tells us
to be alert, relax, stop or listen.

Nerve Impulse- is a wave of chemical

and electrical charge that is conducted
along the membrane of a neuron w/c is
basically from sensory neuron to
interneuron to motor neuron.
Overlapping Functions of the Nervous
System

1. The Sensory Neurons receive signals

from the environment and this travels
through the brain.
2. The signal or information is then
interpreted by the brain and the spinal
cord (CNS).
3. The signal travels to the effector cells
that will carry out the bodys response to
the signal. Effector Cells are located in
the muscles and gland cells.
The Flow of Information in the Nervous System

Stimulus--- Receptor Cells--- Sensory

Neurons--- Brain--- Motor Neurons---
Effector Cells in Muscles and Glands---
Response
Division of the Nervous System

1. Central Nervous System- composed of

the brain and the spinal cord.

Brain- control center

- It receives information, integrates and
processes this information and sends
back signals for an action to occur.
Short-Term Memory- bits of information like
numbers and words in a sentence are
stored in the brain.

Long-Term Memory- large amounts of

information's can be stored more or less
permanently in the brain.
Cerebrum- biggest part of the brain.

Left Hemisphere- involves in the

development of language or a persons
ability to speak, skills in mathematics and
other learning abilities.

Right Hemisphere- deals more with the

ability related to arts, music, intuition and
perception.
Cerebellum- below the Cerebrum.
- This part of the brain coordinates body movements
such as walking, running, dancing, and among
others.
- It also maintains the bodys sense of balance.

Medulla Oblongata- involved in regulating heart rate

and respiration and relaying information to the
cerebellum.
- It connects the spinal cord to the rest of the brain.
- Coordinates many survival functions of the body
such as breathing, heart rate, sleep and
wakefulness.
- Controls involuntary actions, such as breathing,
heartbeat, breathing and blood pressure.
2 Important Structures:

1. Thalamus- serves as a relay station by

directing incoming messages from the
spinal cord to the appropriate parts of
the brain.
2. Hypothalamus- monitors internal
conditions such as water content and
temperature.
-. Acts as link between the Endocrine and
Nervous System.
Spinal Cord- a tube of nervous tissue found
inside the vertebral column.
- Tubelike organ of neurons and blood
vessels.
- About 1.8 cm wide, nearly the same size
as a garden hose.

Reflex Action- an act done without thinking.

Reflex Arc- the simple pathway traveled by
the nerve impulse of a reflex action.
The Peripheral Nervous System
- Comprises all the nerves that extend throughout
the body.
- These nerves carry signals into and out of the
Central Nervous System.
Subdivided into;
1. Somatic System- is made of 12 pairs of nerves
coming from the brain and 31 pairs of spinal
nerved.
-. Commands from the brain and the spinal cord are
delivered by the somatic nerves into the skeletal
muscles.
-. Stimulates skeletal muscles under our conscious
control.
2. Autonomic System- connect the brain
and the spinal cord to muscles of the heart
and smooth muscles of the internal organs.

- Each organ is supplied by two autonomic

nerves- The Sympathetic and
Parasympathetic.
Sympathetic Division- dominates in times
of physical and emotional stress or
whenever the body requires some actions.

- It controls the fight flight response that

we experience during a stressful
situation, like the nervousness you
experience when talking in front of an
audience or taking a surprise quiz.
Parasympathetic Division- is actually most
active under normal conditions.
- It keeps our body functioning when we
are not active.
Ex:
We continue breathing while sleeping.

Receptor- is a cell that perceives a stimulus.

Effector- is a cell or organ that

demonstrates the bodys response to
whatever incites it to action.