Nervous System: The
Control System of the
Body
Nervous System
is a complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages
to and from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the
body
the body’s storage center of information and also the body’s
control system.
It makes sure that all the parts of the body are working
together efficiently.
Major Divisions and Parts
of the Nervous System
Major Divisions and Parts of the Nervous System
Central Nervous System
(CNS)
serves as the main processing center of
the nervous system.
It consists of two main components:
Brain
Spinal Cord
BRAIN
is an organ located within the skull that
functions as organizer and distributor of
information for the body.
The brain is a complex organ that controls
thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills,
vision, breathing, temperature, hunger and
every process that regulates our body. Together,
the brain and spinal cord that extends from it
make up the central nervous system, or CNS.
What is the brain made
of?
Weighing about 3 pounds in the average
adult, the brain is about 60% fat. The
remaining 40% is a combination of water,
protein, carbohydrates and salts. The
brain itself is a not a muscle. It contains
blood vessels and nerves, including
neurons and glial cells.
How does the brain work?
The brain sends and receives chemical and
electrical signals throughout the body.
Different signals control different
processes, and your brain interprets each.
Some make you feel tired, for example,
while others make you feel pain.
3 Main Parts
1. CEREBRUM
is the large, upper part of the brain that
controls activity and thought.
The cerebrum (front of brain) comprises gray
matter (the cerebral cortex) and white matter
at its center.
It is divided into two hemispheres: the left
and the right.
The left hemisphere controls the right side
and vice versa. These two are connected by
corpus callosum. Each hemisphere is further
divided into two sections called lobes.
It is responsible for sensing, thinking,
learning, emotions and voluntary movement.
It controls the 5 senses.
4 LOBES FUNCTIONS
FRONTAL LOBE • Responsible for cognitive
functions and movement.
PARIETAL LOBE • Responsible for processing
touch, pain, temperature
and movement.
OCCIPITAL LOBE • Responsible for vision.
TEMPORAL LOBE • Responsible for speech,
hearing, and memory
Cerebral Cortex
Cortex is Latin for “bark,” and
describes the outer gray matter
covering of the cerebrum. The
cortex has a large surface area
due to its folds, and comprises
about half of the brain’s weight.
2. CEREBELLUM
The cerebellum (“little brain”) is a fist-sized
portion of the brain located at the back of
the head, below the temporal and occipital
lobes and above the brainstem.
it has two hemispheres. The outer portion
contains neurons, and the inner area
communicates with the cerebral cortex. Its
function is to coordinate voluntary muscle
movements and to maintain posture, balance
and equilibrium.
3. BRAIN
STEM
Located at the bottom of the brain connects the
brain to the spinal cord and controls automatic
functions such as breathing, digestion, heart
rate, and blood pressure.
The brainstem includes the midbrain, the pons
and the medulla.
Midbrain or mesencephalon
is a very complex structure with a range of
different neuron clusters (nuclei and colliculi),
neural pathways and other structures.
facilitate various functions, from hearing and
movement to calculating responses and
environmental changes.
Midbrain or mesencephalon
contains the substantia nigra, an area affected
by Parkinson’s disease that is rich in dopamine
neurons and part of the basal ganglia, which
enables movement and coordination.
Pons
is the origin for four of the 12 cranial nerves,
which enable a range of activities such as tear
production, chewing, blinking, focusing vision,
balance, hearing and facial expression.
Medulla
Functions of the medulla regulate many
bodily activities, including heart rhythm,
breathing, blood flow, and oxygen and carbon
dioxide levels. The medulla produces
reflexive activities such as sneezing,
vomiting, coughing and swallowing.
Limbic System
Under the cerebrum and inside the temporal
lobe is composed of several structures:
AMYGDALA. regulate emotion and memory
and are associated with the brain’s reward
system, stress, and the “fight or flight”
response when someone perceives a threat.
HIPPOCAMPUS. It supports memory,
learning, navigation and perception of space.
It receives information from the cerebral
cortex and may play a role in Alzheimer’s
Limbic System
THALAMUS. body's information relay
station. All information from your body's
senses (except smell) must be processed
through your thalamus before being sent to
your brain's cerebral cortex for interpretation.
HYPOTHALAMUS. It regulates body
temperature, synchronizes sleep patterns,
controls hunger and thirst and also plays a
role in some aspects of memory and emotion.
SPINAL CORD
serves as the information highway as sensory
messages and commands travel up and down
on it to serve the body.
controls some simple musculoskeletal reflexes
even without the processing of the brain.
it is protected by bones and is divided into 5
sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral,
and coccygeal,
Major Divisions and Parts of the Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous
System (PNS)
connects the central
nervous system to
the organs and limbs.
It has two main divisions
Somatic Nervous
System
Autonomic Nervous System
Somatic Nervous System
is associated with the voluntary control
of body movements.
Also controls involuntary movements
called reflexes.
Reflex is an involuntary muscle response
to a stimulus without input form the brain.
2 Main Parts
1. SPINAL NERVES
carry motor and sensory signals between the
spinal cord and the body.
2. CRANIAL
NERVES
are nerve fibers that carry information into
and out of the brain stem.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
is associated with the involuntary control
of body movements.
2 SUBDIVIDIONS
1. SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS
SYSTEM
Responsible for “ fight or flight” response,
stimulating the body to use energy.
is activated when the body is in a dynamic
role or stress. (e.g., increased heart rate
and breathing, dilation of pupil, sweating)
2 SUBDIVIDIONS
2. PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS
SYSTEM
Tries to conserve the energy, doing “rest
or digest”.
maintains body functions and restores
the body to normal or relaxed mode.
The Nerve
Cell
the basic unit of the nervous system and it is
also called as neuron.
Afferent Neurons – neurons that receive
messages from the senses and send them to
the CNS.
Efferent Neurons - send messages from the
central nervous system to the different
parts of the body.
Parts of a Neuron
Cell Body– is the support center of the neuron
contains the nucleus
Dendrites and Axons – root like structures in
the cell body. Dendrites carry impulses toward
the cell body while axons carry impulses away
from the cell body.
Myelin Sheath – is a protective layer around
the axons and help speed up the signal
messages.
Synapses – the space in between neurons/
cell body where the chemicals travel.
Axon Terminal - aka synaptic boutons, axon
terminals are small swellings that are found at
the terminal ends of axons. They are typically
the sites where synapses with other neurons
are found, and neurotransmitters are stored
there to communicate with other neurons via
these synapses
What is
Homeostasis
Homeostasis
• it is a condition wherein the human body
system is maintained in balance despite the
changing external factors.
• It is responsible in the regulation and
maintenance of the internal environment of the
body.
• is the state reached when each part of the
body functions in equilibrium with other parts
• Regulate:
• Body Temperature
• Fluids
• Salt, acids and
gas
• Nutrients
How Nervous System coordinates and
regulates feedback mechanisms to
maintain homeostasis?
Sensors – are receptors that are
responsible in gathering information about
the conditions inside and outside of the
body.
The Communicating Systems
• The nervous system and the endocrine
system are the communicating systems of the
body.
• They carry information to all parts of the body
• Dictates to the target cell or organs of the
body how to respond with the internal and
external changes.
FEEDBACK MECHANISMS
• used by most of body systems to
maintain homeostasis
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
- Is a control system to reduce or minimize any
changes or conditions in the body.
- Allows the body to stabilize back to
homeostasis.
Negative Feedback
• Temperature Regulation
• Controlled blood Glucose level
• Regulated Blood Pressure
- If blood pressure is too low, the brain signals
the heart to increase heart rate in which it
pumps blood. If the blood pressure is too high,
the heart signaled to decrease heart rate.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
- Is a control system that uses information from
sensors to increase the rate of processes.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
• Milk Production
- After birth there will be a high level of
prolactin in the body of a woman in order to
stimulate milk production. The more the baby
suckles and needs milk, the more prolactin
and therefore more milk is produced.
• Labor Contractions
• Blood Clotting
Mental health disorders
• Anxiety
- is a feeling of fear, dread and uneasiness.
- feeling tense, nervous and unable to relax
• Panic Disorder
- Is a brief episode of intense anxiety, which
causes the physical sensations of fear.
- Occurs unexpectedly or abrupt.
• Depression
- A mood disorder that causes a persistent
feeling of sadness and loss of interest.
