Part 1.

I had previously learnt this topic or at least some of it before during my secondary school and In form 6.
This time, it focuses primarily on peripheral nervous system and therapy.Not only that, this topic also
Involves drug that have significant effect on the peripheral nervous system.

Task 1: Describe the structures and functions of the nervous system.

Nervous system is divided into central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.
CNS is divided into brain and spinal cord whereas PNS is divided into afferent and efferent nervous
system which connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body.
The nervous system fulfills three main functions:
Sensory Input- the nervous system monitors changes in the environment both outside and within the
body through the receptors
Integration the CNS(brain and spinal cord) processes the sensory inputs, interprets and integrates
them
Motor Output the nervous system triggers a response by stimulating the effector organs which are
muscles and glands.

Task 2: How different is the sensory portion of the peripheral nervous system from the
motor portion?

The sensory division of the PNS carries all types of sensory information to the CNS including that from
the "special senses" of touch, smell, taste, and hearing.
The somatic motor branch carries voluntary commands to the skeletal muscle. The autonomic motor
branch carries autonomic commands to a variety of muscles and glands throughout the body, allowing the
brain to control heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate

Task 3: List important structures of a neuron and their important function.

Axon- passes messages away from the cell body to other neuron,muscles or glands.
Dendrites- receive messages from other cells
Cell body- store protein synthesis and contain genetic information
Myelin sheath- covers the axon of some neurons and help speed neural impulses

Task 4: Discuss the importance of understanding the structural and functional

classification of the neurones.
In terms of structure, neurons are grouped according to the number of processes extending from
the body. Three major neuron groups include multipolar,bipolar and unipolar neurons
In terms of function, there are also three major neuron group which are afferent
neurone,interneurone and efferent neuron.Functional classification is according to the direction in
which the nerve impulse travels.

Sensory or afferent: transmit impulses from sensory receptors in the skin or internal
organs toward the CNS.

Interneurone: connect neurons within CNS

Motor or efferent: carry impulses away from the CNS to the effecter organs (muscles,
glands).

Task 5: Describe the differences of chemical synapses from electrical synapses. State
their important roles
Plasma membrane of pre- and postsynaptic neurons of electrical synapse joined by gap junctions
where as in chemical synapses, there is no gap junction.
Neurotransmitter are involved in transmission of action potential in chemical synapses where as
in electrical impulses,neurotransmitter is not involved

In chemical synapses,synaptic cleft separates the pre and post synaptic neurons and
extracellular space separates the pre and post synaptic neurons in electrical impulses.
Action potential Is generated and propagated rapidly along the neurons in electric synapses while
synaptic transmission is slower.
Important role: Allows intracellular communication

Task 6: Other than neurones, are there any cells occupying the nervous system? List
their primary function(s).
Glial cells account for 90% of cells in CNS.It surrounds the cell body,axon and dendrites of
neuron and support neuron physically and metabolically.
Astrocyte- sustain the neurons metabolically
Microglia- performs immune functions in the CNS
Ependymal cells- Regulate production and flow of cerebrospinal fluid
Oligodendrocyte- form myelin covering of CNS axons
Schwann cells- produce myelin sheath

Task 7: How different is neural growth from neural regeneration?

Neural growth is the development of the nervous system that begins with with a series of
divisions of undifferentiated stem cells.
Neural regeneration occurs when axons are severed.

Part 3: Please share your interesting/important learning experience of this topic.

I learned that neurons can be classified not only by its function but can be also defined by its 3
major structure

Part 4: Any muddiest area of this topic that you want to be addressed?
Neural growth and neural regeneration