CHEMICAL AND NERVOUS
CONTROL
Prepared by: LEIGH ANDREA E. PARINA
PRE-ACTIVITY
Directions: Choose from the pool of words inside the box to
complete the diagram. Draw the diagram with your answers in
your notebook.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Neurons are the functional and structural unit of
the nervous system. The main function of these
neurons is to receive the external stimuli and then
send it to the brain, so that the brain in turn can
read those signals and direct them to the
necessary parts of the body to take proper action.
The transfer of messages takes place through
electrical impulses which move throughout the
body through nerve fibers.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
• The nervous system is like the body's
communication network, responsible for
sending and receiving signals
throughout the body. It's made up of two
main parts: the central nervous system
(CNS) and the peripheral nervous
system (PNS).
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
1. Central Nervous System (CNS):
• This consists of the brain and spinal cord.
• The brain is the command center,
processing information and sending out
instructions.
• The spinal cord acts as a relay between
the brain and the rest of the body,
allowing for the transmission of signals to
and from the brain.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS):
• This includes all the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.
• It's further divided into the somatic nervous system and the
autonomic nervous system.
Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary movements and
transmits sensory information from the body to the CNS and motor
commands from the CNS to the muscles.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Regulates involuntary
bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate. It
consists of two main branches:
Sympathetic Nervous System: Activates the "fight or flight"
response, preparing the body for action during stressful situations.
Parasympathetic Nervous System: Promotes the "rest and
digest" response, helping the body to relax and conserve energy.
SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:
• Walking: When you decide to take a walk, your brain sends signals
through the somatic nervous system to your leg muscles, instructing
them to contract and relax in a coordinated manner to produce the
desired movement.
• Sensory Perception: If you touch a hot surface, sensory receptors in
your skin send signals through the somatic nervous system to your
brain, alerting you to the sensation of heat. In response, you quickly
withdraw your hand to avoid injury.
• Voluntary Actions: Activities such as typing on a keyboard, playing a
musical instrument, or throwing a ball all involve voluntary control of
skeletal muscles through the somatic nervous system.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:
• Heart Rate Regulation: The autonomic nervous system controls your heart rate without
conscious effort. During exercise, the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous
system increases heart rate to supply more oxygen-rich blood to working muscles.
Conversely, during rest, the parasympathetic division slows down heart rate to conserve
energy.
• Digestion: After eating a meal, the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous
system stimulates digestive organs, such as the stomach and intestines, to increase
secretion of digestive enzymes and promote movement of food through the digestive
tract.
• Pupillary Reflex: In response to changes in light intensity, the autonomic nervous system
regulates the size of your pupils. In bright light, the parasympathetic division causes the
pupils to constrict, reducing the amount of light entering the eyes. In dim light, the
sympathetic division dilates the pupils to allow more light in for better visibility.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
(ANS):
• Sympathetic Nervous System: This division of the autonomic nervous system
is responsible for mobilizing the body's resources in response to stress or danger,
often referred to as the "fight or flight" response. When activated, it increases
heart rate, dilates airways to improve oxygen intake, redirects blood flow to
muscles, and releases stress hormones like adrenaline. These physiological
changes prepare the body to confront or flee from a perceived threat.
• Parasympathetic Nervous System: In contrast, the parasympathetic division
of the autonomic nervous system promotes the body's "rest and digest"
response. It is active during periods of relaxation and rest. When activated, it
slows heart rate, constricts airways, stimulates digestion, and conserves energy.
The parasympathetic nervous system helps the body recover from stress and
maintains internal balance (homeostasis) by promoting activities such as
digestion, nutrient absorption, and cellular repair.
These two branches of the autonomic nervous system work together to regulate
various bodily functions and maintain overall physiological equilibrium. Depending
on the circumstances, one system may dominate over the other to adapt the
body's response to changing environmental demands.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
• The nervous system functions through
the transmission of electrical impulses
along specialized cells called neurons.
Neurons communicate with each other
and with other cells, such as muscle
cells or glands, through junctions called
synapses.
HERE'S A SIMPLIFIED BREAKDOWN
OF HOW IT WORKS:
• Sensory Input: Sensory receptors detect changes in the environment
(stimuli) and convert them into electrical signals.
• Integration: The sensory signals are sent to the CNS (brain and spinal
cord), where they are processed and interpreted.
• Motor Output: Based on the processed information, the CNS sends
out signals through the motor neurons of the PNS to carry out
appropriate responses. These responses could be voluntary
movements, such as picking up an object, or involuntary actions, like
adjusting heart rate or breathing.
• Feedback: The nervous system constantly receives feedback from the
body about the effects of its actions, allowing for adjustments to be
made as needed.
This constant cycle of input, processing, output, and feedback enables
the nervous system to regulate and coordinate various bodily functions,
allowing us to interact with our environment and maintain homeostasis.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Neurons are specialized, depending
on their required functions:
• Sensory neurons carry impulses
from sense organs, such as the eyes
or ears.
• Motor neurons carry impulses to
muscles and glands.
• Interneurons transfer signals
between sensory and motor neurons,
as well as in between other
interneurons.
