Nervous System
-constantly active
-epicenter of the mental activity
-receives, examines, processes data, and initiates appropriate responses
-mental activity; learning, memory, thought, and speech
Homeostasis – the process by which organisms keep internal conditions relatively constant despite
changes in their external environments
Stimulus – anything that makes you respond
1. External Stimuli – originate from the external environment and are detected by our senses
VISUAL STIMULI – light, color, shape
AUDITORY STIMULI – sound, noise
TACTILE STIMULI – touch, pressure, temperature
OLFACTORY STIMULI – smell
GUSTATORY STIMULI – taste
2. Internal Stimuli – originate from within the body and are detected by internal receptors (specialized
protein molecules that receive and respond to specific signals).
Hunger
Pain
Changes in body temperature
Changes in blood pressure
Changes in blood sugar levels
Neuron – basic cellular unit of the nervous system. It transmits impulses to and from the various parts of
the nervous system.
Impulse – an electrical signal that travels along a nerve fiber
Certain chemicals help in transporting the message, these chemical messengers are called
NEUROTRANSMITTERS.
ACETYLCHOLINE – transmit nerve impulses between neurons
NOREPINEPHRINE/NORADRENALINE – plays an important role on how the body responds to stress
DOPAMINE – to motivate and reward behavior
SEROTONIN – to regulate mood; also often referred to as a happy hormone
MELATONIN – regulates sleep and wake cycles
Basic Parts of a Neuron
1. Nucleus – control center of the entire neuron
2. Cell Body (Soma) – contains the neuron’s nucleus (with deoxyribonucleic acid and typical nuclear
organelles) that maintains the neuron function
3. Dendrites – branched cell components that receive stimulus from other neurons or sensory receptors
4. Axon – will transmit stimulus to a gland, muscle, or other neurons
5. Nodes of Ranvier – gaps in the myelin sheath that covers many axons. The play in speeding up the
transmission of nerve impulses
6. Schwann Cells – to form the myelin sheath around axons
7. Myelin Sheath – coats and insulates the axon; responsible for quick and efficient transmission of
impulses along the nerve cells
8. Synapse - the junction between two neurons or a neuron and its target cell
3 Types of Neurons
1. Sensory (Afferent) neurons – detect stimuli through specialized structures called sensory receptors.
These receptors are located at the ends of sensory neurons and are designed to respond to specific
types of stimuli.
2. Interneurons – are the middlemen of the nervous system. They connect sensory and motor neurons,
allowing for complex neural circuits and information processing.
3. Motor (Efferent) neurons – receive signals from interneurons, which in turn receive input from
sensory neurons or other interneurons. These signals can originate from the brain or the spinal cord.
Reflex – is an involuntary and automatic response to a stimulus
Major Divisions and Parts of the Nervous System
1. Central Nervous System (CNS) – serves as the main processing center for the entire nervous sytem. It
consists of two main components, namely the:
a. Brain – located within the skull that functions as organizer and distributor of information for the body.
It has three main parts:
>Cerebrum – the largest part of the brain that controls activity and thought and is composed right and
left hemisphere.
It is divided into four lobes:
Frontal lobe – is for personality and emotions, higher thinking skills, like problem solving and controlling
movement.
Parietal lobe – controls movement sensations (pain, taste, touch, etc.), speed and writing.
Temporal lobe – controls speech and hearing
Occipital lobe – controls memory, sight and smell
>Cerebellum – the part under the cerebrum that controls posture, balance, and coordination.
>Brain Stem – the part that connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls automatic functions such
as breathing, digestion, heart rate, and blood pressure.
-includes the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata
b. Spinal Cord – this serves as a channel for signals between the brain and the rest of the body, and
controls simple musculoskeletal reflexes without input from the brain.
2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) – connects the central nervous system to the organs and limbs.
It has two main divisions:
a. Somatic Nervous System – associated with the voluntary control of body movements and has two
main parts:
>Spinal Nerves – the nerves that carry motor and sensory signals between the spinal cord and the body.
There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves. These nerves are divided into 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5
sacral, and 1 coccygeal nerve.
C1 – C4 : breathing
C2 : head and neck movement
C4 – C6 : heart rate
C6 : shoulder movement
C5 : wrist and elbow movement
C7 – T1 : hand and finger movement
T1 – T12 : sympathetic tone, including temperature regulation
T11 – L2 : ejaculation
L2 : hip motion
L3 : knee extension
L4 – S1 : foot motion
L5 : knee flexion
S2 – S3 : bowel and bladder activity
S2 – S4 : sexual function
S5 : bowel and bladder activity
CO : innervating coccygeus and levator ani muscles and the skin over the coccyx
>Cranial Nerves – a set of twelve nerves that originate in the brain. Each has a different function
responsible for sense or movement.
- the nerve fibers that carry information into and out of the brain stem
I. Olfac
